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| Saturday June 8, 1861 |
In a popular referendum Tennessee voters approve secession.
The vote count is 104, 913 for secession and 47, 238 against
secession. The eastern part of Tennessee remains largely
pro-union like the western parts of Virginia. Andrew Johnson who
will succeed Lincoln as President comes from Eastern Tennessee.
The vote is a follow on to the actions of the legislature.
Tennessee will become one of the major battlegrounds of the war.
Tennessee will also supply many soldier to both the Union and
Confederate armies. Tennessee officially becomes the 11th state
to secede.
Confederate Brigadier General Richard Selden Garnett is
appointed to command in Western Virginia.
President Lincoln approves the setting up of the United States
Sanitary Commission. This organisation is to look after the health
of the Federal Soldiers
Virginia turns over it's militia to the Confederate States and
General Robert E. Lee becomes an advisor to President Davis.