Civil War Day-By-Day

April 17, 1861

• The state of Virginia’s secession convention votes to secede from the United States, later becoming the eighth state to join the Confederate States of America.
  • Virgina Secession Convention approves an ordinance of secession and calls for a popular vote to approve it.

A Chronological History of the Civil War in America¹

• The 6th Regiment Mass. State troops left Boston for Washington.
• Virginia State Convention passed an ordinance of secession (88 v. 55) to take effect if ratified by the people on the 4th May next.
• Gov. Letcher, of Virginia, recognized the Confederate States by proclamation.

1. A Chronological History of the Civil War in America by Richard Swainson Fisher, New York, Johnson and Ward, 1863