On this date 150 years ago, in a bold action, Lincoln suspended the writ of habeas corpus in an area stretching from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to Washington, D.C., and then left General Scott in charge of supervising any incidents arising out of the suspension. Lincoln did this in part to provide for a cessation of the turmoil that had been plaguing Baltimore, Maryland, and causing troop transports to be severely disrupted because of it. In addition, the President extended the Federal blockade of Southern ports to include Virginia and North Carolina.

Richmond was offered by the Virginia Convention as a possible site for a new capital for the Confederacy to replace Montgomery, Alabama.