August 26, 1861 Monday
Moderately severe fighting broke out at Cross Lanes near Summerville (
http://www.americancivilwar.com/statepic/wv/wv004.html ) and there was skirmishing at Wayne Court House and at Blue’s House, western Virginia. King Kamehameha IV of the Hawaiian Islands proclaimed the neutrality of his country in the war.
President Lincoln countermands order of Gen. Fremont: "Intelligent gentlemen at Louisville say the presence of [Col. Lovell H.] Rousseau's regiment is needed there. Pardon us for countermanding your order to him to join your department."
Colonel Benjamin L. Beall, 1st U.S. Dragoons, USA, is assigned command of the District of Oregon.
Squadron under Flag Officer Stringham, U.S.S. Minnesota, Wabash, Monticello, Pawnee, Revenue Cutter Harriet Lane, U.S. tug Fanny, and two transports carrying about 900 troops under Major General Butler, departed Hampton Roads (later joined by U.S.S. Susquehanna and Cumberland) for Hatteras Inlet, N.C., for first combined amphibious operation of the war. Hatteras Inlet was the main channel into Pamlico Sound and the most convenient entrance for blockade runners bringing supplies to the Confederate Army in Virginia. The Navy early recognized the strategic importance of the inlet and invited the Army to cooperate in its capture. The operation was designed to check Confederate privateering and to begin the relentless assault from the sea that would divert a large portion of Confederate manpower from the main armies.
Captain A. H. Foote ordered to relieve Commander J. Rodgers in command of the Army's gunboat flotilla on the western rivers. Rodgers had done well, but there had been personality clashes.
U.S.S. Daylight, under Commander Lockwood, re-captured brig Monticello in Rappahannock River.
The Confederate Congress approved an expenditure of $420,000 for the construction of three gunboats to protect the coast and rivers of Florida.