February 9 1861 Saturday
Election of the Provisional President of the Confederate States
Election of the Provisional Vice-President of the Confederate States
CSA. The provisional government of the Confederate States of America unanimously elected Jefferson Finis Davis from Mississippi to be the President of the Confederate States of America. He was a West Point graduate, a former US Army officer, and had recently served as an influential Secretary of War.
CSA. Alexander Hamilton Stephens of Georgia was elected Vice-President of the Confederate States.
Florida. USS Brooklyn arrived off Pensacola. Troops were not landed at Fort Pickens in compliance with an interim agreement with Florida officials in which the status quo would be maintained in the interests of peace. Fort Barrancas, Fort McRae and the Pensacola Navy Yard remained in Confederate hands while the Union garrison retained possession of Fort Pickens on Santa Rosa Island. USS Brooklyn, USS Sabine, USS Macedonia, and USS St Louis remained outside the harbour until reinforcements were put ashore at Fort Pickens on 17 April, after the outbreak of hostilities.
Kansas. Charles Robinson became Governor of Kansas in succession to the Territorial Governor, George M Bebee.
Tennessee. Tennessee state authorities refused to call a convention to address the question of secession.
Texas. US Brigadier-General David Emanuel Twiggs appointed a military commission to meet the commissioners of Texas to negotiate the transfer of Federal military posts and property. Twiggs was the third-highest ranking officer in the US Army and commanded the Department of Texas. His sympathies leaned towards the South and, unlike the majority of his peers, he was inclined to make a generous arrangement with military property.
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 Pacific: Albert Sidney Johnston
- District of Oregon: George Wright
Department of the East: John Ellis Wool
Department of New Mexico: Thomas Turner Fauntleroy
Department of Texas: David Emanuel Twiggs
Department of Utah: Philip St George Cooke
Department of the West: William Selby Harney
Confederate Organisation
President: Thomas Howell Cobb (interim), Jefferson Davis
Vice-President: Alexander Hamilton Stephens
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 