February 27 1861 Wednesday
Virginia Peace Conference ends
USA. The Virginia Peace Conference sent its proposals for six constitutional amendments to the US Congress. Former President John Tyler agreed to present the findings to the US Congress although they had already proved unsatisfactory to all parties. Failure to ratify its recommendations resulted in the disbandment of the Conference and the end of attempts to find a peaceful political compromise to the question of slavery in the new territories.
USA. The US Congress authorised the construction of seven new steam-driven sloops to augment existing naval strength.
CSA. The Confederate Congress authorised the creation of staff posts for the Army, comprising an Adjutant-General, a Quartermaster-General, a Commissary-General, and a Surgeon-General.
Union Organisation
Commander in Chief: President James Buchanan
Vice-President: John Cabell Breckinridge
Secretary of War: Joseph Holt
Secretary of the Navy: Isaac Toucey
African Squadron: William Inman
Brazil Squadron: Joshua Ratoon Sands
East Indian (Asiatic) Squadron: Cornelius Kinchiloe Stribling
European Squadron: vacant
Home Squadron: Garrett J Prendergast
Mediterranean Squadron: Charles H Bell
Pacific Squadron: John Berrien Montgomery
General–in-Chief: Winfield Scott
Department of the East: John Ellis Wool
Department of New Mexico: Thomas Turner Fauntleroy interim, William Wing Loring awaited
Department of the Pacific: Albert Sidney Johnston
- District of Oregon: George Wright
Department of Texas: Carlos Adolphus Waite temporary
Department of Utah: Philip St George Cooke
Department of the West: William Selby Harney
Confederate Organisation
President: Jefferson Finis Davis
Vice-President: Alexander Hamilton Stephens
Secretary of War: Leroy Pope Walker
Secretary of the Navy: Stephen Russell Mallory
“Department of Louisiana”: Braxton Bragg
- “Forces in New Orleans” “Army of Louisiana”: Braxton Bragg
Union Generals
Major-General USA
Winfield Scott
Brigadier-General USA
John Ellis Wool
David Emanuel Twiggs
William Selby Harney
Brigadier-General USA (Staff)
Joseph Eggleston Johnston
American Civil War High Command 