[
3]
forbidding any interference by Congress with slavery in the States.
(This amendment was adopted by the Senate March 2, but was never adopted by the necessary number of States.)
February 28, 1861.
Act passed by Confederate Congress to raise provisional forces.
March 1, 1861.
The President of the
Confederate States assumed control of military affairs in the States of
Alabama,
Florida,
Georgia,
Louisiana,
Mississippi,
South Carolina, and
Texas.
March 2, 1861.
United States Revenue cutter
Dodge seized at
Galveston, Tex., by State authorities.
March 2, 1861.
Texas admitted as a member of the
Confederate States of America.
March 3, 1861.
Brig.-General G. T. Beauregard, C. S. Army, assumed command at
Charleston, S. C.
March 4, 1861.
Abraham Lincoln inaugurated as
President of the
United States.
March 6, 1861.
Confederate Congress passed act for the establishment of an army, not to exceed 100,000 men, for 12 months service.
March 7, 1861.
Ringgold Barracks, Tex., abandoned.
March 7, 1861.
Camp Verde, Tex., abandoned.
March 11, 1861.
Brig.-General Braxton Bragg assumed command of the Confederate forces in
Florida.
March 11, 1861.
Adoption of the “Constitution of the
Confederate States of America,” at
Montgomery, Ala., following in general the
Constitution of the United States, but prohibiting the passage of any “law denying or impairing the right of property in negro slaves” ; prohibiting “the importation of negroes of the African race from any foreign country other than the slave-holding States and territories of the
United States of America,” and giving to the Confederate Congress “power to prohibit the introduction of slaves from any State not a member of, or territory not belonging to,” the
Confederacy.
The preamble included a declaration of the “sovereign and independent character” of each State.
March 15, 1861.
Confederate Congress passed act authorizing the construction or purchase of ten gun-boats.
April 7, 1861.
Reinforcements for
Fort Pickens sailed from New York.
April 10, 1861.
Second expedition for the relief of
Fort Sumter sailed from New York.
April 11, 1861.
Evacuation of
Fort Sumter demanded by
General Beauregard.
April 12, 1861.
Reinforcements from
Fort Monroe, Va., landed at
Fort Pickens, Fla.
April 12, 1861.
Bombardment of
Fort Sumter commenced.
April 13, 1861.
Fort Sumter surrendered.
April 14, 1861.
Fort Sumter evacuated by its garrison and occupied by Confederate troops.
April 15, 1861.
President Lincoln issued a call for 75,000 militia for 3 months service, and a summons to Congress to assemble on July 4th.
April 15, 1861.
Fort Macon, N. C., seized by State authorities.
April 16, 1861.
Forts Caswell and
Johnston, N. C., seized by State authorities.
April 17, 1861.
Reinforcements from New York landed at
Fort Pickens, Fla.
April 17, 1861.
Confederate
President called for 32,000 troops, and offered letters of marque against
United States commerce.
April 17, 1861.
Ordinance of secession adopted in
Virginia by Convention, subject to popular vote.
April 18, 1861.
United States Armory at
Harper's Ferry abandoned and burned.
April 19, 1861.
President Lincoln announced the blockade of Southern ports, from
South Carolina to
Texas inclusive.
April 19, 1861.
Conflict between U. S. troops and mob in
Baltimore, Md.
April 19, 1861.
Major-General Robert Patterson, Pennsylvania Militia, assigned to command over the States of
Delaware,
Pennsylvania, and
Maryland, and the District of Columbia.
April 20, 1861.
Expedition from
Fort Monroe to destroy dry-dock at
Norfolk, Va.
April 20, 1861.
United States Arsenal at
Liberty, Mo., seized by armed secessionists.
April 21, 1861.
United States Branch Mint at
Charlotte, N. C., seized by State authorities.
April 21, 1861.
Colonel Earl Van Dorn, C. S. Army, assumed command in
Texas.
April 22, 1861.
United States Arsenal at
Fayetteville, N. C., seized by State authorities.
April 23, 1861.
Fort Smith, Ark., seized by State authorities.
April 23, 1861.
United States army officers at
San Antonio, Tex., seized as prisoners of war.
April 23, 1861.
Company of 8th U. S. Infantry (
Lee's) captured near
San Antonio, Tex.
April 23, 1861.
Captain Nathaniel Lyon, U. S. Army, assumed temporary command of the Department of the West.
April 23, 1861.
Major-General Robert E. Lee assigned to the command of the forces of
Virginia.
April 26, 1861.
Major-General Joseph E. Johnston, Virginia Volunteers, assigned to command of the
State forces in and about
Richmond, Va.
April 27, 1861.
Blockade of
Virginia and
North Carolina ports announced.
April 27, 1861.
Major-General Robert Patterson, Pennsylvania Militia, assigned to command of the Department of Pennsylvania.
April 27, 1861.
Brig.-General B. F. Butler, Massachusetts Militia, assigned to command of the Department of Annapolis.
April 27, 1861.
Colonel J. K. F. Mansfield, U. S. Army, assigned to command of the Department of Washington.
April 27, 1861.
Colonel T. J. Jackson, Virginia Volunteers, assigned to command at
Harper's Ferry.
May 1, 1861.
Volunteer forces called for by the
Governor of
Virginia.
May 3, 1861.
Additional forces called for in
Virginia.
May 3, 1861.
President Lincoln issued call for volunteers to serve three years; ordered the regular army to be increased, and directed the enlistment of additional seamen.
May 4, 1861.
Colonel G. A. Porterfield, Virginia Vols., assigned to command in
Northwestern Virginia.
May 6, 1861.
Ordinance of secession adopted in
Arkansas.
May 6, 1861.
Confederate Congress passed act “recognizing the existence of war between the
United States and the
Confederate States, and ”
