December 1861

Monday 09:

Joint Committee on the Conduct of the War created by the U.S. Congress

Saturday 21:

Lord Lyons, the British minister to the United States, meets with United States Secretary of State William Seward concerning Confederate envoys arrested by the United States Navy in order to prevent war between the United States and the United Kingdom.

Thursday 26:

Confederate diplomatic envoys James Mason and John Slidell are freed by the United States government, thus heading off a possible war between the United States and Britain