WHAT ALL HAPPENED APRIL TO JULY 1861
Find out what all happened April to July 1861

Pakistan’s (then a part of British India) first railway line opens, from Karachi to Kotri. (13. May 1861)

American Civil War: The war begins with Confederate forces firing on Fort Sumter, in the harbor of Charleston, South Carolina. (12. April 1861)

American Civil War, Battle of Fairfax Court House (June 1861): the first land battle of the American Civil War after the Battle of Fort Sumter, producing the first Confederate combat casualty. (1. June 1861)

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. (20. April 1861)

American Civil War: Richmond, Virginia is named the capital of the Confederate States of America. (8. May 1861)

American Civil War: Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom issues a "proclamation of neutrality" which recognizes the breakaway states as having belligerent rights. (13. May 1861)

American Civil War: The United States Congress passes the Crittenden-Johnson Resolution, stating that the war is being fought to preserve the Union and not to end slavery. (25. July 1861)

The Great Comet of 1861 is discovered by John Tebbutt of Windsor, New South Wales, Australia. (13. May 1861)

American Civil War: The state of Kentucky proclaims its neutrality, which will last until September 3 when Confederate forces enter the state. Meanwhile, the State of North Carolina secedes from the Union. (20. May 1861)

American Civil War: Tennessee secedes from the Union. (8. June 1861)

American Civil War: Union troops occupy Alexandria, Virginia. (24. May 1861)

American Civil War: Fort Sumter surrenders to Confederate forces. (13. April 1861)

American Civil War: Richmond, Virginia is declared the new capital of the Confederate States of America. (6. May 1861)

American Civil War: Battle of Philippi (also called the Philippi Races) – Union forces rout Confederate troops in Barbour County, Virginia, now West Virginia, in first land battle of the War. (3. June 1861)

American Civil War: Maryland's House of Delegates votes not to secede from the Union. (29. April 1861)

American President Abraham Lincoln suspends the writ of habeas corpus. (27. April 1861)

The Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce is founded, in Hong Kong. (29. May 1861)

First performance of Arthur Sullivan's debut success, his suite of incidental music for The Tempest, leading to a career that included the famous Gilbert and Sullivan operas. (6. April 1861)

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. (26. July 1861)

American Civil War: at the order of President Abraham Lincoln, Union troops begin a 25 mile march into Virginia for what will become the First Battle of Bull Run, the first major land battle of the war. (16. July 1861)