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1861
Jan 1861
Dec 20, 1860 - South Carolina secedes from the Union
Jan 9, 1861 - Mississippi secedes from the Union
Jan 10, 1861 - Florida secedes from the Union
Jan 11, 1861 - Alabama secedes from the Union
Jan 19, 1861 - Georgia secedes from the Union
Jan 26, 1861 - Louisiana secedes from the Union
Feb 1861
Feb 1, 1861 - Texas adopts Ordinance of Secession
Feb 9, 1861 - Jefferson Davis elected provisional President of Confederate States
Feb 18, 1861 - Jefferson Davis inaugurated provisional President of Confederate States
Feb 23, 1861 - President-elect Lincoln arrives in Washington, DC
Feb 23, 1861 - Texas voters approve referendum to secede.
Mar 1861
Mar 4, 1861 - Abraham Lincoln becomes President.
Apr 1861
Apr 12, 1861 - Ft Sumter is fired on.
Apr 13, 1861 - Ft Sumter isurrenders
Apr 17, 1861 - Virginia adopts Ordinance of Secession
Apr 19, 1861 - Lincoln declares blockade of Southern ports.
Apr 22, 1861 - Robert E. Lee accepts command of Virginia forces
May 1861
May 3, 1861 - Lincoln calls for volunteers to put down rebellion
May 6, 1861 - Arkansas and Tennessee adopt Ordinance of Secession
May 13, 1861 - US Troops occupy Baltimore, Maryland.
May 20, 1861 - North Carolina adopts Ordinance of Secession
May 20, 1861 - Kentucky declares its neutrality.
May 21, 1861 - Confederate Congress approves moving the Capital to Richmond, VA
May 23, 1861 - Virginia voters approve Secession.
Jun 1861
June 2, 1861 - PGT Beauregard takes command of Confederate forces in Virginia
June 8, 1861 - Tennessee voters approve Secession.
June 10, 1861 - Engagement at Big Bethel, VA
June 16, 1861 - Thaddeus Lowe demonstrates hot air ballon.
June 17, 1861 - Engagement at Boonville, MO
Jul 1861
July 21, 1861 - 1st Battle of Manassas, VA
July 27, 1861 - MG George McClellan put in command of the Army of the Potomac
July 31, 1861 - US Grant promoted to Brigadier General.
Aug 1861
Aug 5, 1861 - Revenue Act of 1861 - First National income tax. US Grant promoted
Aug 10, 1861 - Battle of Wilson's Creek, MO
Aug 14, 1861 - Soldiers of 79th NY mutiny near Washington, DC
Aug 29, 1861 - Capture of Fort Hatteras and Clark, NC
Aug 30, 1861 - MG John Fremont issues edict freeing slaves in MO.
Sep 1861
Sep 3, 1861 - Confederate forces enter KY, ending its neutral status.
Sep 6, 1861 - Federal forces seize Paducah, KY.
Sep 12-20, 1861 - Confederate siege of Lexington, MO.
Sep 12-15, 1861 - Battle of Cheat Mountain, WV.
Oct 1861
Oct 3, 1861 - Battle of Greenbrier River , WV.
Oct 9, 1861 - Engagement on Santa Rosa Island, FL.
Oct 21, 1861 - Battle of Ball's Bluff, VA
Oct 24, 1861 - Western Union completes first Trans-Continental telegraph line.
Oct 31, 1861 - Secessionist Missouri Legislature votes to secede.
Nov 1861
Nov 1, 1861 - MG George McClellan replaces LG Winfield Scott as general in chief of the US Army.
Nov 2, 1861 - MG Fremont removed from command in the West.
Nov 7, 1861 - Engagement at Belmont, MO.
Nov 8, 1861 - RMS Trent boarded by US warship. Beginning the "Trent Affair".
Nov 21, 1861 - Judah P. Benjamin appointed CSA Secretary of War.
Nov 28, 1861 - Missouri admitted into CSA despite never leaving the Union.
Dec 1861
Dec 9 , 1861 - The Joint Committee on the Conduct of the War is established in Congress.
Dec 26, 1861 - US releases CSA representative Mason and Slidell ending the Trent Affair.
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