1861

Events from the year **1861 in the United States**. American Civil War begins.

## Incumbents

### Federal Government

* President: James Buchanan (D-PA) (until March 4), Abraham Lincoln (R-IL) (starting March 4)
* Vice President: John C. Breckinridge (D-KY) (until March 4), Hannibal Hamlin (R-ME) (starting March 4)
* Chief Justice: Roger B. Taney (MD)
* Speaker of the House of Representatives: William Pennington (R-NJ) (until March 4), Galusha A. Grow (R-PA) (starting July 4)
* Congress: 36th (until March 4), 37th (starting March 4)

Governors
* Governor of Alabama: Andrew B. Moore (Democratic) (until December 2), John Gill Shorter (Democratic) (starting December 2)
* Governor of Arkansas: Henry Massey Rector (Democratic)
* Governor of California: John G. Downey (Democratic)
* Governor of Connecticut: William A. Buckingham (Republican)
* Governor of Delaware: William Burton (Democratic)
* Governor of Florida: Madison S. Perry (Democratic) (until October 7), John Milton (Democratic) (starting October 7)
* Governor of Georgia: Joseph E. Brown (Democratic)
* Governor of Illinois: John Wood (Republican) (until January 14), Richard Yates (Republican) (starting January 14)
* Governor of Indiana:
	+ until January 14: Abram A. Hammond (Democratic)
	+ January 14-January 16: Henry Smith Lane (Republican)
	+ starting January 16: Oliver P. Morton (Republican)
* Governor of Iowa: Samuel J. Kirkwood (Republican)
* Governor of Kansas: Samuel Medary (Democratic) (until February 9), Charles L. Robinson (Republican) (starting February 9)
* Governor of Kentucky: Beriah Magoffin (Democratic) (starting August 30)
* Governor of Louisiana: Thomas Overton Moore (Democratic)
* Governor of Maine: Lot M. Morrill (Democratic) (until January 2), Israel Washburn Jr. (Republican) (starting January 2)
* Governor of Maryland: Thomas H. Hicks (Republican)
* Governor of Massachusetts: Nathaniel Prentice Banks (Republican) (until January 3), John Albion Andrew (Republican) (starting January 3)
* Governor of Michigan: Moses Wisner (Republican) (until January 2), Austin Blair (Republican) (starting January 2)
* Governor of Minnesota: Alexander Ramsey (Republican)
* Governor of Mississippi: John J. Pettus (Democratic)
* Governor of Missouri:
	+ until January 3: Robert Marcellus Stewart (Democratic)
	+ January 3-July 23: Claiborne Fox Jackson (Democratic)
	+ July 23-July 31: vacant
	+ starting July 31: Hamilton Rowan Gamble (Republican)
* Governor of New Hampshire: Ichabod Goodwin (Republican) (until June 2), Nathaniel S. Berry (Republican) (starting June 2)
* Governor of New Jersey: Charles Smith Olden (Republican)
* Governor of New York: Edwin D. Morgan (Republican)
* Governor of North Carolina: John Willis Ellis (Democratic) (until July 7), Henry Toole Clark (Democratic) (starting July 7)
* Governor of Ohio: William Dennison Jr. (Republican)
* Governor of Oregon: John Whiteaker (Democratic)
* Governor of Pennsylvania: William F. Packer (Democratic) (until January 15), Andrew Gregg Curtin (Republican) (starting January 15)
* Governor of Rhode Island: William Sprague IV (Republican)
* Governor of South Carolina: Francis Wilkinson Pickens (Democratic)
* Governor of Tennessee: Isham G. Harris (Democratic)
* Governor of Texas:
	+ until March 18: Sam Houston (Independent)
	+ March 18-November 7: Edward Clark (Democratic)
	+ starting November 7: Francis R. Lubbock (Democratic)
* Governor of Vermont: Erastus Fairbanks (Republican) (until October 11), Frederick Holbrook (Republican) (starting October 11)
* Governor of Virginia: John Letcher (Democratic) (starting January 1)
* Governor of Wisconsin: Alexander W. Randall (Republican)

Lieutenant Governors
* Lieutenant Governor of California: Isaac N. Quinn (Democratic) (until January 7), Pablo de la Guerra (Democratic) (starting January 7)
* Lieutenant Governor of Connecticut: Benjamin Douglas (Republican)
* Lieutenant Governor of Illinois: Francis Hoffmann (Republican)
* Lieutenant Governor of Indiana: John R. Cravens (Republican)
* Lieutenant Governor of Iowa: Nicholas J. Rusch (Republican)
* Lieutenant Governor of Kansas: Joseph Pomeroy Root (Republican)
* Lieutenant Governor of Kentucky: vacant
* Lieutenant Governor of Louisiana: Henry M. Hyams (Democratic)
* Lieutenant Governor of Massachusetts:
	+ until January 3: Eliphalet Trask (political party unknown)
	+ January 3-month and day unknown: John Z. Goodrich (political party unknown)
	+ starting month and day unknown: vacant
* Lieutenant Governor of Michigan:
	+ until month and day unknown: Edmund B. Fairfield (Republican)
	+ month and day unknown: James M. Birney (Republican)
	+ month and day unknown: Joseph R. Williams (Republican)
	+ starting month and day unknown: Henry T. Backus (Republican)
* Lieutenant Governor of Minnesota: Ignatius L. Donnelly (Republican)
* Lieutenant Governor of Missouri:
	+ until January 3: Hancock Lee Jackson (Democratic)
	+ January 3-July 23: Thomas Caute Reynolds (Democratic)
	+ July 23-July 31: vacant
	+ starting July 31: William Preble Hall (Republican)
* Lieutenant Governor of New York: Robert Campbell (Republican)
* Lieutenant Governor of Ohio: Robert C. Kirk (Republican)
* Lieutenant Governor of Rhode Island: J. Russell Bullock (political party unknown) (until month and day unknown), Samuel G. Arnold (political party unknown) (starting month and day unknown)
* Lieutenant Governor of South Carolina: W. W. Harllee (Democratic)
* Lieutenant Governor of Texas: Edward Clark (Democratic) (until month and day unknown), John McClannahan Crockett (Democratic) (starting month and day unknown)
* Lieutenant Governor of Vermont: Levi Underwood (Republican)
* Lieutenant Governor of Virginia: Robert Latane Montague (no political party)
* Lieutenant Governor of Wisconsin: Butler G. Noble (Republican)

## Events

### January - March

* January 3 – American Civil War: Delaware votes not to secede from the Union.
* January 9 – Mississippi becomes the second state to secede from the Union, preceding the American Civil War.
* January 10 – American Civil War: Florida secedes from the Union.
* January 11 – American Civil War: Alabama secedes from the Union.
* January 12 – Major Robert Anderson sends dispatches to Washington.
* January 12 – American Civil War: Florida state troops demand surrender of Fort Pickens.
* January 18 – American Civil War: Georgia secedes from the Union.
* January 21 – American Civil War: Jefferson Davis resigns from the United States Senate. Ordinance of Secession is ratified.
* January 26 – American Civil War: Louisiana secedes from the Union.
* January 29 – Kansas admitted becomes the 34th U.S. state.
* February 1 – American Civil War: Texas secedes from the Union.
* February 4 – American Civil War: Delegates from six seceded states meet at the Montgomery Convention in Montgomery, Alabama.
* February 8 – American Civil War: The Confederate States of America adopts the Provisional Constitution of the Confederate States.
* February 9 – American Civil War: Jefferson Davis is elected the Provisional President of the Confederate States of America by the Weed Convention at Montgomery, Alabama.
* February 11 – American Civil War: The U.S. House unanimously passes a resolution guaranteeing non-interference with slavery in any state.
* February 18 – American Civil War: In Montgomery, Alabama, Jefferson Davis is inaugurated as the provisional president of the Confederate States of America.
* February 23 – President-elect Abraham Lincoln arrives secretly in Washington, D.C. after an assassination attempt in Baltimore.
* February 28 – Colorado Territory is organized.
* March 2 – Nevada Territory and Dakota Territory are organized.
* March 4
	+ Abraham Lincoln is sworn in as the 16th President of the United States, and Hannibal Hamlin is sworn in as Vice President of the United States.
	+ American Civil War: The Stars and Bars is adopted as the flag of the Confederate States of America.
* March 11 – American Civil War: The Constitution of the Confederate States is adopted.

### April - June

* April 12 – Battle of Fort Sumter: The American Civil War begins at Fort Sumter, South Carolina.
* April 13 – Battle of Fort Sumter: Fort Sumter surrenders to Confederate forces.
* April 17 – The state of Virginia secedes from the Union.
* April 20 – American Civil War: Robert E. Lee resigns his commission in the United States Army in order to command the forces of the state of Virginia.
* April 25 – American Civil War: The Union Army arrives in Washington, D.C.
* April 27 – American Civil War: President Abraham Lincoln suspends the writ of habeas corpus in Maryland.
* May 6 – American Civil War: Arkansas secedes from the Union.
* May 7 – American Civil War: Tennessee secedes from the Union.
* May 8 – American Civil War: Richmond, Virginia is named the capital of the Confederate States of America.
* May 10 – American Civil War: Camp Jackson Affair: Union military forces clash with civilians on the streets of St. Louis, Missouri, resulting in the deaths of at least 28 people and injuries to another 100.
* May 13 – American Civil War: Queen Victoria issues a "proclamation of neutrality" which recognizes the breakaway states as having belligerent rights.
* May 18 – American Civil War: Battle of Sewell's Point begins.
* May 19 – American Civil War: Battle of Sewell's Point ends.
* May 20
	+ American Civil War: Kentucky proclaims its neutrality which lasts until September 3, when Confederate forces enter the state.
	+ American Civil War: North Carolina secedes from the Union.
* May 29 – American Civil War: Battle of Aquia Creek begins.
* June 1 – American Civil War: Battle of Aquia Creek ends.
* June 3 – American Civil War: Battle of Philippi.
* June 10 – American Civil War: Battle of Big Bethel.
* June 17 – American Civil War: Battle of Boonville.

### July - September

* July 2 – American Civil War: Battle of Hoke's Run.
* July 5 – American Civil War: Battle of Carthage.
* July 11 – American Civil War: Battle of Rich Mountain.
* July 13 – American Civil War: The Battle of Corrick's Ford takes place in western Virginia.
* July 18 – American Civil War: Battle of Blackburn's Ford.
* July 21 – American Civil War: First Battle of Bull Run, *aka* First Manassas: At Manassas Junction, Virginia, the first major battle of the war ends in a Confederate victory.
* July 22 – American Civil War: After Union forces led by Nathaniel Lyon capture the Missouri state capital of Jefferson City, the Missouri Constitutional Convention reconvenes and removes pro-secessionist Governor Claiborne Fox Jackson from office, replacing him with a pro-Union governor.
* July 25 – American Civil War: The Crittenden–Johnson Resolution is passed by the U.S. Congress, stating that the war is being fought to preserve the Union and not to end slavery.
* July 26 – American Civil War: George B. McClellan assumes command of the Army of the Potomac following a disastrous Union defeat at the First Battle of Bull Run.
* August 5
	+ American Civil War: In order to help pay for the war effort, the United States government issues the first income tax as part of the Revenue Act of 1861 (3% of all incomes over US$800; rescinded in 1872).
	+ The U.S. Army abolishes flogging.
* August 10 – American Civil War: The first major battle west of the Mississippi River, the Battle of Wilson's Creek, is fought, with a Confederate victory.
* August 26 – American Civil War: Battle of Kessler's Cross Lanes.
* August 28 – American Civil War: Battle of Hatteras Inlet Batteries begins.
* August 29 – American Civil War: Battle of Hatteras Inlet Batteries ends.
* September 2 – American Civil War: Battle of Dry Wood Creek.
* September 3 – American Civil War: Confederate General Leonidas Polk invades neutral Kentucky, prompting the state legislature to ask for Union assistance.
* September 6 – American Civil War: Forces under Union General Ulysses S. Grant bloodlessly capture Paducah, Kentucky, which gives the Union control the mouth of the Tennessee River.
* September 10 – American Civil War: Battle of Carnifex Ferry.
* September 12 – American Civil War: Battle of Cheat Mountain begins.
* September 13 – American Civil War: First Battle of Lexington begins.
* September 15 – American Civil War: Battle of Cheat Mountain ends.
* September 17 – American Civil War: Action at Blue Mills Landing.
* September 19 – American Civil War: Battle of Barbourville.
* September 20 – American Civil War: First Battle of Lexington ends.

### October - December

* October 3 – American Civil War: Battle of Greenbrier River.
* October 9 – American Civil War: Battle of Santa Rosa Island: Confederate forces are defeated in their effort to take the island.
* October 21
	+ American Civil War: Battle of Camp Wildcat.
	+ American Civil War: Engagement at Fredericktown.
	+ American Civil War: Battle of Ball's Bluff: Union forces under Colonel Edward Baker are defeated by Confederate troops in the second major battle of the war. Baker, a close friend of Abraham Lincoln, is killed in the fighting.
* October 25 – American Civil War: First Battle of Springfield.
* October 28 – A small pro-secessionist section of the Missouri legislature takes up a bill for Missouri's secession from the Union.
* October 30 – The bill is passed for Missouri's secession from the Union.
* October 31
	+ Missouri's secession from the Union bill is signed by Governor Claiborne Fox Jackson, but by this date Governor Jackson only controls parts of South-Western Missouri. Union forces led by general John C. Fremont have consolidated control over the vast majority of Missouri.
	+ American Civil War: Citing failing health, Union General Winfield Scott resigns as Commander of the United States Army.
* November 1 – American Civil War: U.S. President Abraham Lincoln appoints George B. McClellan as commander of the Union Army, replacing the aged General Winfield Scott.
* November 2 – American Civil War: Western Department Union General John C. Frémont is relieved of command and replaced by David Hunter.
* November 6 – American Civil War: Jefferson Davis is elected president of the Confederate States of America.
* November 7 – American Civil War: Battle of Belmont: In Mississippi County, Union forces led by General Ulysses S. Grant overrun a Confederate camp but are forced to retreat when Confederate reinforcements arrive.
* November 8
	+ American Civil War: Battle of Ivy Mountain.
	+ American Civil War: Trent Affair: The USS *San Jacinto* stops the United Kingdom mail ship *Trent* and arrests two Confederate envoys, James Mason and John Slidell, sparking a diplomatic crisis between the U.K. and U.S.
* November 19 – American Civil War: Battle of Round Mountain.
* November 21 – American Civil War: Confederate President Jefferson Davis appoints Judah Benjamin Secretary of War.
* November 28 – American Civil War: Acting on the ordinance passed by the Jackson government, the Confederate Congress admits Missouri as the 12th Confederate state.
* December 9 – American Civil War: Battle of Chusto-Talasah.
* December 10 – American Civil War: Kentucky is accepted into the Confederate States of America.
* December 13 – American Civil War: Battle of Camp Allegheny.
* December 17 – American Civil War: Battle of Rowlett's Station.
* December 20 – American Civil War: Battle of Dranesville.
* December 26 – American Civil War: Battle of Chustenahlah.
* December 28 – American Civil War: Battle of Mount Zion Church.

## Memoriam

* April 4 – John McLean, U.S. Postmaster General from 1823 to 1829, Associate Justice of the Supreme Court from 1829 to 1861 (aged 76; Cincinnati, OH, USA)
* April 8 – Elisha Otis, industrialist, founder of the Otis Elevator Company (aged 49; Yonkers, NY, USA)
* April 15 – Isaiah Stillman, U.S. Army Major in the Black Hawk War (aged 67; Kingston Mines, IL, USA)
* May 21 – Benjamin Paul Akers, sculptor (aged 35; Philadelphia, PA, USA)
* May 24 – Elmer E. Ellsworth, first Union officer to die in the Civil War (aged 24; Alexandria, VA, CSA)
* June 3 – Stephen A. Douglas, U.S. Senator from Illinois from 1847 to 1861 and Presidential candidate (aged 48; Chicago, IL, USA)
* June 5 – John Garland, Bvt. Brigadier General in the Union Army (aged 67; New York City, NY, USA)
* June 13 – Richard Lawrence, failed assassin of Andrew Jackson (aged 61; Washington, DC, USA)
* July 7 – John Willis Ellis, 35th Governor of North Carolina from 1859 to 1861 (aged 40; Red Sulphur Springs, VA (Now WV), CSA)
* July 13 – Robert S. Garnett, Confederate brigadier general (aged 41; Tucker County, VA, CSA)
* July 22 – Barnard Elliott Bee Jr., Confederate general (aged 37; Manassas, VA, CSA)
* August 10 – Nathaniel Lyon, Union Army brigadier general, first general to be killed in the Civil War (aged 43; Battlefield, MO, USA)
* August 12 – Eliphalet Remington, gunmaker (aged 67; Ilion, NY, USA)
* August 17 – Alcée Louis la Branche, politician (aged 55; Hot Springs, VA, CSA)
* September 7 – Willie Person Mangum, U.S. Senator from North Carolina from 1831 to 1836 and from 1840 to 1853 (aged 69; Durham County, NC, CSA)
* October 5 – Kinsley S. Bingham, U.S. Senator from Michigan from 1859 to 1861 (aged 52; Green Oak, MI, USA)
* October 20 – William Woodbridge, Governor of Michigan from 1840 to 1841 and U.S. Senator from Michigan from 1841 to 1847 (aged 81; Detroit, MI, USA)
* October 21 – Edward Dickinson Baker, U.S. Senator from Oregon from 1860 to 1861 (aged 50; Ball's Bluff, VA, CSA)
* October 26 – Edward "Ned" Kendall, bandleader and instrumentalist (keyed bugle) (aged 53; Boston, MA, USA)
* November 28 – Richard M. Young, U.S. Senator from Illinois from 1837 to 1843 (aged 63; Washington, DC, USA)