OTD 165 YEARS AGO: Virginia militia seize the Gosport Navy Yard at Norfolk after Federals abandon the vital naval base with controversial haste.
Category: Navy
President Lincoln’s Blockade Proclamation
OTD 165 YEARS AGO: President Abraham Lincoln issues an order imposing a naval blockade on ports in the Confederate states. This is intended to prevent supplies from reaching the Confederacy, despite lacking legal basis since he did not recognize the Confederacy as a foreign nation.
An Electric Shock Throughout the Land
OTD 165 YEARS AGO: The fall of Fort Sumter and Abraham Lincoln’s militia proclamation sparks a surge of patriotism and mass mobilizations in both North and South.
The Reinforcement of Fort Pickens
Federals break an unofficial truce by reinforcing Fort Pickens, a vital installation near Pensacola, Florida. This changes the strategic landscape and intensifies the conflict.
Determining to Re-enforce Fort Pickens
OTD 165 YEARS AGO: President Abraham Lincoln orders the reinforcement of Fort Pickens at Pensacola, but mix-ups in orders make it more difficult than intended.
Fort Sumter: Evacuation or Reinforcement
OTD 165 YEARS AGO: President Abraham Lincoln convenes his cabinet to discuss what to do about Fort Sumter amidst differing opinions. Lincoln weighs the costs of abandonment versus holding the fort, and then decides to send someone there to assess the garrison’s condition.