North America 1861: Fight for Kentucky
![Political map of North America & the Caribbean on 17 Dec 1861 (American Civil War: Fight for Kentucky), showing the following events: First Battle of Mesilla; Confederate Territory of Arizona; Confederates invade Kentucky; Union enters Kentucky; Kentucky declares for the Union; Mosquito Reservation created; Convention of London; Union captures Port Royal; Trent Affair; Tripartite fleets reach Mexico; Spanish occupy Veracruz.](https://omniatlas-1598b.kxcdn.com/media/img/maps/northamerica/northamerica18611217.png)
17 December 1861
17 Dec 1861
Fight for Kentucky
20 Dec 1860 Secession of South Carolina
8 Feb 1861 Confederate States of America
12 Apr 1861 Attack on Fort Sumter
21 Jul 1861 First Battle of Bull Run
17 Dec 1861 Fight for Kentucky
7 Apr 1862 Battle of Shiloh
1 May 1862 Capture of New Orleans
17 Sep 1862 Battle of Antietam
22 Mar 1863 French Intervention in Mexico
4 Jul 1863 Vicksburg and Gettysburg
20 Nov 1863 Dominican Restoration War
12 Jun 1864 Second Mexican Empire
21 Dec 1864 Sherman's March to the Sea
9 Apr 1865 Surrender of Army of Northern Virginia
When the Civil War broke out, Kentucky had declared neutrality. This situation lasted for over three months, until a Confederate general, acting on his own initiative, occupied Columbus. In response to this blunder, Kentucky declared for the Union, thereby opening up the War's western theater.