alternatehistory.com

4 June
A preacher in Tennessee by the name of James William Maxim uses the recently published and still controversial Origin of Species as a basis for his sermon on the natural inferiority of "the negro races", holding that Europeans and specifically Southerners are more highly evolved and that there is a racial hierarchy based on evolution. Notably, Maxim manages the rhetorical gymnastic trick of commending the Indian Removals for how they have improved "the Red Indian" by ensuring that only the strongest members of the race survived.


7 June
Final warning sent to the Government of Satsuma and to the Bakfu (the Shogunate government). In both cases, the Emperor urges that the warnings not be complied with, as it would be a major insult for Japan.


9 June
A new chapter begins in the New Zealand Land Wars, as an assassination attempt by the Kingite Maori nearly succeeds in killing the pro-peace governor George Grey - who is saved only by the quick thinking of his bodyguards, all but one of whom die in the ambush. Grey does not escape the ambush unscathed, and will be governing from a hospital bed for the next few months due to a broken leg.


11 June
The HMS Archer leaves Gosport (her crew being impressed by the yards, not so much by the poor treatment of the workforce) and shapes her course for Charleston as part of a program of routine visits.


13 June
The captain of the French ironclad Solferino decides that there seems to be nothing for him to actually do, and puts in at Puerto Vallarta to ask if he should stay in the Pacific or head back to France.


16 June
The United States War Department establishes a committee to work out what kind of firearms they are required to procure. Legally speaking they must obtain the most modern weapons possible, but the question is what this means - does it mean rifle-muskets, repeaters, Sharps rifles, Kammerladers, Colt revolving rifles or something else entirely?
(A separate discussion is also opened regarding artillery, and another discussion on whether this applies to the National Guard as well, and yet another on if enough rifles for the full mobilization must be stockpiled. Suffice to say there is going to be a lot of arguing.)


19 June
HMS Archer - and her captain, Bythesea - are recognized as being the ship and officer behind the Spirit capture. The result is a quick escalation of an already touchy situation in Charleston.
At about seven in the evening, a group of 'Archers' get in a brawl which turns ugly quickly. Two men are seriously injured.

20 June
Bythesea discovers that one of his men has not reported back on board Archer. His anger is initially for the unfortunate tar, until it is realized that he was one of those who got in the brawl from last night - and, worse, that the missing man (Richard Nelson) is black.
In his remonstration with mayor Charles Macbeth, Bythesea touches on many of the same points the commanders of Troubridge did. This is resented by Macbeth, but it makes one of the other Charleston statemen in the room volcanically angry - Francis Pickens.

21 June
Archer's marines (out of uniform) rescue Richard Nelson from the Charleston slave barracoons. Archer's guns are cleared for action during the incident.
Bythesea demands an apology for this unconscionable treatment of a British citizen and enlisted man, who came within a few days of being sold into slavery, and gets it from Macbeth (and a promise that the guilty, including the primary backer of the Spirit's voyage, will be punished) - but, as he prepares to sail for Bermuda, Fort Sumter opens fire on his ship.

In truth, only one gun is being employed, by a few of the enlisted men and officers Pickens has whipped up into a frenzy - this is not official. Nevertheless, Archer makes for the sea under full power - and, worse, takes one hit which damages the forecastle.