January 18 1861 Friday
USA. Joseph Holt resigned his post as US Postmaster General after being re-appointed as US Secretary of War. Holt took up the new office as US Secretary of War after deputising in that role instead of John Buchanan Floyd since 30 December 1860. Floyd had declared his sympathies for the seceded states. Holt later became Judge Advocate General of the US Army.
Alabama. Confederate sympathisers seized the US lighthouse tender Alert at Mobile.
Florida. The state of Florida appointed delegates to Southern Congress at Montgomery, Alabama.
Florida. Fort Jefferson, on the Dry Tortugas off Key West, was garrisoned by US troops under Captain Lewis Golding Arnold (2nd US Artillery). As well as providing support for naval operations, the Fort also became a prison for political detainees.
Florida. A third demand for the surrender of Fort Pickens was refused by the US garrison.
Georgia. The state of Georgia adopted resolutions declaring the State’s right and duty to secede.
Virginia. The Virginia state legislature appropriated $1,000,000 for the defence of the State.
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
American Civil War High Command 