On This Day
<<

What Happened in August 1861

>>

Historical Events

  • Aug 1 Brazil recognizes Confederacy
  • Aug 2 Skirmish at Dug Springs, Missouri results in Union victory
  • Aug 3 Federal fleet bombards Galveston, Texas
  • Aug 5 Enlistment in US Union army increases from 3 months to 2 years
  • Aug 5 Naval Engagement at Fernandina, Florida, the USS Vincennes ends rebel blockade
  • Aug 5 President Lincoln signs the first US personal Income Tax into law (3% of incomes over $800)
  • Aug 5 US Army abolishes flogging
  • Aug 6 Lexington, Kentucky - Union military camp forms in neutral state
  • Aug 6 The British annex Lagos, Nigeria
  • Aug 6 US Congress passes First Confiscation Act
  • Aug 10 Battle of Wilson's Creek [Battle of Oak Hills], fought near Springfield, Missouri, General Lyon killed, Confederate victory (US Civil War)
  • Aug 12 Skirmish at Texas - rebels are attacked by Apache Indians
  • Aug 14 79th NY troops mutinies
  • Aug 14 Martial Law is declared at St Louis, Missouri, due to pro-secession sentiment which surged throughout Missouri after the Battle of Wilson's Creek

Lincoln Sends Reinforcements

Aug 15 Abraham Lincoln orders Union reinforcements be sent to Missouri

16th US President Abraham Lincoln
  • Aug 16 Skirmishes at Fredericktown/Kirkville, Missouri
  • Aug 16 US President Abraham Lincoln prohibits Union states from trading with Confederacy
  • Aug 19 Confederacy Congress allies with government of Missouri
  • Aug 20 Skirmish at Jonesboro, MO
  • Aug 27 Battle of Cape Hatteras SC-Union troops take Ft Clark
  • Aug 28 American Civil War: Battle of Fort Hatteras, North Carolina, 1st combined operation of Union Army and Navy results in Union domination of strategically important North Carolina Sounds
  • Aug 29 American Civil War: US Navy squadron captures forts at Hatteras Inlet, North Carolina.
  • Aug 30 John Frémont issues proclamation freeing slaves of Missouri rebels
Events in 1861

Famous Birthdays

  • Aug 1 Sammy Jones, Australian cricket batsman (12 Tests; NSW, Queensland, Auckland), born in Sydney, Australia (d. 1951)
  • Aug 2 Acharya Prafulla Chandra Ray, Bengali chemist (founder of Bengal Chemicals And Pharmaceuticals), born in Khulna, British India (d. 1944)

Edith Roosevelt (1861-1948)

Aug 6 US First Lady and wife of Teddy Roosevelt, born in Norwich, Connecticut

Edith Roosevelt
  • Aug 8 William Bateson, English biologist (originator of term "genetics"), born in Whitby, England (d. 1926)
  • Aug 9 Wilhelm Berger, German composer, pianist and conductor, born in Boston, Massachusetts (d. 1911)
  • Aug 10 Almroth Wright, English bacteriologist (one of 1st vaccines for typhoid), born in Yorkshire England (d. 1947)
  • Aug 14 Bion J. Arnold, American electrical engineer and inventor, born in Casnovia, Michigan (d. 1942)
Born in 1861

Famous Deaths

  • Aug 10 Nathaniel Lyon, American Brigadier-General (Union Army), 1st Union General to die in battle at 43
  • Aug 12 Eliphalet Remington, American firearms manufacturer (Remington Arms Co., L.L.C.), dies at 67
  • Aug 17 Alcée Louis la Branche, American Politician (b. 1806)
  • Aug 22 Xianfeng, Emperor of the Manchu-led Qing dynasty, dies at 30
  • Aug 28 William Lyon Mackenzie, Canadian-American newspaper publisher, politician, and failed rebel leader, dies at 66
  • Aug 29 Franz Joseph Glæser, Czech-Danish composer, dies at 63


What Happened in 1861

Search the largest and most accurate independent site for today in history.