January 28 1861 Monday
USA. Stephen Russell Mallory served on the US Senate Committee on Naval Affairs and was highly influential in reforming the officer corps and improving the efficiency and equipment of the US Navy. Mallory’s tenure on the Committee on Naval Affairs came during a time of great innovation in naval warfare. He kept abreast of developments in other navies and ensured that the US Navy incorporated the latest thinking when building new ships. Britain and France, the two foremost navies in the world, were converting their fleets from sail to steam, and from paddles to screws. In 1853, his committee recommended the addition of six modern screw frigates to the fleet; and many considered them to be the best frigates in the world at that time. In 1857, his committee persuaded the Senate to authorise the construction of twelve new sloops-of-war. Mallory was ahead of his time in his enthusiastic support for cladding warships with iron armour, advocating this step even before the metals industry could supply iron in sufficient quantity. He later became the innovative Confederate Secretary of the Navy.
Florida. Senator Stephen Russell Mallory, hearing that USS Brooklyn was en route to reinforce the US garrison at Fort Pickens, warned that such an action would result in conflict between the state of Florida and the Federal authorities.
Georgia. Georgia ratified the secession passed on 19 January 1861 and selected commissioners to negotiate with other slave-holding states.
Louisiana. New Orleans and Fort Macomb were occupied by 1st Louisiana State Infantry. The property of US Army officers in New Orleans was seized by state authorities.
Texas. The Texas People’s state convention met to discuss matters related to secession.
Texas. Fort Macon was occupied by Texas State forces.
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: 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 