37th United States Congress - Major Events

Major Events

• March 1861 – July 1861:
  • Jefferson Davis extends martial law from Norfolk to Richmond, calls up 100,000 militia;
  • Rebels fire on Fort Sumter, SC. Lincoln suspends habeas corpus from Washington, D.C., to Philadelphia and calls up 75,000 militia.
  • Four more Southern states saw members withdraw from Congress:
    • Virginia Secession Convention enacts an Ordinance of Secession on April 17; ratified by popular referendum on May 23.
    • Arkansas Secession Convention enacted an Ordinance of Secession on May 6.
    • Tennessee Secession Convention enacted an Ordinance of Secession on May 6; ratified by popular referendum on June 8.
    • North Carolina Secession Convention enacted an Ordinance of Secession on May 20.
  • Partial state delegations remaining:
    • Senators from Virginia (2 replaced) and Tennessee (1)
    • Representatives from Virginia (5 of 12), Tennessee (3 of 10) Louisiana (2 of 4).
  • Union forces lose the First Battle of Bull Run.

• August 1861 – March 1862:
  • Union blockade of the South begins at Fort Monroe, Va; Davis begins suspending habeas corpus at Norfolk.
  • Union forces win Mississippi River Fort Henry, Tn and Fort Donelson, Tn;
  • Ironclad USS Monitor maintains blockade in the Hampton Roads, Va; Union forces take Port Royal, SC. Davis initiates conscription.

• April 1862 – August 1862:
  • Union forces capture New Orleans, La; Rebels turned back at Shiloh, Tn.
  • Union blockade closes Savannah, Ga; Union forces occupy upper Mississippi River Island #10, Tn.
  • Union forces lose Peninsular Campaign to capture Richmond; Union forces lose Battle of Second Bull Run.

• September 1862 – March 1863:
  • Rebel invasion turned back at Antietam, Md; Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation.
  • In midterm elections, Democrats gain 31 House seats to 31%, lose 5 Senate seats to 19%.
  • Union forces lose at Fredericksburg, Va; Rebels lose at Murfreesboro, Tn; Lincoln initiates conscription.