These US Civil War dates are primarily for the western theater of the war, between the western slope of the Appalachians and the Mississippi River. For the eastern theater, see this US Civil War Timeline 1861.
Confederate strategy in the early months is mainly defensive in the face of Federal efforts to retain control of the slave-holding Border States of Delaware, Maryland, Kentucky, and Missouri; to tighten a blockade of the Southern coastline; and to regain control of the Mississippi River from Cairo, Illinois, to the Gulf of Mexico. In Missouri, in a lightning-like campaign, Brig. Gen. Nathaniel Lyon crowds the Missouri State Guard into the southwestern part of the State before being killed and his army defeated at Wilson's Creek in August. The Missouri State Guard moves on the besiege and capture Lexington, but retires into southwest Missouri when threatened by Federal columns converging from the east and west. A union army is defeated at Belmont, Mo., early in November--the first test of battle for a rising young brigadier general named Ulysses S. Grant. Along the Southern coasts, Federals cling to several forts and employ their power afloat to seize and establish additional fortified enclaves at Hatteras Inlet, North Carolina, Port Royal Sound, South Carolina, and Ship Island, Mississippi. These enclaves not only provide bases for blockading squadrons but serve as spring boards for future amphibious operations.
Apr 12-13 Bombardment and surrender of Fort Sumter, S.C.
Jul 5 Engagement at Carthage, Mo.
Aug 10 Battle of Wilson's Creek
Aug 27-29 Battle of Hatteras Inlet, N.C.
Sep 12-20 Siege and capture of Lexington, Mo.
Nov 7 Battle of Belmont, Mo.
Nov 7 Battle of Port Royal Sound, S.C.
Dec 9 Engagement at Chusto-Talasah, Indian Territory
Dec 26 Engagement at Chustenahlah, Indian Territory
Source materials published by the National Park Service were used to create this page on US Civil War dates for 1861.
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