July 25, 1861 Thursday
The United States Senate, following the course of the House, passed the Crittenden Resolution that the present war was being fought to maintain the Union and Constitution and not to interfere with established institutions such as slavery. Andrew Johnson of Tennessee moved adoption. The vote was 30 to 5.
Three new Federal commanders assumed important posts – Maj Gen Banks superseded Patterson in the Shenandoah, Maj Gen Dix took command in Baltimore, and Maj Gen John Charles Fremont assumed his post of command in the Western Department at St Louis, soon to be a subject of much controversy.
There was skirmishing at Dug Springs in southwest Missouri, and indications were that more action would be seen in the general area of Springfield soon. There was also fighting at Harrisonville, Missouri. In New Mexico Territory a force of Confederates moving up the Rio Grande were attacked at Mesilla by Maj Isaac Lynde and his troops from nearby Fort Fillmore. The Confederates under Capt John R. Baylor numbering about 250 (2nd Regiment Texas Mounted Rifles (Confederate army))had moved up from El Paso, Texas. They were part of the famous “buffalo hunt” organized by Baylor before action began – a group meant to attempt to take the Southwest out of Union control. Lynde made a desultory attack which was easily repulsed
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Battle_of_Mesilla . In western Virginia Federals under Jacob Cox occupied Charleston on the Great Kanawha. Northern balloon observation operations began at Fort Monroe.
Robert Mercer Taliaferro Hunter, Virginia lawyer and political figure, was named Secretary of State of the Confederacy, succeeding Robert Toombs, who resigned to enter military service.
C.S.S. Sumter, under Commander Semmes, captured schooner Abby Bradford in the Caribbean Sea and, denied the right to enter Venezuela with Confederate prizes, dispatched her to a Southern port. Confederate privateer Mariner, commanded by Captain W. B. Berry, captured American schooner Nathaniel Chase off Ocracoke Inlet, North Carolina. Confederate privateer Gordon captured American brig William McGilvery off Cape Hatteras with cargo of molasses. Confederate privateer Dixie captured American schooner Mary Alice off the east coast of Florida. U.S.S. Resolute, commanded by Acting Master W. Budd, brought two schooners and one sloop as prizes into Washington, D.C.
Some Confederate currency experienced its second issue
http://www.csacurrency.com/csacur/csat0712.htm .