Events in 1861

February 4, 1861

Confederate States Formation

Seven Southern states officially established the Confederate States of America, marking a pivotal moment that led to the American Civil War. The formation occurred in Montgomery, Alabama, with Jefferson Davis elected as president.

February 9, 1861

Jefferson Davis Elected Confederate President

Jefferson Davis was unanimously elected as the provisional president of the Confederate States of America by the Confederate Constitutional Convention in Montgomery, Alabama, marking a crucial moment in the American Civil War.

February 18, 1861

Jefferson Davis Confederate Inauguration

On February 18, 1861, Jefferson Davis was inaugurated as the first and only President of the Confederate States of America in Montgomery, Alabama. The ceremony took place at the Alabama State Capitol, marking the formal establishment of the Confederate government.

March 4, 1861

Lincoln's Presidential Inauguration

Abraham Lincoln took the oath of office as the 16th President of the United States during a period of intense national crisis, with seven Southern states already seceded from the Union. The inauguration marked the beginning of one of the most consequential presidencies in American history.

March 4, 1861

Lincoln's Haunted Red Room

During Abraham Lincoln's presidency (1861-1865), the White House's Red Room became a focal point of supernatural activity. Multiple witnesses, including Lincoln himself, documented unexplained phenomena such as mysterious footsteps, temperature drops, moving objects, and apparitions.

March 11, 1861

Confederate Constitution Adoption

The Confederate Constitution was officially adopted in Montgomery, Alabama, establishing the legal framework for the Confederate States of America. This pivotal document, created by delegates from seven Southern states, marked a significant moment in American history leading to the Civil War.

April 1, 1861

Elizabeth Van Lew's Union Spy Network

Elizabeth Van Lew, a Richmond socialite turned Union spy, established and operated the most successful Union intelligence network in the Confederate capital from 1861 to 1865. Despite her Confederate family background, she leveraged her social position to gather critical military intelligence while maintaining the deceptive persona of 'Crazy Bet'.

April 12, 1861

Rose O'Neal Greenhow Becomes Confederate Spy

Rose O'Neal Greenhow, a prominent Washington socialite, initiates her espionage activities for the Confederacy following the fall of Fort Sumter, establishing one of the most sophisticated intelligence networks of the Civil War era.

April 12, 1861

Battle of Fort Sumter

The American Civil War began when Confederate forces under General P.G.T. Beauregard launched a 34-hour bombardment of Union-held Fort Sumter in Charleston Harbor, South Carolina. The battle ended with the fort's surrender and marked the beginning of America's bloodiest conflict.

April 12, 1861

Battle of Fort Sumter

The Confederate bombardment of Fort Sumter on April 12, 1861, marked the beginning of the American Civil War. After 34 hours of artillery fire, the Union garrison surrendered the fort, catalyzing the nation's descent into full-scale civil war.

April 12, 1861

American Civil War Begins

The American Civil War officially began with the Confederate attack on Fort Sumter in Charleston Harbor, South Carolina, marking the start of the deadliest conflict in U.S. history.

April 12, 1861

American Civil War Begins

The American Civil War officially begins when Confederate forces under General P.G.T. Beauregard launch an artillery bombardment against Union-held Fort Sumter in Charleston Harbor, South Carolina, marking the start of the bloodiest conflict in U.S. history.

April 13, 1861

Fort Sumter Surrenders

The surrender of Fort Sumter on April 13, 1861, marked the beginning of the American Civil War. After 34 hours of Confederate bombardment, Union Major Robert Anderson surrendered the fort to Confederate forces, making it the first major Confederate victory of the war.

April 17, 1861

Virginia's Secession

Virginia's decision to secede from the Union marked a critical turning point in the American Civil War, coming after the Confederate attack on Fort Sumter and Lincoln's call for troops. As the most populous and economically powerful Southern state, Virginia's secession transformed a regional dispute into a full-scale civil war.

June 10, 1861

Dorothea Dix Appointed as Army Nurses Superintendent

Dorothea Dix made history by becoming the first woman to serve in a high-ranking federal position when she was appointed as Superintendent of Army Nurses for the Union Army during the American Civil War.

June 14, 1861

Nathan Bedford Forrest's Military Rise

Nathan Bedford Forrest's unprecedented advancement from private to lieutenant general in the Confederate Army during the American Civil War, showcasing exceptional military leadership despite no formal training.

July 21, 1861

First Battle of Bull Run

The First Battle of Bull Run was a pivotal engagement of the American Civil War, fought on July 21, 1861, near Manassas Junction, Virginia. The battle resulted in a Confederate victory and shattered both sides' illusions of a quick war.

July 21, 1861

Matthew Brady's Civil War Photography

Matthew Brady transformed wartime documentation by pioneering battlefield photography during the American Civil War, receiving special permission from President Lincoln to capture the conflict through his lens. His work marked the first systematic attempt to document American warfare through photography.

July 27, 1861

McClellan's Appointment as Union Commander

General George B. McClellan, at age 34, was appointed commander of the Union Army during the American Civil War. Following successful campaigns in western Virginia, he took command of the Army of the Potomac on July 27, 1861, and was later promoted to General-in-Chief of all Union armies.

August 10, 1861

Battle of Wilson's Creek

The Battle of Wilson's Creek was a crucial Civil War engagement that took place near Springfield, Missouri. As the first major battle west of the Mississippi River, it resulted in over 2,500 casualties and the death of Union General Nathaniel Lyon, the first Union general killed in the war.