Pre-war Acts of Military Aggression

1860:

November 7, 9:   Charleston, South Carolina authorities arrest a Federal officer. The officer attempted to move supplies to Fort Moultrie from Charleston Arsenal. Two days later, the Palmetto Flag of South Carolina is raised over the Charleston harbor batteries.

1861:

January 2:   South Carolina troops take control of dormant Fort Jackson in Charleston harbor.
Colonel Charles Stone begins to organize the District of Columbia militia.

January 3, 24, 26:   Georgia state troops take Fort Pulaski at the mouth of the Savannah River on January 3, the United States Arsenal at Augusta, Georgia on January 24, and Oglethorpe Barracks and Fort Jackson at Savannah, Georgia on January 26.

January 4–5, 30:   Alabama seizes the Mount Vernon, Alabama United States Arsenal on January 4, Fort Morgan and Fort Gaines at the entrance to Mobile Bay on January 5, and the U.S. Revenue Cutter Lewis Cass at Mobile, Alabama on January 30.

January 6–12:   Florida troops seize Apalachicola, Florida Arsenal on January 6 and Fort Marion at Saint Augustine on January 7. On January 8, Federal troops at Fort Barrancas or Barrancas Barracks at Pensacola, Florida fire on about 20 men who approach the fort at night.  The men flee.  After the Federal troops move from Fort Barrancas to Fort Pickens on Santa Rosa Island,Florida in Pensacola Harbor on January 10, Florida forces seize Barrancas Barracks, Fort McRee, and the Pensacola Navy Yard on January 12.

South Carolina state troops at Charleston fire upon the merchant ship Star of the West and prevent it from landing reinforcements and relief supplies for Fort Sumter.  After being struck twice, the ship heads back to New York.

January–February:   Louisiana state troops seize the United States Arsenal and Barracks at Baton Rouge and Fort Jackson and Fort St. Philip near the mouth of the Mississippi River on January 10, the United States Marine Hospital south of New Orleans on January 11, Fort Pike, near New Orleans, on January 14, Fort Macomb, near New Orleans, on January 28, the U. S. Revenue Cutter Robert McClelland at New Orleans on January 29, the United States Branch Mint and Customs House at New Orleans and the U.S. Revenue Schooner Washington on January 31, and the U.S. Paymaster's office at New Orleans on February 19.

January 20:  Mississippi troops seize Fort Massachusetts and other installations on Ship Island in the Gulf of Mexico.

February 8, 12:   Arkansas troops seize the United States Arsenal at Little Rock and force the Federal garrison to withdraw on February 8. They seize the United States ordnance stores at Napoleon, Arkansas on February 12.


February 16:   Texas forces seize the United States Arsenal and Barracks at (the Alamo) San Antonio.  

February 18:   U.S. Brigadier General and Brevet Major General David E. Twiggs surrenders U. S. military posts in the Department of Texas to the State of Texas and effectively surrenders the one-fourth of the United States Army which is stationed in Texas. Twiggs tells authorities in Washington he acted under threat of force but they consider his actions to be treason.  On March 1, U. S. Secretary of War Joseph Holt orders Brigadier General Twiggs dismissed from the U. S. Army "for his treachery to the flag of his country" in his surrender of military posts and Federal property in Texas to state authorities.  Twiggs soon joins the Confederate States Army.

February 19 – April 13:    Texas forces seize United States property at Brazos Santiago on February 19 and the U.S. Revenue Cutter Henry Dodge at Galveston, Texas on March 2.  

Federal garrisons abandon Camp Cooper, Texas on February 21, Camp Colorado, Texas on February 26, Ringgold Barracks and Camp Verde, Texas on March 7, Fort McIntosh, Texas on March 12, Camp Wood, Texas on March 15, Camp Hudson, Texas on March 17, Fort Clark, Fort Inge, and Fort Lancaster, Texas on March 19, Fort Brown and Fort Duncan, Texas on March 20, Fort Chadbourne, Texas on March 23, Fort Bliss, Texas on March 31, Fort Quitman, Texas on April 5, and Fort Davis, Texas on April 13.


March 1:   The Confederate States take over the military at Charleston, South Carolina. Confederate President Davis appoints P. G. T. Beauregard as brigadier general and assigns him to command Confederate forces in the area. Beauregard assumes command of Confederate troops at Charleston on March 3.

Confederate Brigadier General Braxton Bragg forbids the garrison at Fort Pickens at Pensacola, Florida to receive more supplies.

March 4:  Abraham Lincoln is inaugurated as the 16th president.

March 20:   Confederate forces at Mobile, Alabama seize the USS Isabella, which is carrying supplies for Fort Pickens. 

 March 29:   President Lincoln orders relief expeditions for Fort Sumter and Fort Pickens to be prepared to depart for the forts by April 6.  On March 31, he orders the relief expedition to Fort Pickens to proceed.


April 7:   Confederate States Secretary of War Leroy Pope Walker tells Brigadier General Braxton Bragg to resist Union reinforcement of Fort Pickens.