May 16, 1861 A Chronological History of the Civil War in America1 Bridges on the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad de stroyed by the rebels. Gen. Scott ordered Arlington Heights to be fortified. Secessionists dispersed at Liberty, Mo. A Chronological History of the Civil War in America by Richard Swainson Fisher, New York, Johnson and Ward, [...]

May 15, 1861 Robert Anderson promoted to Brigadier General Nathaniel Lyons [US] occupies Jefferson City, capital of Missouri The First Wheeling Convention closes. A Chronological History of the Civil War in America1 Governor of Maryland issued a proclamation calling for four regiments of volunteers, in response to the President’s demand. Legislature of Massachusetts offered to [...]

May 14, 1861 A Chronological History of the Civil War in America1 A schooner loaded with arms seized at Baltimore; arms seized in other parts of the city. Ross Winans arrested.2 St. Louis and Memphis mail contract annulled, and mails stopped. Gun-boat “Quaker City” captured ship “Argo” with $150,000 worth of tobacco. A Chronological History [...]

May 13, 1861 George McClellan [US] appointed Commander, Department of Ohio. The following day he is promoted major general, his rank in the Ohio militia. Only General-in-Chief Winfield Scott held a higher rank. Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom issues a “proclamation of neutrality” which recognizes the Confederacy as having belligerent rights. The First Wheeling [...]

May 12, 1861 Benjamin Butler takes control of Federal Hill and threatens to fire on downtown Baltimore if Southern sympathizers protest. (During night of May 12/13) A Chronological History of the Civil War in America1 Renewed attempts of the rebels to destroy bridges on the railroads leading to Baltimore. A Chronological History of the Civil [...]

May 11, 1861 A Chronological History of the Civil War in America1 Blockade of Charleston established. Government troops again attacked by the St. Louis mob—four rioters killed, etc. Great Union demonstration in San Francisco. A Chronological History of the Civil War in America by Richard Swainson Fisher, New York, Johnson and Ward, 1863

May 10, 1861 Nathaniel Lyons [US] takes control of St. Louis to end rioting, seizing Camp Jackson (Confederate militia) and 1200 1855 Springfield Rifles A Chronological History of the Civil War in America1 The President, by proclamation, declared martial law upon the island of Key West, the Tortugas, and Santa Rosa, Fla. Mob attack upon [...]

May 9, 1861 A Chronological History of the Civil War in America1 C. S. Congress authorized the President to accept all the volunteers that offer. First landing of Union troops by steamers at Baltimore. The “Winans Steam Gun” captured on the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad. A brigade of rebel militia encamped near St. Louis surrendered [...]

May 8, 1861 A Chronological History of the Civil War in America1 Governor of Ohio made a call for 100,000 men, to be held as a force of reserved militia. A Chronological History of the Civil War in America by Richard Swainson Fisher, New York, Johnson and Ward, 1863

May 7, 1861 A Chronological History of the Civil War in America1 Riot at Knoxville, Tenn., on hoisting a Union flag. Governor of Tennessee announced a military league between that State and the Confederate States. A Chronological History of the Civil War in America by Richard Swainson Fisher, New York, Johnson and Ward, 1863

May 6, 1861 Arkansas secedes from the Union Tennessee votes to put the question of secession before the people in a popular referendum. A Chronological History of the Civil War in America1 Virginia admitted as a State of the Confederate States of America. Arkansas State Convention passed an ordinance of secession (69 v. 1). The [...]

May 5, 1861 A Chronological History of the Civil War in America1 Gen. Butler, with a Union force, took possession of the Relay House, near Baltimore. The 20 days of grace allowed by the President’s proclamation expired. A Chronological History of the Civil War in America by Richard Swainson Fisher, New York, Johnson and Ward, [...]

May 4, 1861 A Chronological History of the Civil War in America1 The Governors of Pennsylvania, Ohio, Wisconsin, Michigan, Indiana, etc., met at Cleveland, Ohio, to devise plans for the defense of the Western States. A Chronological History of the Civil War in America by Richard Swainson Fisher, New York, Johnson and Ward, 1863

May 3, 1861 General Winfield Scott orders troops to seize Arlington Heights, overlooking Washington D. C. Lincoln calls for volunteers to join the Union Army for a three-year term. A Chronological History of the Civil War in America1 Legislature of Connecticut voted $2,000,000 for public defense. Governor of Virginia called out the militia to defend [...]

May 2, 1861 A Chronological History of the Civil War in America1 New York 69th Regiment arrived in Washington. Colonel Elmer Ellsworth’s Fire Zouaves arrived in Washington. Judge Campbell, of Alabama, resigned his seat in the U. S. Supreme Court. A Chronological History of the Civil War in America by Richard Swainson Fisher, New York, [...]

May 1, 1861 Robert E. Lee orders Stonewall Jackson to remove the weapons and equipment from the arsenal at Harpers Ferry A Chronological History of the Civil War in America1 The legislature of North Carolina passes a State Convention Bill. A Chronological History of the Civil War in America by Richard Swainson Fisher, New York, [...]

April 30, 1861 New York Yacht Club offers its vessels to the Federal government A Chronological History of the Civil War in America1 Legislature of New Jersey convened in extra session; the Governor recommended the appropriation of $2,000,000 for war purposes. Virginia State Convention passed an ordinance establishing the navy of Virginia and authorizing the [...]

April 29, 1861 Maryland’s House of Delegates votes not to secede from the Union. The vote is against convening a secessionist convention, dashing the hopes of a sizable pro-South group, but did not vote to end the legislative session. A Chronological History of the Civil War in America1 Legislature of Indiana voted $500,000 to arm [...]

April 27, 1861 President Lincoln suspends the writ of habeas corpus between Washington, D.C., and Philadelphia to give military authorities the necessary power to silence dissenters and rebels. Lincoln extends the blockade to include Virginia and North Carolina Virginia offers Richmond as the Confederate capital. A Chronological History of the Civil War in America1 President’s [...]

April 26, 1861 Gov. Brown, of Georgia, issued a proclamation prohibiting the payment of debts due to Northern men. A Chronological History of the Civil War in America by Richard Swainson Fisher, New York, Johnson and Ward, 1863

April 25, 1861 New York’s 7th Regiment arrives in Washington, having gone around Baltimore by boat. In a daring nighttime operation Illinois troops steam from Alton to St. Louis and remove 10,000 muskets with the help of federal troops in the armory. General Edwin Vose Sumner relieves Albert Sidney Johnston as Commander, Department of the [...]

April 24, 1861 A Chronological History of the Civil War in America1 Fort Smith, Ark., seized by the rebels. A Chronological History of the Civil War in America by Richard Swainson Fisher, New York, Johnson and Ward, 1863

April 23, 1861 Federal troops withdraw from the garrison at Fort Smith, Arkansas. George McClellan appointed Major General of the Ohio militia by Governor William Dennison. Nominated by Governor Letcher of Virginia and approved by the Assembly on the previous day, Robert E. Lee assumes command of Virginia’s militia. Virginia secessionist convention ratifies a temporary [...]

April 22, 1861 The Clarksburg (present-day West Virginia) Convention calls for an anti-secessionist convention to be held in May 1861 Maryland Governor Thomas Holliday Hicks calls a session of the Maryland legislature to consider secession Robert E. Lee accepts command of Virginia forces A Chronological History of the Civil War in America1 U. S. Arsenal [...]