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Louisiana Secedes from the Union: Timeline

The March to Conflict

Louisiana Timeline

November 6, 1860. Tuesday. Presidential election held; four-way contest.
November 19, 1860. Monday. Governor Thomas Overton Moore calls for a special session of the legislature to consider the state’s options.
November 29, 1860. Thursday. Rev. Palmer delivers pro-secession sermon. Widely reprinted.
December 10, 1860. Monday. Legislature convenes at the capitol in Baton Rouge.
December 12, 1860. Wednesday. Legislature passes an act To promote the formation of Military Companies, and to provide for arming and equipping the same.
December 12, 1860. Wednesday. Legislature passes act calling on Governor to announce election for delegates to a state convention.
January 7, 1861. Monday. Election for Convention Delegates.
January 23, 1861. Wednesday. Delegates to meet at noon in the Hall of the House of Representatives in Baton Rouge.
January 26, 1861. Saturday. Louisiana secedes

February 18, 1861. JOINT RESOLUTION On the Right of Secession.
February 18, 1861.  JOINT RESOLUTION Approving the course of the Governor in taking possession of the Forts and Arsenals in the State.
March 1, 1861. RESOLUTION Of thanks of the General Assembly to the members of the Military Board.

March 4, 1861 Monday. Lincoln's Inauguration.

March 7, 1861. AN ACT To amend an act entitled an act to promote the formation of Military Companies, and equipping the same, approved December twelfth, eighteen hundred and sixty.
March 8, 1861.  AN ACT For the support of the Donaldson Cannoneers, parish of Ascension
March 15, 1861. JOINT RESOLUTION In regard to Major General D. E. Twiggs.
March 15, 1861. AN ACT Relative to the transfer of the regular military force of this State and the arms and munitions of war acquired from the United States, to the Provisional Government of the Confederate States of America.
March 20, 1861. AN ACT To amend and re-enact the eighth section of an act entitled, "An act to promote the formation of military companies, and to provide for arming and equipping the same," approved December 12th, 1860.
March 20, 1861. AN ACT To prescribe the mode of drawing and accounting for the appropriation of moneys for State defense or military purposes.
March 20, 1861. AN ACT Making an appropriation for purposes of State defense.

April 12, 1861. Friday. Confederate guns fire on Ft. Sumter.

Proposed preamble for secession statement, by Mr. DeBlanc

text page: Whereas, it is manifest that Abraham Lincoln if inaugurated as President of the United States, will keep the promises he has made to the Abolitionists of the North ; that those promises, if kept, will inevitably lead to the emancipation and misfortune of the slaves of the South, their equality, with a superior race, ere long, to the irreparable ruin of this mighty Republic, the degradation of the American name, and corruption of the American blood. Fully convinced as we are. that the slavery ingrafted on this land by France, Spain. England, and the States of North America, is the most humane of all existing servitudes; That, to the slave of the South, it is far preferable to the condition of the barbarians of Africa, or the freedom of those who have been liberated by the powers of Europe. That it is in obedience to the laws of God, recognized by the Constitution of our country, sanctioned by the decrees of its tribunals. That it feeds and clothes its enemies and the world, leaves to the black laborer a more considerable sum of comfort, happiness and liberty than the inexorable labor required from the free servants of the whole universe : and that each emancipation of an African slave, without being of any benefit to him, would necessarily condemn to slavery one of our blood and our race.