1861 January 17th

January 17 1861 Thursday

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Georgia. The Georgia state convention met, and received Commissioners from South Carolina and Alabama.

Kentucky. The Kentucky state legislature met to discuss the ongoing session crisis.

Virginia. The Virginia state legislature passed resolutions proposing the Crittenden Resolutions as the basis for adjustment of relations between the states. The Virginians requested the US Government to avoid any violent collision with the Southern states. Virginia Governor John Letcher communicated resolutions from the New York state legislature, expressing the utmost disdain for its contents, and saying that “the threat conveyed can inspire no terror in free men.” The resolutions were directed to be returned unanswered to the Governor of New York.

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

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