1861 Apr Am Civil War Gazette

Although many regard the firing on Fort Sumter, South Carolina as the beginning of the American Civil War, by April 1861 seven states (South Carolina, Mississippi, Florida, Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, and Texas) had already seceded from the United States, created the Confederate Constitution, and named Jefferson Davis the provisional president of the Confederacy.

This app contains a variety of news articles that begin with Confederate General P.G.T. Beauregard continuing the seige of Fort Sumter and the eventual firing on the fort that led to open hostilities, and ends April 1861 with Virginia seceding from the Union and Maryland staying.

Confederate forces take the Norfolk Navy Yard, and the USS Merrimack (later CSS Virginia) is burnt to the waterline and sunk to the bottom of the harbor to prevent capture.

It is feared Washington, D.C. will fall and as New York and Massachusetts forces attempt reinforcment, and while en-route are attacked by the people of Baltimore, the details of which will be found in the stories enclosed.

Highlights of the April 1861 Edition:

- Gen. Beauregard (C.S.A.) prepares to take Fort Sumter

- Attack upon Fort Sumter inaugurates hostilities

- Lincoln calls for 75,000 troops to be raised

- Virginia secedes

- It is feared that Washington will be taken

- Massachusetts troops are attacked by Baltimore citizens while en-route to defend Washington

- Robert E. Lee declines command of the U.S. Army, resigns from U.S. Army, and accepts command of Virginia Forces

- Lincoln declares blockade of the South

- Davis announces he will issue Letters of Marque and Reprisal

- Norfolk Navy Yard taken by Southern forces

- Maryland rejects secession