United States Civil War (1861 – 1865) in Real Time

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Events leading up to the United States Civil War, February 18th 1861

Alabama

The Confederate States Capital was established in Montgomery, Alabama.

The Provisional Congress of the Confederate States is considering several possible flag designs.

Jefferson Davis is inaugurated President of the Southern Confederacy, in his inauguration speech among others he declares, “If other States join our Confederacy, they can freely come in on our terms. Our separation from the old Union is complete. No compromise, no reconstruction can now be entertained.” Reaction to the speech is quick – many of the delegates to the Peace Conference consider Davis’s words to be a declaration of war.

Harper's Weekly: Inauguration of Jefferson Davis as President of the Confederate States of America at Montgomery, Alabama, February 18, 1861



Arkansas

The state of Arkansas elected delegates to the state convention.

Maryland

The Maryland State Conference Convention met, and insisted upon a meeting of the Maryland legislature. At a meeting in Howard County, Maryland, addressed by Speaker of the House of delegates, E G Kilbourn, a resolution was adopted that “immediate steps ought to be taken for the establishment of a Southern Confederacy, by consultation and co-operation with such other Southern and Slave States as may be ready therefor.”

New York

(United States) President-elect Abraham Lincoln having rested and attended church in Buffalo, New York, he once again boarded the train for his eight day of travel, this time to Rochester, New York and on the Albany, the state capital of New York, arriving at 2:20 in the afternoon. He spoke before a joint session of the Assembly at the capitol, dined privately with Edwin D. Morgan, the governor of New York and his family and attended an evening reception. As had become the case, there were massive crowds wherever he went.

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Events leading up to the United States Civil War, February 19th 1861

Louisiana

In New Orleans, the United States Paymaster’s Office was seized by Louisiana State troops.

New York

(United States) President-elect Abraham Lincoln and his party reached New York City by train from Albany at 3 p.m. From the Hudson River Railroad station at Tenth Avenue and 30th Street, he traveled in a thirty-five carriage procession, his own the same vehicle that had carried the Prince of Wales a few months earlier. Through packed, orderly, but curiously silent crowds, it went down Broadway to the Astor House on City Hall Square where the presidential party spent the night.

Nebraska Territory

"Old Fort Kearny" was a two story blockhouse along the Platte River near Nebraska City that the army had abandoned in 1848 for a newer and more useful site. Secessionists reportedly occupied the empty structure on Monday night. They flew the Palmetto flag of South Carolina until enraged locals took back the fort the next morning and hoisted the Stars and Stripes in its place. No fighting or injuries were reported.

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Events leading up to the United States Civil War, February 20th 1861

Alabama

The Provisional Congress of the Confederate States passed an Act to permit the acquisition of munitions of war.

The Confederate States’ Department of the Navy was established by an act of the Provisional Confederate Congress in Montgomery. This act also established the position of Secretary of the Navy, authorized to handle all affairs related to the navies of the Confederacy.

Virginia

The Virginia state legislature returned without comment the resolutions proposed by the Michigan state legislature.

Arkansas

Word comes from Arkansas, “united closely by ties of trade, consanguinity and local interests with the gallant Union-State of Tennessee,” has voted to remain in the United States.

United Kingdom

As Queen Victoria addresses the opening of Parliament, she takes note of the American conflict: “It is impossible for me to look without great concern upon any events which can affect the happiness and welfare of a people purely allied to my subjects by descent, and closely connected with them by the most intimate and friendly relations. My heartfelt wish is that these differences may be susceptible of satisfactory adjustment.”

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Events leading up to the United States Civil War, February 21st 1861

Alabama

The Confederate Cabinet was chosen at Montgomery capital of the Confederate States where President Jefferson Davis proposed the following members seeking to represent all of the seceded states:

- Judah Philip Benjamin, Louisiana – Attorney General.
- Stephen Russell Mallory, Florida – Secretary of Navy.
- Christopher G Memminger, South Carolina – Secretary of the Treasury.
- John H Reagan, Texas – Postmaster General.
- Robert Augustus Toombs, Georgia – Secretary of State.
- Leroy Pope Walker, Alabama – Secretary of War.

Georgia

Three New York ships were seized at Savannah by order of the Georgia governor in retaliation against the confiscation of military cargo by New York state authorities in January.

Texas

Camp Cooper was abandoned by United States troops.

The United States post at Brazos Santiago was seized by Texas state forces.

Philadelphia

(United States) President-elect Abraham Lincoln after leaving New York City, his party crossed the Hudson by ferry in the morning and entrained at Jersey City, changed lines in Newark, and went on to the New Jersey state capital of Trenton. There, forcing his way through enthusiastic crowds, Lincoln spoke to the Legislature and then got back on his special train to leave for Philadelphia. He arrived there at 4 p.m., gave several speeches and reception and lodged for the night at the Continental Hotel.

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Events leading up to the United States Civil War, February 22nd 1861

Pennsylvania

After making speeches at Philadelphia and Harrisburg, (United States) President-elect Abraham Lincoln learned of the supposed “Baltimore Plot” which intended to prevent his travel to the capital city. He agreed to be smuggled incognito into Washington, D.C., after an overnight trip from Harrisburg. Telegraph wires were cut from Harrisburg as the train departed and evidence was gathered by detectives led by the detective agent Allan Pinkerton which suggested that the threatened Plot was more substantial than gossip.

Arkansas

John Ross, principal chief of the Cherokee Nation, rejected a proposition by Governor of Arkansas, Henry Massey Rector to join the Confederacy.

Florida

Harper's Weekly: The gunboat USS WYANDOTTE firing a salute on George Washington’s birthday in Pensacola harbor, 22 February 1861

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Events leading up to the United States Civil War, February 23rd 1861

District of Columbia

(United States) President-Elect Abraham Lincoln decided in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, for security reason, to forgo the rest of his itinerary and head directly and in secret to Washington D.C. Late in the previous evening, under cover of night, he took a special train, switched tracks in Baltimore, and arrived in Washington, D.C. at six in the morning. He took rooms in Willard's Hotel and for the rest of the day had meetings, with outgoing (United States) President Buchanan at the White House, United States Senator from New York William H. Seward, United States Senator from Ohio Salmon P. Chase, the Illinois delegation, and the outgoing Buchanan Cabinet at around ten in the evening.

Alabama

The Provisional Congress of the Confederate States passes an act declaring the establishment of free navigation on the Mississippi.

Texas

In keeping with the Ordinance of Secession, Texans went to the polls to vote to ratify or overturn the document. The only seceding state so far to allow the people to vote on leaving the United States saw a 23,000 majority for independence. The actual recorded numbers were 46,129 for and and 14,697 against. With that the Ordinance went into effect and Texas was no longer a part of the United States.

Georgia

Three more New York ships are seized in Savannah Harbor.

Virginia

Reports from the Virginia State Convention begin to sound more and more as though the state will secede.

Florida

Harper's Weekly: Fort Pickens, Pensacola Harbor, Florida, looking seaward. Fort McRae in the distance, 23 February 1861

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Events leading up to the United States Civil War, February 24th 1861

District of Columbia

(United States) President-elect Abraham Lincoln had breakfast with wife Mary Todd Lincoln and sons Robert, Willie, and Tad. He then met with William H. Seward, his secretary of state-designate, and together they attended services at St. John’s Episcopal Church. Lincoln and Seward conferred with (United States) Vice President-elect Hannibal Hamlin, then Lincoln welcomed several politicians to his parlor at Willard’s Hotel, among them outgoing (United States) Vice President John C. Breckinridge, United States Senator from Kentucky John J. Crittenden (whose compromise plan Lincoln opposed), Member of the United States House of Representatives from Ohio Thomas Corwin (whose compromise plan Lincoln supported), and abolitionist United States Senator from Massachusetts Charles Sumner.

Nebraska Territory

Algernon S Paddock succeeded Territorial Governor Samuel W Black as Acting Governor of Nebraska Territory.

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Events leading up to the United States Civil War, February 25th 1861

Alabama

Henry T Ellet was appointed provisional Postmaster-General of the Confederate States.

Judah Philip Benjamin was appointed 1st Confederate States Attorney General.

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Events leading up to the United States Civil War, February 26th 1861

District of Columbia

(United States) President-elect Abraham Lincoln makes an unprecedented informal visit to both Houses of Congress together with William H. Seward, his secretary of state-designate. In the Senate, the president-elect was well received by not only fellow Republicans but Pro-United States Democrats such as United States Senator from Illinois, Stephen A. Douglas  and United States Senator from Tennessee, Andrew Johnson. Then they went to the House of Representatives, where Lincoln had served one term 12 years prior. The speaker halted proceedings as the congressmen lined up to meet him and spectators in the galleries strained to see him.

Alabama

The Provisional Congress of the Confederate States authorised the creation of staff and administrative bureau for the Confederate Army.

Texas

Camp Colorado was abandoned by United States forces led by United States Army, Major Edmund Kirby Smith (2nd US Cavalry).

New York

Harper's Weekly map of February 26th 1861

(Note: this is a map that shows what Harper's Weekly assumed that the Confederate States would look like, as of February 26th 1861 ore in the future)

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Events leading up to the United States Civil War, February 27th 1861

District of Columbia

The Virginia Peace Conference sent its proposals for six constitutional amendments to the United States Congress. Former (United States) President John Tyler (1841-1845) agreed to present the findings to the United States Congress although they had already proved unsatisfactory to all parties.

The United States Congress authorized the construction of seven new steam-driven sloops to augment existing naval strength.

A congressional committee called on (United States) President-elect Abraham Lincoln to officially inform him that Congress had endorsed the Electoral College votes in the presidential election. Lincoln wrote out an formal letter of thanks and reaffirmed his “firm reliance on the strength of our free government.”

Alabama

The Provisional Congress of the Confederate States authorised the creation of staff posts for the Army, comprising an Adjutant-General, a Quartermaster-General, a Commissary-General, and a Surgeon-General.

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Events leading up to the United States Civil War, February 28th 1861

District of Columbia

The United States House of Representatives adopted the amendments offered by the select Committee of Thirty-Three forbidding interference by Congress with slavery in any state. 

Outgoing (United States) President Buchanan signed into law the legislation organizing the Colorado Territory. The bill had been introduced earlier in the month and helped through congress both by the absence of many southern members and its silence on slavery. It was named for its main river after proposals for "Jefferson" and "Idaho" were rejected.

Moderate delegates from the Peace Conference at the Willard's Hotel in Washington, D.C, the same hotel where (United States) President-elect Abraham Lincoln is staying at came to see if the president-elect would accept a last-minute compromise. When Lincoln resisted, former governor of Kentucky, Charles S. Morehead reminded him that more people voted against him than for him in the election. Lincoln replied that he was not the first man elected with a minority of the vote; and at any rate, he garnered more votes than anyone else he ran against. Morehead asserted that peace could be secured if Lincoln would agree to withdraw Federal troops from the South. Lincoln turned to Delegate from Virginia to the Provisional Confederate Congress, William Rives and said, “If Virginia will stay in, I will withdraw the troops from Fort Sumter.” Rives had no authority to agree, but he pledged to do all he could to persuade his fellow Virginians to go along. When the delegates grew testy, Lincoln told them, “Well, gentlemen, I have been wondering very much whether, if Mr. Douglas or Mr. Bell had been elected President you would have dared to talk to him as freely as you have to me.” The meeting ended with nothing resolved.

Alabama

The creation of the Provisional Army of the Confederate States of America was confirmed in an Act of the Provisional Congress of the Confederate States. (Confederate States) President Jefferson Finis Davis was directed to call for as many volunteers as were required for up to 12 months’ service of the Confederate States of America. The President was also authorised to appoint General officers as required for service. The various State militias were transferred to the direction of Army.

Stephen Mallory becomes Confederate States Secretary of the Navy.

The Provisional Congress of the Confederate States authorized the first Confederate States government bond issue. The amount was not to exceed fifteen million dollars.

Missouri

The Missouri state convention met, after a motion to go into secret session was defeated. A resolution requiring members to take an oath to support the Constitution of the United States and the State of Missouri was defeated.

North Carolina

The voters of North Carolina reject a convention for the purpose of considering secession, reflecting the degree to which upper South states continue to debate the matter and exhibit divisions between those who wish to join their sister Southern states and those who prefer to remain adhered to the Union, for the time being, at least.

Texas

Fort Chadbourne surrendered to Texas state authorities.

Virginia

Former (United States) President John Tyler (1841-1845) and James A Seddon, commissioners to the Washington Peace Congress, presented their report to the Virginia state legislature, and denounced the recommendations of that body as a delusion and a sham, and as an insult and an offence to the Southern states.

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Events leading up to the United States Civil War, March 1st 1861

District of Columbia

The United States Congress refused to act upon the proposals drawn up by the Virginia Peace Conference.

Alabama

(Confederate States) President Jefferson Davis assumed command of the military affairs in the Confederate States of Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, and Texas.

Pierre Gustave Toutant Beauregard was promoted to Brigadier General, the first General Officer appointed by the Army of the Confederate States.

Kentucky

En route to Washington D.C. to take his seat in the 37th Congress, Congressman Thomas A. R. Nelson is arrested by Confederate scouts and conveyed to Richmond as a prisoner. Later paroled, he is allowed to return to Tennessee.

South Carolina

As the United States Army garrison of Fort Sumter still refused to surrender, this post became the focal point for confrontation between the Confederate States’ government and the United States’ Government. The Confederate government took over responsibility for military affairs at Charleston, making it a matter of national and not just State interest.

Texas

After he had surrendered Federal government and military property to the Texas state authorities, United States Army, Brigadier General David Emanuel Twiggs was dismissed from the United States Regular Army for dishonourable conduct as per General Order No.5:

Washington, March 1, 1861.

The following order is published for the information of the Army:

War Department, March 1, 1861.

By the direction of the President of the United States, it is ordered that Brigadier General David E. Twiggs be and is hereby dismissed from the Army of the United States, for his treachery to the flag of his country, in having surrendered, on the 18th of February, 1861, on the demand of the authorities of Texas, the military posts and other property of the United States in his Department and under his charge.

J. Holt, Secretary of War.

By order of the Secretary of War.

S. Cooper, Adjutant General.

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Events leading up to the United States Civil War, March 2nd 1861

District of Columbia

In the absence of opposition, the United States Congress passed the Morrill Tariff Act, a high protective tariff long opposed by Southern congressmen.

The Peace Convention sponsored a Constitutional amendment in Congress presented by Senator John J Crittenden of Kentucky. The proposal was defeated and marked the end and failure of the Peace Convention.

Outgoing (United States) president James Buchanan signed into law the recently passed bill and the Territory of Nevada came into being.

United States Army, General-in Chief Major General Winfield Scott consulted with (United States) secretary of state-designate, William H. Seward on the secession crisis. Scott wrote him that once Lincoln became president, he could follow one of four courses:

1 - Support one of the compromise measures that had been rejected by Congress, “& my life upon it, we shall have no more secession.” Without such a concession, the remaining slave states still in the Union “will, probably, join the Montgomery confederacy in less than sixty days.” But this would make the incoming administration look weak because it meant Lincoln would have to turn around and support concessions he had consistently opposed in the past.

2 - Continue collecting tariffs at southern ports, and if the southern states refused to give them up, blockade the ports until the southern economy dissolved to the point that they would come back into the Union.

3 - Raise armies to invade and conquer the South. Scott estimated that it would take 300,000 men and up to three years to do this. The result would be “fifteen devastated provinces—not to be brought into harmony with their conquerors; but to be held, for generations, by heavy garrisons.”

4 - “Say to the seceded States—wayward sisters, depart in peace!”

Lincoln would have to decide which course to take once he became president.

Texas

Texas was formally admitted to the Confederate States of America.

The United States Revenue cutter USRC HENRY DODGE under the command of First Lieutenant William F. Rogers, a small schooner in poor condition, became the latest federal vessel to fall into the hands of seceding states when the Quartermaster of the Confederate States of America in Houston ordered its seizure in Galveston, Texas.

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Events leading up to the United States Civil War, March 3rd 1861

District of Columbia

United States Army, General-in Chief Major-General Winfield Scott, Colonel Edwin Vose Sumner, and Colonel Charles Pomeroy Stone planned the military protection of the procession for the Presidential inauguration of Abraham Lincoln. All available Regular Army and volunteer units were deployed with the procession and to guard key points along the route, at the Capitol, and around the White House.

With controversy over the status of Fort Sumter raging and Abraham Lincoln due to be inaugurated the next day, speaker of the United States House of Representatives, William Pennington gaveled the ninety-three day "lame-duck" second session of the House of Representatives to a close, ending the term of the Thirty-sixth Congress of the United States.

South Carolina

Confederate States Army, Brigadier General Pierre Gustave Toutant Beauregard arrived at Charleston and met with Governor of South Carolina, Francis Wilkinson Pickens and other state officials at the Charleston Hotel, Pickens’s home away from the Governor’s Mansion. The transfer of authority now passed from state to national hands. Beauregard then quickly set about inspecting the harbor defenses, both those held by the South Carolina militia and those of Fort Sumter.

At Fort Sumter, United States Army Major Robert Anderson sent a message to his superiors at Washington, D.C. saying that Fort Sumter would soon need to be either reinforced or abandoned. He currently had just 85 men and 43 civilians in the fort. Relations between Anderson’s men and the South Carolinians had been amiable, but state militia were assembling, training, drilling, and building defensive works in the harbor. The supplies that the South Carolinians had allowed the Federals to take from Charleston were quickly running out. Anderson also asserted that because of “the limited supply of our provisions,” he needed 20,000 reinforcements to hold the fort, which he would have to abandon anyway if his supplies ran out before those reinforcements arrived. At the time, there was not even 20,000 men in the entire United States Army. And even if there were, and if they could be sent to aid Anderson, the South Carolinians had batteries trained on the harbor entrance and had sunk ships in the harbor to block any relief effort.

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Events leading up to the United States Civil War, March 4th 1861

District of Columbia

The Inauguration of Abraham Lincoln took place in Washington D.C. he was sworn in by Chief Justice Taney as the 16th President of the United States of America. In his inaugural speech, the new president said he had no plans to end slavery in those states where it already existed, but he also said he would not accept the principle of the secession of states from the indivisible Union. He said that he hoped to resolve the national crisis without warfare.

Hannibal Hamlin of Maine took office as Vice-President of the United States.

Photo: participants and crowd at the first inauguration of President Abraham Lincoln, at the United States Capitol, Washington, D.C. Lincoln is standing under the wood canopy, at the front, midway between the left and center posts. His face is in shadow but the white shirt front is visible



30 companies of volunteers for the defense of Washington D.C. where raised by United States Army, Colonel Charles Pomeroy Stone. These were reinforced by a company of US Engineers and 2 batteries of the 2nd US Artillery under United States Army, Captain William Farquhar Barry and United States Army, Captain Charles Griffin. They were deployed to protect the President during the inauguration, with sharpshooters placed in positions to prevent any assassination attempts.

Outgoing (United States) Secretary of War Joseph Holt received United States Army Major Robert Anderson message he send on March 3rd on the morning of Lincoln’s inauguration and admitted that it “takes the Department by surprise.” Previous reports had stated that Anderson’s garrison was secure, but since then the South Carolinians had massed batteries, bolstered defenses, and restricted Anderson’s supply flow. This meant that Anderson could not stay at Sumter without help from Washington. And this was Lincoln’s problem now.

United States Navy

Forty-two vessels were reported to be in commission in the United States Navy. Twelve ships were assigned duty with the Home Squadron (four of them were already based at Northern ports). Three ships assigned to foreign stations (USS POWATAN, USS POCAHONTAS and USS CUMBERLAND) were also recalled back to United States Navy controlled bases.

Alabama

Senator Louis T. Wigfall of Texas writes to Governor of South Carolina, Francis Pickens: “Do not permit any attack on Sumter without authority” from the Confederate government. “This is all important. Inaugural [of hostilities] means war.”

The first version of the Confederate national flag was adopted and it was first raised by the granddaughter of former (United States) President John Tyler at the Capitol in Montgomery, Alabama. Designed by Professor Nicola Marshall, the flag had two horizontal red stripes separated by a white one, and seven white stars arranged in a circle on a blue field.

Image: First flag of the Confederate States of America



Missouri

The Missouri state convention passed a resolution appointing a committee to notify Georgia commissioner Luther J Glenn that the Missouri state convention was ready to hear any communication from his state. Glenn read Georgia’s Articles of Secession and made a speech urging Missouri to join the seceded states.

Texas

The Texas state convention formally declared the state to have left the United States. Governor Samuel Houston issued a proclamation confirming the act of secession.