Request a brochure Civil War Encyclopedia Blue and Gray Trail Civil War in Georgia On the Blue and Gray Trail Civil War by state Today in the Civil War Battles Images Places Feature Stories Links Search Who we are	Civil War Timeline / Chronology for August 1861 <<Previous year    Next year>> Civil War Navidater Century 1700's 1800's 1900's 2000's Decade 1800's 1810's 1820's 1830's 1840's 1850's 1860's 1870's 1880's 1890's Year 1860 1861 1862 1863 1864 1865 1866 1867 1868 1869 January, 1861 May, 1861 September, 1861 February, 1861 June, 1861 October, 1861 March, 1861 July, 1861 November, 1861 April, 1861 August, 1861 December, 1861 August 1, 1861 Tennessee votes to adopt the Constitution of the Confederate States of America Tennessee August 3, 1861 Off the coast of Virginia a Union naval officer ascends in a tethered balloon to look at Confederate controlled Hampton Roads. It is the first balloon ascent from a ship in naval history   Civil War Firsts August 5, 1861 Abraham Lincoln approves a wide variety of bills passed during a special session of Congress including a new issue of bonds, tariff increase and the first direct income and real estate tax. August 6, 1861 First Confiscation Act or The Confiscation Act of 1861 allows federals to seize property used in the insurrection, essentially freeing slaves forced to participate in the Confederate war effort. August 6, 1861 Second Session of the Second Wheeling Convention is called to order West Virginia   Second Wheeling Convention August 6, 1861 Lt. Bull Nelson of the U. S. Navy is ordered to build a camp where Kentucky residents can train for service in the Kentucky militia. Nelson names the camp for the owner of the property in Garrard County, Captain Dick Robinson Kentucky   William 'Bull' Nelson August 7, 1861 John Bankhead Magruder burns the village of Hampton, near Fort Monroe. General Benjamin Butler had been planning to use it to house "contraband." (Butler's word for slaves) Virginia   John Magruder   Benjamin Butler August 10, 1861 Battle of Wilson's Creek [US] Battle of Springfield [CS] Brigadier General Nathaniel Lyon [US] is killed in the Confederate victory Missouri   Generals Who Died In the Civil War   Sterling Price August 15, 1861 General George McClellan assumes command of the Army of the Potomac   George McClellan   Army of the Potomac August 15, 1861 The Department of Kentucky and the Department of the Cumberland are combined under General Robert Anderson   Robert Anderson August 17, 1861 George Thomas appointed brigadier general of volunteers, Army of the Cumberland.   George Thomas August 19, 1861 Henry Halleck promoted to Major General   Henry Halleck August 20, 1861 The pro-Union Second Wheeling Convention calls for the creation of the state of Kanawha West Virginia   Second Wheeling Convention August 21, 1861 Second Wheeling Convention adjourns   Second Wheeling Convention August 24, 1861 President Davis names James M. Mason as commissioner to Great Britain and John Slidell as commissioner to France   Trent Affair August 26, 1861 Battle of (Kessler's) Cross Lanes General John Floyd routs an Ohio regiment Virginia   John Floyd   Operations in Western Virginia August 26, 1861 General Benjamin Butler leads a successful amphibious landing on Cape Hatteras North Carolina August 26, 1861 King Kamehameha IV proclaimed the neutrality of the Hawaiian Islands during the Civil War. August 27, 1861 Union forces take fortifications on Cape Hatteras North Carolina August 28, 1861 Ulysses S. Grant is given command of federal forces in Southern Illinois and Southeastern Missouri Missouri Illinois   Ulysses S. Grant August 30, 1861 John C. Fremont declares martial law in Missouri and frees slaves of Missouri Confederates. Missouri   John C. Fremont   The Emancipation of Slaves August 31, 1861 Samuel Cooper, Robert E. Lee, Albert Sidney Johnston, Joseph E. Johnston and P. G. T. Beauregard are promoted to full general.   P. G. T. Beauregard   Joseph E. Johnston   Robert E. Lee   Albert Sidney Johnston January, 1861 May, 1861 September, 1861 February, 1861 June, 1861 October, 1861 March, 1861 July, 1861 November, 1861 April, 1861 August, 1861 December, 1861 Civil War Navidater Century 1700's 1800's 1900's 2000's Decade 1800's 1810's 1820's 1830's 1840's 1850's 1860's 1870's 1880's 1890's Year 1860 1861 1862 1863 1864 1865 1866 1867 1868 1869 The best search in Civil War History
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