Captain Charles Wilkes of the U.S.S. San Jacinto halts the neutral British steamship R.M.S. Trent on the open sea and seizes two Confederate envoys under dubious circumstances.

Exploring the most important 55 months in American history
Captain Charles Wilkes of the U.S.S. San Jacinto halts the neutral British steamship R.M.S. Trent on the open sea and seizes two Confederate envoys under dubious circumstances.
Confederate envoys board a steamship in the hopes of eluding the Federal blockade and reaching Europe to gain Confederate recognition.
Federal forces seize an important base to be used as a staging area for future operations in the Gulf of Mexico.
President Abraham Lincoln issues an order imposing a naval blockade on ports in the Confederate states.
President Abraham Lincoln orders the reinforcement of Fort Pickens at Pensacola, but mix-ups in orders make it more difficult than intended.
Abraham Lincoln meets with a prominent Republican and receives a recommendation about another regarding cabinet appointments.