ACWS - On This Day in the American Civil War 11th January

The ordinance of secession is adopted at Montgomery, AL, by Alabama, becoming the 4th state to secede, by a smaller margin but vast majority, 61-39.
Forts Jackson and Saint Phillip, LA, at the mouth of the Mississippi River, below New Orleans, are seized by the Louisiana state troops, by order of Governor Thomas 0. Moore.
The surrender of Fort Sumter, Charleston Harbor SC, is demanded of Major Robert Anderson, USA, by South Carolina Governor, Francis W. Pickens, and is refused.

James Abram Garfield, USA, is appointed Brig. Gen.
The Dept. of Key West, FL, is constituted, under the command of Brig. Gen. John Milton Brannan, USA.
Writ of habeas corpus is issued in the case of Daniel Smith and six other bridge-burners in East TN.
The Burnside Expedition, with about 100 ships, sails from Fort Monroe, VA, the VA Peninsula, for the North Carolina Coast, including Roanoke Island, NC.
Due to rumors of corruption in the War Dept., Mr. Simon Cameron resigns as the Secretary of War, Washington, DC.

The Federal capture of Fort Hindman, AR, commanded by Brig. Gen. Thomas J. Churchill, CSA, by the joint efforts of Maj. Gen. John McClernand, USA, and Admiral David Dixon Porter, USN.
Engagement at Hartville, or Wood's Fork, MO, where Brig. Gen. John S. Marmaduke, CSA, is defeated by Col. Merrill, USA.
Skirmish at Lowry's Ferry, TN.
The USS Grampers Number Two is destroyed and sunk by the Confederate forces near Memphis, TN, on the Mississippi River.
Maj. Gen. James B. McPherson, USA, assumes the command of the 17th US Army Corps, TN.
The capture and sinking of the USS Hatteras off the coast of Galveston, TX, by the Confederate Raider, CSS Alabama.

Affair at Lockwood's Folly Inlet, NC, with the destruction of the Confederate Blockade-runner steamers, Ranger, and the Vesta.
Federal scout to Lexington, TN, with report on Confederate movements.
Federal expedition from Maryville up the Little Tennessee River, TN, to Chilhowee, where the Federals move against a nest of guerrillas comprised of absentees, deserters, paroled soldiers, and Rebel citizens who had been stealing goods from the loyal citizens of Blount and Monroe counties, and taking them to North Carolina to sell them. (Jan 11-12)
Sen. John B. Henderson of Missouri, proposed a joint resolution in the US Senate to abolish slavery, which will become the 13th amendment to the US Constitution, Washington, DC.

Federal expeditions from Helena, AR, aboard the steamer, Dove, up the Mississippi River to Harbert's Plantation, MS, where the 60th US Colored Infantry surround Mr. Harbert and find him asleep out in his corncrib. Mr. Harbert is in trouble as he is a Negro enlisted Union soldier who decided he had enough of the war and deserted back to his plantation-farm. (Jan 11-13)
Skirmish with guerrillas near Lexington, MO, as the beaten bushwackers flee towards Greenton.
Federal scout against Navajo Indians from Fort Wingate to Sierra Del Datil and vicinity, the New Mexico Territory. The Yankees find no Indians in the area. (Jan 11-21)
The Federal forces numbering over 580, at Beverly, Randolph County, WV, are captured, by Maj. Gen. Thomas L. Rosser, CSA, in a surprise cavalry raid.
Maj. Gen. George G. Meade, USA, resumed command of the Army of the Potomac, the Richmond, VA, Campaign.
Federal scout from New Creek through Greenland Gap, and through Petersburg to Franklin, WV, for the purpose of surprising any Confederates in the area, which meets with little success. (Jan 11-15)

On This Day information kindly provided by Martin Cross, 2nd U.S. Artillery, Bty B.