WHAT ALL HAPPENED APRIL TO SEPTEMBER 1861
Find out what all happened April to September 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: Richmond, Virginia is named the capital of the Confederate States of America. (8. 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: 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: Forces under Union General Ulysses S. Grant bloodlessly capture Paducah, Kentucky, which gives the Union control of the mouth of the Tennessee River. (6. September 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)

First ascent of Weisshorn, fifth highest summit in the Alps. (19. August 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: Battle of Big Bethel - Confederate troops under John B. Magruder defeat a much larger Union force led by General Ebenezer W. Pierce in Virginia. (10. June 1861)

The United States Army abolishes flogging. (5. August 1861)

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

American Civil War: First Battle of Bull Run – at Manassas Junction, Virginia, the first major battle of the war begins and ends in a victory for the Confederate army. (21. July 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)

Battle of Vienna, Virginia in the American Civil War. (17. June 1861)

American Civil War: United States Navy squadron captures forts at Hatteras Inlet, North Carolina. (29. August 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: 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)

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)

President Abraham Lincoln calls for 75,000 Volunteers to quell the insurrection that soon became the American Civil War (15. April 1861)

American Civil War: Arkansas secedes from the Union. (6. May 1861)