On This Day

What Happened in November 1861

Historical Events


Event of interestEvent of Interest

Nov 1 General George McClellan made general in chief of Union armies

Union General George McClellan
Union General
George McClellan
  • Nov 2 American Civil War: Western Department Union General John C. Frémont is relieved of command and replaced by David Hunter
  • Nov 3 Battle of Port Royal, fought in Port Royal Sound, South Carolina begins, Union victory (US Civil War)
  • Nov 4 University of Washington founded in Seattle

Electoral defeatElection of Interest

Nov 6 Jefferson Davis elected to 6 year term as US Confederate President

President of the Confederate States of America Jefferson Davis
President of the Confederate States of America
Jefferson Davis

Victory in battleVictory in Battle

Nov 7 Battle of Belmont, fought in Mississippi County, Missouri begins, first combat test for Brigadier General Ulysses S. Grant, Union victory (US Civil War)

Union General and US President Ulysses S. Grant
Union General and US President
Ulysses S. Grant
  • Nov 7 Battle of Port Royal, fought in Port Royal Sound, South Carolina ends, Union forces capture Fort Walker and Fort Beauregard (US Civil War)
  • Nov 8 Battle of Mount Ivy, Kentucky

Event of interestEvent of Interest

Nov 8 USS San Jacinto commanded by Charles Wilkes captures two Confederate diplomats from the British mail steamer Trent, almost causing a war between the US and the UK

Naval Officer and Explorer Charles Wilkes
Naval Officer and Explorer
Charles Wilkes
  • Nov 9 1st documented Canadian football game (at U of Toronto)
  • Nov 18 The first provisional meeting of the Confederate Congress is held in Richmond, Virginia
  • Nov 19 Julia Ward Howe committed "Battle Hymn of the Republic" to paper
  • Nov 19 The first petroleum shipment (1,329 barrels) from the U.S. to Europe leaves Philadelphia, USA, for London, England on the Elizabeth Watts
  • Nov 20 Secession ordinance is filed by Kentucky's Confederate government
  • Nov 22 Battle of Fort McRee, Florida
  • Nov 24 Luik-Visé-Maastricht railway opens
  • Nov 26 West Virginia created as a result of dispute over slavery with Virginia
  • Nov 28 Confederate congress officially admits Missouri to Confederacy
  • Nov 30 Harper's Weekly publishes EE Beers' "All quiet along the Potomac"

Famous Birthdays

  • Nov 3 Johann Peter Kirsch, Luxembourg church historian and archaeologist, born in Dippach, Luxembourg (d. 1941)

Person of interestJames Naismith

Nov 6 James Naismith, Canadian-American physical educator and inventor (basketball, football helmet), born in Almonte, Ontario (d. 1939)

Basketball Inventor James Naismith
Basketball Inventor
James Naismith
  • Nov 7 Jeff Milton, American lawman, born in Marianna, Florida (d. 1947)
  • Nov 10 Robert T. A. Innes, Scottish astronomer (Proxima Centauri), born in Edinburgh, Scotland (d. 1933)
  • Nov 14 Frederick Jackson Turner, Wisc, historian/educator (Harvard U)
  • Nov 16 Václav Suk, Czech-born Russian composer and violinist, born in Kladno, Bohemia (1933)
  • Nov 18 Dorothy Dix [Elizabeth Meriwether Gilmer], American journalist and columnist, born in Woodstock, Tennessee (d. 1951)
  • Nov 23 Konstantin Korovin, Russian painter (d. 1939)
  • Nov 24 João da Cruz, Brazilian poet, born in Florianópolis, Santa Catarina, Brazil (d. 1898)

Person of interestAlbert B. Fall

Nov 26 Albert B. Fall, New Mexico Senator (Teapot Dome Scandal), born in Frankfort, Kentucky

US Senator Albert B. Fall
US Senator
Albert B. Fall
  • Nov 30 Franz Gailliard, Belgian painter (Zeustempel in Athens), born in Brussels, Belgium (d. 1932)
  • Nov 30 Ludwig Thuille, Austrian composer (sextet for piano and wind quintet), born in Bozen, Tyrol (now Bozano, Italy) (d. 1907)

Famous Deaths

  • Nov 11 Pedro V van Alcantara, King of Portugal (1853-61), dies at 24
  • Nov 13 Arthur Hugh Clough, English poet, friend of Matthew Arnold, dies at 42
  • Nov 28 Robert Fuhrer, composer, dies at 54


What Happened in 1861