Two Countries Before Lincoln Was President — The Confederacy Forms (1861)
In February 1861, seven states gathered and created the Confederate States of America. Lincoln hadn't taken office yet. There were already two nations.
Apr 21, 2026Back to Blog
1861
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The Belle of Washington Was a Confederate Spy — Rose Greenhow's Double Life
Rose Greenhow was the queen of Washington D.C.'s social scene during the Civil War. She was also the Confederacy's most dangerous spy, passing Union secrets through hidden messages.
Apr 21, 2026Picnickers Watched the War Become Real — The Battle of Bull Run (July 1861)
On July 21, 1861, Washington civilians rode out to watch the battle. They expected an easy Union victory. By afternoon, everything had changed.
Apr 19, 2026The First Shot — April 12, 1861: The Civil War Begins
At 4:30 a.m. on April 12, 1861, Confederate cannons opened fire on Fort Sumter in Charleston Harbor, South Carolina. That first shell started the deadliest war in American history — a conflict that would kill more than 620,000 Americans before it was over.
Apr 12, 2026