Texas

February 1, 1861.   Texas secedes from the Union in a state convention at Austin by a vote of 166 to 7, subject to ratification in a referendum scheduled for February 23. ^{Long 31}

February 11, 1861.   Austin:   The state convention votes in favor of a Southern Confederacy and sends 7 delegates to Congress. ^{Long 36}

February 16, 1861.   San Antonio:   Texas militia seize the U.S. Arsenal and Barracks. ^{Long 38}

February 18, 1861.   A secret white supremacy group called the Knights of the Golden Circle accepts the surrender of federal posts in the Department of Texas at the Alamo at San Antonio, Texas, under Bvt. Maj. General David E. Twiggs, a pro-slavery southerner, who then resigns his commission to become a Confederate general. ^{Nelson 78}     He says he was forced to surrender, but the U.S. considers his act one of treason. ^{Long 39}

February 23, 1861.   The Texas referendum confirms the secession of February 1 by a vote of 34,794 to 11,235. ^{Schles 277}

March 2, 1861.   Federal Revenue Cutter Henry Dodge is seized by Texas militia at Galveston.   Texas is admitted to the Confederacy. ^{Long 44}

March 7 - April 13, 1861.   Camp Hudson, Ringgold Barracks, Camp Verde, and Forts McIntosh, Clark, Inge, Lancaster, Brown, Duncan, Chadbourne, Bliss, Quitman and Davis are either abandoned or surrendered to Texas militia. ^{Long 48-54}

April 17, 1861. Indianola:   The Gulf of Mexico steamer, Star of the West, earlier fired upon at Ft. Sumter, is captured by Confederate troops under Col. Earl Van Dorn and will be used by the Confederate Navy during the war. ^{Bowman 51}

April 23, 1861. San Antonio:   U. S. 8th Infantry Co. A captured by a company of Texas citizen volunteers. ^{Miller 346}

July 3, 1861.   Galveston, TX:   The U. S. Navy blockades this important southern port.   Six blockade runner are taken on July 4 and two more on July 5. ^{Long 90,91}