Confederate Congress adjourns; Lee, others made full general

• In Washington, the Asst. Sec. of Navy Gustavus V. Fox and Gen. Benjamin Butler awaken President Lincoln late at night to inform him of the capture of Forts Hatteras and Clark, in North Carolina./1861
• In Richmond, Virginia, the Third Session of the Provisional Confederate Congress adjourns after approving the promotions of Samuel Cooper, Robert E. Lee, Albert Sidney Johnston, Joseph E. Johnston and P. G. T. Beauregard to full general in the Confederate Army./1861 
• The C.S.S. Teaser shells Union Camp Butler on Newport News Point, Virginia./1861 
• The USS George Peabody, commanded Lieutenant Lowry, captures the brig Henry C. Brooks in Hatteras Inlet, North Carolina. /1861 
• The USS Jamestown under Commander Green, captures the British blockade running schooner Aigburth off the Florida coast./1861

• A skirmish occurs at Munson's Hill, Virginia./1861

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• Why does no one remember Samuel Cooper? (michaelchardy.blogspot.com)
• Hatteras Expedition departs, CS win at Kessler's Cross Lanes (wbts-calendar.blogspot.com)

Blockade runner caught off Charleston, SC

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Brig. Gen. Roswell Ripley

• At Richmond, Virginia, the Confederate War Department assigns Brigadier General Roswell S. Ripley, an Ohio native who spent his childhood in New York, to command the Department of South Carolina and Brigadier General John B. Grayson to command the Department of Middle and East Florida./1861
• The Second Wheeling Convention adjourns./1861
• The USS Vandalia under Commander Samuel Phelps Lee captures the Confederate blockade runner Henry Middleton off Charleston, South Carolina, with a cargo of spirits, turpentine, and rosin./1861

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• July 28, 1861: The USS St. Lawrence sinks Confederate privateer Petrel (civilwar-online.com)

State of Kanawha proposed; New CS diplomats approved

• The pro-Union Second Wheeling Convention, the group of thirty-nine western Virginia counties which have seceded from the Commonwealth of Virginia, calls for the creation of the state of Kanawha. /1861
• President Jefferson Davis approves the addition of Confederate commissioners to Europe. Everyone hopes that an eloquent commissioner like Benjamin Franklin can acquire needed arms, supplies, and recognition from Great Britain, France, and Spain/1861
• Pro-Southern and Pro-Northern forces in Missouri battle it out at Jonesboro which follows a similar clash several days earlier at Klapsford. /1861
• US Major-General George B. McClellan assumes command of the newly organized Department of the Potomac, replacing the Departments of Northeastern Virginia, Washington, and the Shenandoah./1861

Related articles

• June 6, 1861: McClellan takes command of Missouri (gathkinsons.net)
• August 18, 1861: George B. McClellan takes control of the Department of the Potomac (civilwar-online.com)
• June 21, 1861: McClellan heads for St. Louis (gathkinsons.net)
• Day of Prayer in Confederacy; Skirmish at Romney, Va. (wbts-calendar.blogspot.com)

Confederate alliance with Missouri; More newspapers seized

Confederate bond

• In Charleston, Missouri, the Battle of Charleston (Bird's Point) is a minor clash in which Union forces led by Col. Henry Dougherty destroy a Confederate camp. This skirmish is the culmination of several skirmishes in the Charleston and Bird's Point area for the past week between pro-Union forces and secession groups./1861
• Newspaper offices in Easton and West Chester, Pennsylvania, are seized by the Lincoln Administration for their supposed Southern sympathies. The editor of the Essex County Democrat in Haverhill, Massachusetts, is tarred and feathered for his pro-Confederate feelings/1861 
• Trying to settle the political and military chaos in Missouri, the Confederate Congress in Richmond, Virginia, agrees to an alliance with Missouri's secessionist government The Congress also passes an Act authorizing the sale of Confederate Bonds. /1861 
• US Assistant Secretary of the Navy Gustavus V. Fox orders 200 US Marines to report to Commander Dahlgren at the Washington Navy Yard for duty on board ships of the Potomac Flotilla for the purpose of scouting the Maryland countryside—especially Port Tobacco—for locations suspected of being Confederate depots for provisions and arms to be used for invading Maryland./1861
• In Washington, Henry Halleck is promoted to Major General./1861

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• Lincoln moves to curb freedom of New York press (wbts-calendar.blogspot.com)
• August 13, 1861: The Swamp Fox maneuvers in SE Missouri (gathkinsons.net)
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• Sunday, July 21, 1861 (blogs.the-american-interest.com)
• Sunday, June 23, 1861 (blogs.the-american-interest.com)

Martial law declared in St. Louis

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The odd bird John Fremont

• US General John Fremont declares martial law in St. Louis, Missouri. Fremont also orders two newspapers closed for allegedly pro-Southern editorials./1861
• In Richmond, Jefferson Davis orders the banishment of all foreign nationals whose home countries did not recognize the Confederate government./1861
• In Washington, President Lincoln decides to violate further Kentucky’s neutrality and Tennessee’s sovereignty and send assistance to Union men in Kentucky and Tennessee. He selects Brig. Gen. Robert Anderson, a Kentuckian, to command three brigades, and consults again with Tennessee Senator Andrew Johnson and Congressman Maynard. /1861

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• US War Dept. to recruit in Tennessee, Kentucky (wbts-calendar.blogspot.com)
• August 8, 1861: Jefferson Davis on "Alien Enemies" (gathkinsons.net)
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• A Diary of American Events - May 27, 1861 (dotcw.com)
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• Confederate Navy contracts British shipbuilders (wbts-calendar.blogspot.com)

Settlers declare Confederate Territory of Arizona

CS flag raised in Tucson, 3/28/1861

• • In Richmond, Virginia, President Jefferson Davis calls a Cabinet meeting to decide what should be done about the atrocities committed by northern generals against Southern prisoners and civilians. Cabinet unanimously says retaliation should be used only in extreme cases. Later, Davis urges General Joseph E. Johnston to take advantage of the weakness among Union forces following their defeat at Manassas. /1861
  • Meanwhile, General Robert E. Lee arrives in West Virginia to take command of Confederate forces following their defeat under General Garnett at Carrick’s Ford./1861 
• Image via WikipediaSettlers with Lt. Col. John Baylor of the 2nd Texas Mounted Rifles officially declare the Confederate Territory of Arizona following the Confederate victory at the Battle of Mesilla. It consists of the New Mexico Territory south of the 34th parallel north to the US border with Mexico, including parts of the modern states of New Mexico and Arizona. Its capital is Mesilla (now in Las Cruces, New Mexico) along the southern border. In July 1860, a constitutional convention at Tucson had established the territory, but recognition in Washington was blocked by anti-slavery Congressmen. Having seceded from the US in March 1861, the Arizona Territory now sends a petition to the Confederate States for recognition. In July 1862, the Confederate Arizona territorial government will relocate in exile to El Paso, Texas, after the Confederate defeat at the Battle of Glorieta Pass (New Mexico Campaign) and remain for the rest of the war. The territory will be represented in the Confederate Congress and Confederate troops will continue to fight under the Arizona banner until war's end./1861

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• First Battle of Mesilla, Arizona (wbts-calendar.blogspot.com)
• West Texans capture Fort Fillmore, New Mexico (wbts-calendar.blogspot.com)
• President Davis Mishandling Provisions?; Arizona (CSA) is Established (civilwardailygazette.com)
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• The Great Bloodless War in the East; Preparing for Blood in the West (civilwardailygazette.com)

Butler: "Make the runaways contraband"

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R.M.T. Hunter

• In Richmond, Virginia, the Confederate Senate confirms Robert Mercer Taliaferro Hunter of Virginia as Secretary of State. R.M.T. Hunter is a former US Congressman (1837-1847), former Speaker of the House (1839-1841) and former US Senator from Virginia (1847-1861). Although once he aligned with John C. Calhoun on states' rights sovereignty, he served on the Congressional Committee of Thirteen during the winter of 1860, fruitlessly seeking compromise and peace against President-elect Lincoln's war-mongering./1861 

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Cartoon depicting Butler's re-enslavement of runaways

• In Washington, General Benjamin Butler in command at Fort Monroe, Virginia, presses US Secretary of War Simon Cameron to set a policy regarding slaves in Federal hands. Butler now has 900 runaway slaves and wants some clarity as to their status as property. “What shall be done with them?” he asks Cameron. Under the provisions of the Fugitive Slave Laws they are property, and he is legally obligated to return them to their owners. Butler’s dehumanizing solution is to declare them “contraband of war” and put them to work building fortifications./1861
• In Missouri, the pro-Union State Convention votes 56-25 to declare the Governor’s office vacant, thus unseating pro-secession Governor Claiborne F. Jackson, who is in command of the Missouri State Guard in southwest Missouri. The Missouri Secretary of State and Lieutenant Governor’s offices are already vacant, as are some  legislative seats because most of those holding office were secessionists who have now been purged and made to flee./1861

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• June 26, 1861: Plans to invade Missouri or Kansas (gathkinsons.net)
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• May 25, 1861: Benjamin Butler and the first "Contrabands" (civilwar-online.com)
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2nd Texas arrives at Mesilla; Wise evacuates Tyler Mountain

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Stonewall Jackson

• In West Virginia, Union General Jacob Cox attacks Confederate forces under former Virginia Governor, General Henry Wise, at Tyler Mountain. Wise evacuates the area around Charleston, West Virginia and pulls back to Gauley Bridge. /1861
• Discussing his new-found fame from the disciplined fighting of his command at Manassas three days ago, Thomas J. “Stonewall” Jackson says to Captain John D. Imboden, “Captain, my religious belief teaches me to feel as safe in battle as in bed. God has fixed the time for my death. I do not concern myself about that, but to be always ready, no matter when it may overtake me. Captain, that is the way all men should live, and then all would be equally brave.”/1861
• A battalion of the 2nd Texas Mounted Rifles under Lieutenant Colonel John R. Baylor arrives tonight in Mesilla, capital of Confederate Arizona, but within the US Territory of New Mexico, and he prepares to launch a surprise attack the next morning. However, a Confederate deserter informs the fort's commander, US Major Isaac Lynde, of the plans./1861
• In Richmond, R.M.T. Hunter replaces Robert Toombs as Confederate Secretary of State. /1861 
• Tredegar Iron Works in Richmond receives the contract to produce iron plate for the Merrimack conversion project./1861
• In Washington, an Act "to provide for the temporary increase of the Navy" passed by US Congress, gives President Lincoln the authority to take vessels into the Navy and appoint officers for them, to any extent deemed necessary. The Congress is merely confirming the actions that President has been taking since April./1861

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Armies mass at Manassas Junction

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Stone Bridge over Bull Run

• Third session of Confederate Congress convenes in Richmond, Virginia, having moved from Montgomery, Alabama. /1861 
• Around Manassas Junction, Virginia, troops begin to mass. US Gen. Irvin McDowell has 1,300 men near Sudley Ford on Bull Run, a creek running by Manassas. Other Union troops travel by the Stone Bridge over Bull Run. Joseph Johnston's 1,400 Confederate troops, fresh from Shenandoah Valley join Jackson’s 2,500 and P.G. T. Beauregard’s at Manassas, yet problems have arisen in the transport of the troops. The troop train broke down, nearly defeating the Confederate army. The tension is high, and an ominous stillness hangs in the hot July air./1861 
• The New York Tribune compares Peace Democrats to the venomous Copperhead snake, which strikes without warning. During the War, Northerners who advocated a negotiated settlement with the South become known as Peace Democrats or Copperheads./1861

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• July 18, 1861: The Battle of Blackburn's Ford (civilwar-online.com)
• Battle of Blackburn's Ford and Johnston Steals a March (civilwardailygazette.com)
• Johnston to reinforce Beauregard at Manassas (wbts-calendar.blogspot.com)
• July 11, 1861: P.G.T. Beauregard to Jefferson Davis (civilwar-online.com)
• First battle of Civil War still relevant 

Manassas: Johnston arrives to reinforce Beauregard

Johnston's army arrives at Manassas

• US Gen. Irvin McDowell reconnoiters Manassas, Virginia, and continues to probe Beauregard’s position ahead of an attack. Meanwhile, J.E. Johnston’s forces sneak away by train from Patterson in the Shenandoah Valley to join Beauregard at Manassas. /1861 

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Robert Toombs

• In Richmond, Virginia, Robert Toombs resigns as Confederate Secretary of State to lead a Georgia military brigade in Virginia. He had hoped to be the Confederate President and has become a vocal critic of the Confederate government especially since Jefferson Davis' decision to fire on Fort Sumter. /1861
• In Missouri, Union Brigadier General of Volunteers John Pope, a West Point graduate and veteran of the Mexican War, with a large frame, larger mouth, and even larger ego, announces that anyone taking up arms against the US government would be immediately and severely dealt with. Since half the state was pro-secession, his threat is little more than hot air./1861

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• July 9, 1861: Toombs prepares to resign as Confederate Secretary of State (civilwar-online.com)
• Feds try to stop Johnston's movement toward Manassas (wbts-calendar.blogspot.com)
• May 22, 1861: Dissension in the Davis cabinet (civilwar-online.com)

Patterson maneuvers in western Virginia

R. Patterson

• US Gen. Robert “Granny” Patterson leaves Martinsburg, (west) Virginia moving toward the Bunker Hill area, with small cavalry skirmishes during the day, but avoiding a general assault./1861
• All military forces, stores, etc., under control of the state of Arkansas are transferred to the Confederate States’ management./1861

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Confederate treaty with Choctaws, Chickasaws

Indian Territory

Choctaw Battle Flag

• The Confederate government represented by Special Commissioner Albert Pike signs a treaty with the Choctaw and Chickasaw Nations. By signing these treaties, the tribes severed their relationships with the federal government, much in the way the southern states did by seceding from the Union. They were accepted into the Confederates States of America, and they sent representatives to the Confederate Congress. The Confederate government promised to protect the Native Americans' land holdings and to fulfill the obligations such as annuity payments made by the federal government. /1861

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  Albert Pike

• George B. McClellan occupies Beverly, western Virginia, while Confederate troops under J.E. Johnston and Robert S. Garnett retreat from Laurel Hill and Rich Mountain into the Cheat River Valley. West and south, Jacob Cox’s Union troops move in on Southern forces under former Virginia governor General Henry Wise in the Great Kanawah Valley./1861

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Sibley to lead New Mexico "buffalo hunt"

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H.H. Sibley

• For several months, men known to be Southern sympathizers were invited to a “buffalo hunt” in West Texas, code language for an irregular military gathering to force the Union out of New Mexico. Eager to remove all vestiges of Federal presence from the New Mexico Territory, the Confederate War Department places Gen. Henry Hopkins Sibley in command of these irregular West Texas forces to do just that./1861
• Federal troops attack an encampment of Missouri State Guard troops at Florida, Missouri, scattering them./1861

Diplomacy and the Confederate Navy

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Cdr. Raphael Semmes, CSN

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Cienfuegos, Cuba

• At Cienfuegos, Cuba, the commander of the CSS Sumter, Raphael Semmes, has in less than a week captured seven United States shipping vessels. He attempts to deposit the prizes in the port of Cienfuegos by casually telling the Spanish colonial governor that he assumes Cuba would treat Confederate ships with “the same friendly reception as to cruisers of the enemy.” Because such action could appear as diplomatic recognition of the Confederate government, the governor refuses the vessels, and Semmes is forced to release his prizes./1861
• President Jefferson Davis writes Lincoln that if the captured crewmen of the CSS Savannah are executed as pirates as has been determined, that Davis will order a like number of Northern prisoners executed. /1861 

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• The Escape of the CSS Sumter (civilwardailygazette.com)
• April 22, 1861: Raphael Semmes takes command of CSS Sumter (civilwar-online.com)
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• CSS Sumter runs blockade, begins career (wbts-calendar.blogspot.com)

North Carolina adopts a state flag

• In Raleigh, the North Carolina Secession Convention votes to adopt a state flag of a blue field with a white horizontal bar and a red vertical bar on the left side with an insignia star and two dates: May 20th, 1775 (Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence) and May 20th, 1861 (Secession from the United States)./1861 

• 

  John Winder
  

  Career US Army officer from Maryland, John H. Winder, is today commissioned Brigadier General in the Confederate Army and assigned  one of the most difficult jobs of the war – Assistant Inspector General for the military Camps of Instruction in the Richmond vicinity. Winder is charged with arming, clothing and equipping the Confederate recruits, local law enforcement, setting commodity prices in a city that is doubling in population, handling paperwork for those unfit for service, capturing deserters, caring for the sick and wounded, and later overseeing military prisons for prisoners of war. His job would prove nearly impossible, hamstrung by the Confederacy's dismal supply system and diminishing resources. Northern newspapers would accuse him of intentionally starving Union prisoners. President Jefferson Davis, Secretary James Seddon, and Adjutant Samuel Cooper would later agree that he was a much-maligned man, set to perform a task made impossible by the inadequacy of supplies of men, food, clothing, and medicines. Despite the criticisms, Winder would order that Federal prisoners receive the same ration as did Confederate soldiers in the field, scanty as it was./1861 
• Career US Navy officer, George N. Hollins, is commissioned a captain in the Confederate States Navy. A veteran of the War of 1812, Hollins joined the navy at age 15 and had a long and distinguished career. The Maryland native had been commander of the USS Susquehanna in the Mediterranean squadron when hostilities erupted. When he put in at Naples in May 1861, he received orders to return to New York. There he resigned his commission. After a brief stop in his hometown, Baltimore, Hollins offered his services to the Confederacy and receives his commission today./1861.