March 16 1861 Saturday
USA, Colonel Edwin Vose Sumner (1st US Cavalry) was promoted to Brigadier-General in the US Regular Army. He filled the vacancy created by the dismissal of David Emanuel Twiggs, who had left to join the Confederacy. He was nominated to command the Department of the Pacific, succeeding Colonel Albert Sidney Johnston (2nd US Cavalry) who was also inclined to join the Confederacy.
CSA. The Regular Navy of the Confederate States (NCSA) was established by an act of the Provisional Congress.
CSA. The Confederate States’ Marine Corps was established by an act of the Provisional Congress. As originally legislated, the CSMC was to be a battalion-sized force of six companies with a headquarters element commanded by a Major of Marines.
Arizona Territory. The Arizona Territory State Convention at Mesilla voted to leave the Union and sought accession by the Confederacy
Georgia. The state of Georgia ratified the Confederate Constitution.
Louisiana. The Louisiana state legislature voted down an ordinance that would have submitted the Confederate Constitution to a vote by the people of the state.
Louisiana: Major-General of Mississippi Militia Earl Van Dorn was appointed Colonel in the Confederate Army and assumed command of the forts protecting New Orleans.
Missouri. An amendment to the fifth resolution of the majority report of Missouri’s Committee on US Relations was voted down. This amendment asserted that Missouri would never countenance nor aid a seceding state in making war upon the United States government, nor provide men and money for the purpose of aiding the United States government to coerce a seceding state.
Texas. The Texas state convention deposed Governor Samuel Houston, declaring his seat vacant. Governor Houston issued a proclamation to the people of the state protesting against this action by the convention.
Union Organisation
USA: Edwin Vose Sumner was promoted Brigadier-General USA 16 March 1861.
Commander in Chief: President Abraham Lincoln
Vice-President: Hannibal Hamlin
Secretary of War: Simon Cameron
Secretary of the Navy: Gideon Welles
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 T Fauntleroy interim, William Wing Loring awaited
Department of the Pacific: Albert Sidney Johnston
- District of Oregon: George Wright
Department of Texas: Carlos Adolphus Waite
Department of Utah: Philip St George Cooke
Department of the West: William Selby Harney
Confederate Organisation
CSA: Colonel Lucius Bellinger Northrop was appointed Commissary General of Subsistence., taking up the post on 27 March 1861.
Commander in Chief: 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
Department of South Carolina: Pierre Gustave Toutant Beauregard
- “Forces in Charleston”: Pierre Gustave Toutant Beauregard
Department of West Florida: Braxton Bragg
- “Forces in Pensacola”: Braxton Bragg
Union Generals
Major-General USA
Winfield Scott
Brigadier-General USA
John Ellis Wool
David Emanuel Twiggs
Edwin Vose Sumner
Brigadier-General USA (Staff)
Joseph Eggleston Johnston
Confederate Generals
Brigadier-General ACSA
Pierre Gustave Toutant Beauregard
Braxton Bragg
American Civil War High Command 