Saturday January 5 1861

• Forts Morgan and Gaines, AL, are seized by the Alabama state troops in an attempt to protect Mobile, AL.
• The 1st expedition for the relief of Fort Sumter, Charleston, SC, sails from New York Harbor, New York, by order of Gen. Winfield Scott, USA, consisting of 250 men on the merchant ship, Star of the West, who summarily overrides the decision to use the USS Brooklyn, stationed at Norfolk, VA.
• The US Senators from the southern states of Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas meet in Washington, DC, to discuss the options of seceding from the United States.

Sunday January 5 1862

• The bombardment of Hancock, MD, by Maj. Gen. Thomas J. Jackson's Confederate artillery batteries firing across the Potomac River. (Jan 5-6)
• Operations in Johnson and La Fayette Counties, MO, and skirmish at Columbus, MO, with Lieut. Col. D. R. Anthony, 1st KS Cav. (Jan 5-12)

Monday January 5 1863

• Maj. Gen. William T. Sherman, USA, assumes the command of the 2nd US Army Corps, the Army of the Mississippi, while en route with Maj. Gen. John McClernand towards Fort Hindman, AR.
• Skirmish at Lytle's Creek, on the Manchester Pike, TN.
• Murfreesborough, TN, is occupied by the Union forces.
• Skirmish on the Shelbyville Pike, TN.
• Skirmish at Cub Run, VA.
• Skirmish near Moorefield, WV.

Tuesday January 5 1864

• The following are appointed Union Brigadier Generals:
  • Christopher Columbus Andrews, USA
  • Cyrus Bussey, USA
  • Philippe Regis Denis de geredern de Trobiand, USA
  • John Wallace Fuller, USA
  • John Franklin Miller, USA
• Skirmish at Lawrence's Mill, TN, where the Union forage party attacked the Confederate pickets at Lawrence's Mill, 5 miles east of Mossy Creek, and captured 12 Confederates with their arms and 9 horses, without any loss.
• Skirmish on the Pecos River, near Fort Sumner, the New Mexico Territory, with Navajo Indians. The Apaches assist the Federals since their herd of horses were stolen. Many Navajo casualties. The weather is extremely cold.

Thursday January 5 1865