The Provisional Congress of the Confederate States, also known as the Provisional Congress of the Confederate States of America, was a congress of deputies and delegates called together from the

Southern States Southern States may refer to: *The independent states of the Southern hemisphere United States * Southern United States, or the American South * Southern States Cooperative, an American farmer-owned agricultural supply cooperative * Southern Stat ...

which became the governing body of the Provisional Government of the Confederate States from February 4, 1861, to February 17, 1862. It sat in Montgomery, Alabama, until May 21, 1861, when it adjourned to meet in

Richmond, Virginia (Thus do we reach the stars) , image_map = , mapsize = 250 px , map_caption = Location within Virginia , pushpin_map = Virginia#USA , pushpin_label = Richmond , pushpin_m ...

, on July 20, 1861. In both cities, it met in the existing state capitols which it shared with the respective secessionist state legislatures. It added new members as other states

seceded Secession is the withdrawal of a group from a larger entity, especially a political entity, but also from any organization, union or military alliance. Some of the most famous and significant secessions have been: the former Soviet republics lea ...

from the Union and directed the election on November 6, 1861, at which a permanent government was elected.

First Session

The First Session of the Provisional Congress was held at Montgomery from February 4, 1861, to March 16, 1861. Members were present from Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, and Texas. It drafted a provisional constitution and set up a government. For president and vice-president, it selected

Jefferson Davis Jefferson F. Davis (June 3, 1808December 6, 1889) was an American politician who served as the president of the Confederate States from 1861 to 1865. He represented Mississippi in the United States Senate and the House of Representatives as a ...

of Mississippi and Alexander H. Stephens of Georgia.

Constitutional Convention

The Confederate States of America

Constitutional Convention Constitutional convention may refer to: * Constitutional convention (political custom), an informal and uncodified procedural agreement *Constitutional convention (political meeting), a meeting of delegates to adopt a new constitution or revise an e ...

was held at Montgomery from February 28, 1861, to March 11, 1861.

Second Session

The Second Session of the Provisional Congress was held at Montgomery from April 29, 1861, to May 21, 1861. Members were present from Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Virginia, and Arkansas.

Third Session

The Third Session of the Provisional Congress was held at Richmond from July 20, 1861, to August 31, 1861. Members were present from Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Virginia, Arkansas, North Carolina, and Tennessee.

Fourth Session

The Fourth Session of the Provisional Congress was held at Richmond on September 3, 1861. Members were present from Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Virginia, Arkansas, North Carolina, and Tennessee.

Fifth Session

The Fifth Session of the Provisional Congress was held at Richmond from November 18, 1861, to February 17, 1862. Members were present from Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Virginia, Arkansas, North Carolina, Tennessee, Missouri, and Kentucky. One non-voting member was present from the

Arizona Territory The Territory of Arizona (also known as Arizona Territory) was a territory of the United States that existed from February 24, 1863, until February 14, 1912, when the remaining extent of the territory was admitted to the Union as the state of ...

Leadership

* President: Howell Cobb

Members

Deputies

Deputies from the first seven states to secede formed the first two sessions of the Congress. Alabama * Richard W. Walker * Robert H. Smith *

Colin J. McRae Colin J. McRae (born Colin John McRae; October 22, 1812 – February 1877) was an American politician who had served as a Deputy from Alabama to the Provisional Congress of the Confederate States from 1861 to 1862. The location of his grave, in ...

* John Gill Shorter (''resigned'' November 1861) **

Cornelius Robinson Cornelius Robinson (September 25, 1805 – July 29, 1867) was a politician from Alabama who served in the Provisional Confederate Congress at the beginning of the American Civil War. Robinson was born in Wadesboro, North Carolina. He was the ...

(''took his seat on'' April 29, 1861 – ''Elected to fill vacancy; resigned'' January 24, 1862) * W. P. Chilton *

Stephen F. Hale Stephen F. Hale (born Stephen Fowler Hale; January 31, 1816 – July 18, 1862) was an American politician who served as a Deputy from Alabama to the Provisional Congress of the Confederate States from 1861 to 1862. In July 1862, he died of wound ...

David P. Lewis David P. Lewis (born David Peter Lewis; May 18, 1820 – July 3, 1884) was a lawyer and politician who served as the List of governors of Alabama, 23rd governor of Alabama from 1872 to 1874 during the Reconstruction era. He was also a Deput ...

(''resigned'' April 29, 1861) ** Nic. Davis, Jr. (''took his seat on'' April 29, 1861 – ''Elected to fill vacancy'') * Thomas Fearn (''resigned'' April 29, 1861) ** H. C. Jones (''took his seat on'' April 29, 1861 – ''Elected to fill vacancy'') * J. L. M. Curry Florida *

J. Patton Anderson James Patton Anderson (February 16, 1822 – September 20, 1872) was an American slave owner, physician, lawyer, and politician, most notably serving as a United States Congressman from the Washington Territory, a Mississippi state legislator, ...

(''resigned'' April 8, 1861) **

George Taliaferro Ward George Taliaferro Ward (1810 – May 5, 1862) was a major cotton planter and politician from Leon County, Florida. He served in the Confederate Army as a colonel during the American Civil War, dying near Williamsburg, Virginia. Early life and m ...

(''took his seat on '' May 2, 1861 – ''Elected to fill vacancy; resigned ''February 5, 1862) **

John Pease Sanderson John Pease Sanderson (November 28, 1816 – June 28, 1871) was a delegate of the Florida Secession Convention in Tallahassee, and then a Florida member of the Congress of the Confederate States during the American Civil War. John Sanderson wa ...

(''took his seat on '' February 5, 1862 – ''Appointed to fill vacancy'') * James B. Owens * Jackson Morton (''took his seat on '' February 6, 1861) Georgia * Robert Toombs * Howell Cobb * F. S. Bartow (''killed'' July 21, 1861 ''at the First Battle of Bull Run'') **

Thomas Marsh Forman Thomas Marsh Forman (January 4, 1809 – September 27, 1875) was a prominent Confederate politician. He was born Thomas Forman Bryan in Chatham County, Georgia to US Representative Joseph Bryan and Delia Forman Bryan. In 1846 he changed his name in ...

(''took his seat on'' August 7, 1861 – ''Appointed to fill vacancy'') * M. J. Crawford * E. A. Nisbet (''resigned'' December 10, 1861) **

Nathan Henry Bass, Sr. Nathan Henry Bass Sr. (October 1, 1808 – September 22, 1890) was a Confederate politician. He was born in Putnam County, Georgia. He represented the state in the Provisional Confederate Congress from January 14, 1862, to February 17, 1862, repla ...

(''took his seat on'' January 14, 1862 – ''Appointed to fill vacancy'') * B. H. Hill * A. R. Wright * T. R. R. Cobb * A. H. Kenan * A. H. Stephens Louisiana *

John Perkins, Jr. John Perkins Jr. (July 1, 1819 – November 28, 1885) was an American politician who served as a U.S. representative from Louisiana. Biography Perkins was born on July 1, 1819, in Adams County, Mississippi, to John and Mary ( née Rives) ...

* Alexander de Clouet *

Charles M. Conrad Charles Magill Conrad (December 24, 1804 – February 11, 1878) was a Louisiana politician who served in the United States Senate, United States House of Representatives, and Confederate Congress. He was Secretary of War under President Mill ...

Duncan F. Kenner Duncan Farrar Kenner (February 11, 1813 – July 3, 1887) was an American politician who served as a Deputy from Louisiana to the Provisional Congress of the Confederate States from 1861 to 1862. In 1864, he served as the chief diplomat from the ...

Edward Sparrow Edward Sparrow (December 29, 1810 – July 4, 1882) was an American politician who served as a Confederate States Senator from Louisiana from 1862 to 1865. Biography Sparrow was born in Dublin, Ireland. He represented Louisiana in the Prov ...

* Henry Marshall Mississippi * A. M. Clayton (''resigned'' May 11, 1861) **

Alexander Blackburn Bradford Alexander Blackburn Bradford (June 2, 1799 – July 10, 1873) The life of Alexander Blackburn Bradford saw his conspicuous participation in the early affairs of two Southern states, a distinguished career as a lawyer and elected politician, a sk ...

(''took his seat on'' December 5, 1861 – ''Elected to fill vacancy'') * James T. Harrison *

William S. Barry William S. Barry (born William Taylor Sullivan Barry; December 10, 1821 – January 29, 1868) was an American politician who served as a Deputy from Mississippi to the Provisional Congress of the Confederate States from 1861 to 1862. He was al ...

* J. A. P. Campbell *

Wiley P. Harris Wiley P. Harris (born Wiley Pope Harris; November 9, 1818 – December 3, 1891) was a United States House of Representatives, U.S. Representative from Mississippi. Biography Born on November 9, 1818, in Pike County, Mississippi, Pike County, Mi ...

* Walker Brooke * William S. Wilson (''resigned'' April 29, 1861) ** J. A. Orr (''took his seat on'' April 29, 1861 – ''Elected to fill vacancy'') South Carolina * Robert Barnwell Rhett * Robert W. Barnwell * Christopher Gustavus Memminger * James Chesnut, Jr. * William Porcher Miles *

Laurence M. Keitt Laurence Massillon Keitt (October 4, 1824 – June 2, 1864) was an American planter, lawyer, politician, and soldier from South Carolina. During his tenure in the United States House of Representatives, he was included in several lists of Fire- ...

* Thomas J. Withers (''resigned'' May 21, 1861 ''after second session'') ** James Lawrence Orr (''took his seat on'' February 17, 1862 – ''Appointed to fill vacancy'') * William W. Boyce Texas * John Gregg (''took his seat on'' February 15, 1861) *

Thomas N. Waul Thomas Neville Waul (January 5, 1813 – July 28, 1903) was a Confederate States Army brigadier general during the American Civil War (Civil War). Before the Civil War, he was a teacher, lawyer, judge and planter. He served for a year in the P ...

(''took his seat on'' February 19, 1861) * W. S. Oldham (''took his seat on'' March 2, 1861) * J. H. Reagan (''took his seat on'' March 2, 1861) * John Hemphill (''took his seat on'' March 2, 1861; ''died'' January 4, 1862) * W. B. Ochiltree (''took his seat on'' March 2, 1861) * L. T. Wigfall (''took his seat on'' March 2, 1861)

Delegates

Representatives from states to secede after the

Battle of Fort Sumter The Battle of Fort Sumter (April 12–13, 1861) was the bombardment of Fort Sumter near Charleston, South Carolina by the South Carolina militia. It ended with the surrender by the United States Army, beginning the American Civil War. Follo ...

were referred to as delegates, in contrast to the deputies from the original seven states. Arkansas * Augustus Hill Garland * Robert Ward Johnson * Albert Rust * Hugh French Thomason *

William Wirt Watkins William Wirt Watkins (April 1, 1826 – January 15, 1898) was an American politician. He was born in Jefferson County, Tennessee, and later moved to Arkansas, where he served in the state senate 1856 to 1860, 1866, and 1878. He was a delegate to ...

Kentucky * Henry Cornelius Burnett *

Theodore Legrand Burnett Theodore Legrand Burnett (November 14, 1829 – October 30, 1917) was an American soldier, attorney, and a prominent politician in the Confederate States of America. Burnett was born in Spencer County, Kentucky. He served in the U.S. Army during ...

John Milton Elliott John Milton Elliott (May 16, 1820 – March 26, 1879) was an American lawyer and politician from Prestonsburg, Kentucky. He represented Kentucky in the United States House of Representatives from 1853 until 1857 and served in the First Confederate ...

George Washington Ewing George Washington Ewing (November 29, 1808 – May 20, 1888) was an American Confederate politician from Kentucky. He was a Confederate delegate then representative during the Civil War. Ewing was born in Adairville, Kentucky, and educated i ...

Samuel Howard Ford Samuel Howard Ford (February 19, 1819 – July 5, 1905) was a Confederate politician. He was born in London, England and later emigrated to the United States, settling in Kentucky. He represented that state in the Provisional Confederate Congress ...

* George Baird Hodge * Thomas Johnson * Thomas Bell Monroe *

John J. Thomas John J. Thomas (August 8, 1813 – 1895) was a prominent Confederate politician. He was born in Albemarle County, Virginia and later moved to Kentucky, where he served in the state legislature in 1851. He represented the state in the Provisional ...

Daniel Price White Daniel Price White (November 16, 1814 – April 12, 1890) was a prominent Confederate politician. Early life He was born in Green County, Kentucky, to his mother Judith Taylor and father Major General William Price White. He was educated at Ce ...

Missouri *

Caspar Wistar Bell Caspar Wistar Bell (February 2, 1819 – October 27, 1898) was a prominent Confederate politician. He was born in Prince Edward County, Virginia, and later moved to Missouri. He represented the state in the Provisional Confederate Congress and the ...

John Bullock Clark, Sr. John Bullock Clark Sr. (April 17, 1802 – October 29, 1885) was a politician who served as a member of the United States Congress and Confederate Congress. Early life and education John B. Clark Sr. was born in Madison County, Kentucky, a ...

Aaron H. Conrow Aaron Hackett Conrow (June 19, 1824 – August 15, 1865) was a Congress of the Confederate States, Confederate Congressman and soldier during the American Civil War. He was murdered by bandits after moving to Mexico after the war's end. Early ...

William Mordecai Cooke, Sr. William Mordecai Cooke Sr. (December 11, 1823 – April 14, 1863) was a prominent Confederate politician. Biography William Mordecai Cooke was born in Portsmouth, Virginia on December 11, 1823. He earned a law degree at the University of ...

Thomas W. Freeman Thomas W. Freeman (1824 – October 24, 1865) was a prominent Confederate States of America, Confederate politician. He was born in Anderson County, Kentucky, Anderson County, Kentucky and later moved to Missouri. he represented the state in t ...

Thomas Alexander Harris Thomas Alexander Harris (1826 – April 9, 1895) was a United States Army officer at the end of the Mexican–American War and a Missouri State Guard (Confederate) Brigadier General (CSA), brigadier general during the early months of the America ...

* Robert Ludwell Yates Peyton * George Graham Vest * Delegate-elect Hyer never took his seat North Carolina * William Waightstill Avery *

Francis Burton Craige Francis Burton Craige (March 13, 1811 – December 30, 1875) was an editor, lawyer, and U.S. congressional representative from the south fork of the Yadkin River five miles from Salisbury, North Carolina. He was the youngest son of David and Ma ...

Allen Turner Davidson Allen Turner Davidson (May 9, 1819 – January 24, 1905) was a prominent Confederate politician. He was born in Haywood County, North Carolina and represented the state in the Provisional Confederate Congress and the First Confederate Congress ...

* George Davis *

Thomas David Smith McDowell Thomas David Smith McDowell (January 4, 1823 – May 1, 1898) was a prominent slave-owner and North Carolina politician. He was born in Bladen County, North Carolina. He served in the state House from 1846 to 1850 and in the state senate from 1854 ...

* John Motley Morehead * Richard Clauselle Puryear *

Thomas Hart Ruffin Thomas Hart Ruffin (September 9, 1820 – October 17, 1863) was a Congressional Representative from North Carolina; born in Louisburg, North Carolina, September 9, 1820; attended the common schools; graduated from the University of North Caroli ...

William Nathan Harrell Smith William Nathan Harrell Smith (September 24, 1812 – November 14, 1889) was a United States Representative from North Carolina, and a chief justice of the North Carolina Supreme Court. Biography William N. H. Smith was born in Murfreesboro, North ...

Abraham Watkins Venable Abraham Watkins Venable (October 17, 1799 – February 24, 1876) was a 19th-century US politician and lawyer from North Carolina. He was a slaveholder. He was the nephew of congressman and senator Abraham Bedford Venable. Biography Born in ...

Tennessee *

John DeWitt Clinton Atkins John DeWitt Clinton Atkins (June 4, 1825 – June 2, 1908) was an American slave owner, politician and a member of both the United States House of Representatives and Confederate Congress from Tennessee. Biography Johnathan Atkins was born at ...

* Robert Looney Caruthers *

David Maney Currin David Maney Currin, Sr. (November 11, 1817 – March 25, 1864) was a Tennessee attorney and politician who served in the Confederate States Congress during the American Civil War. Biography Currin was born in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, in 1817. ...

William Henry DeWitt William Henry DeWitt (October 24, 1827 – April 11, 1896) was a prominent Tennessee politician. DeWitt was born in Smith County, Tennessee. He was largely self-educated, but studied briefly at Berea Academy near Chapel Hill, Tennessee. In 1847 ...

* John Ford House *

Thomas McKissick Jones Thomas McKissick Jones (December 16, 1816 – March 13, 1892) was a prominent Tennessee politician. He was born in Person County, North Carolina. He later moved to Tennessee and served in the state House of Representatives and the state Senate. He ...

James Houston Thomas James Houston Thomas (September 22, 1808 – August 4, 1876) was an American politician and a member of the United States House of Representatives for Tennessee's Tennessee's 6th congressional district, 6th congressional district. Biography Thoma ...

Virginia * Thomas Salem Bocock *

Alexander Boteler Alexander Robinson Boteler (May 16, 1815 – May 8, 1892) was a nineteenth-century planter turned businessman, as well as artist, writer, lawyer, Confederate States of America, Confederate officer, philanthropist and politician from Shepherdstown ...

* John White Brockenbrough *

Gideon D. Camden Gideon Draper Camden (August 31, 1805 – April 22, 1891) was an American lawyer, judge and politician who opposed the creation of the state of West Virginia and sympathized with the Confederacy, but later served in the West Virginia Senate repr ...

(''resigned'' June 1861) * R. M. T. Hunter * Robert Johnston *

William Hamilton MacFarland William Hamilton MacFarland (February 9, 1799 – January 10, 1872) was a prominent Virginia politician. He was born in Lunenburg County, Virginia and later served in the House of Burgesses from 1822 to 1824 and from 1830 to 1831. He was elect ...

James Mason James Neville Mason (; 15 May 190927 July 1984) was an English actor. He achieved considerable success in British cinema before becoming a star in Hollywood. He was the top box-office attraction in the UK in 1944 and 1945; his British films inc ...

* Walter Preston * William Ballard Preston * Roger Atkinson Pryor * William Cabell Rives *

Charles Wells Russell Charles Wells Russell (July 22, 1818 – November 22, 1867) was a prominent Virginia lawyer and politician. He supported the Confederate States of America during the American Civil War, serving as one of Virginia's delegates to the Provisiona ...

Robert Eden Scott Robert Eden Scott (April 23, 1808 – May 3, 1862) was a prominent Virginia planter, lawyer and politician who served many terms in the Virginia General Assembly. He also represented Fauquier County at the Virginia Secession Convention of 186 ...

* James Alexander Seddon * Waller Redd Staples * John Tyler (''died'' January 18, 1862)

* Granville Henderson Oury

Notes

References

* * Thomas, Emory M. (1998), ''The Confederate State of Richmond: A Biography of the Capital'',

Louisiana State University Press The Louisiana State University Press (LSU Press) is a university press at Louisiana State University. Founded in 1935, it publishes works of scholarship as well as general interest books. LSU Press is a member of the Association of American Univer ...

. *

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Confederate States, Provisional Congress Of The 1861 establishments in the Confederate States of America 1862 disestablishments in the Confederate States of America Confederate States Defunct national legislatures Legislative branch of the Confederate States of America government Confederate States