Editing 1861 (section)

=== December ===
* [[December 1]] &ndash;  [[American Civil War]]: [[Trent Affair|''Trent'' Affair]] &ndash; The British government dispatches its response, partly drafted by [[Albert, Prince Consort]] (a fortnight before his death).<ref>{{cite book|last=Ferris|first=Norman B.|title=The Trent Affair: a Diplomatic Crisis|year=1977|isbn=0-87049-169-5|pages=52–53|publisher=University of Tennessee Press }}</ref>
* [[December 10]]
** [[American Civil War]]:  A rebel government representing [[Confederate government of Kentucky|Kentucky]] is accepted into the [[Confederate States of America]], although Kentucky officially remains part of the United States.
** In southern [[French Indochina]], resistance forces led by [[Nguyễn Trung Trực]] ambush, board and sink the French [[lorcha (boat)]] ''L'Esperance'' on the Nhat Tao canal.
* [[December 21]] &ndash; [[Medal of Honor]]: Public Resolution 82, containing a provision for a Navy Medal of Valor, is signed into law by U.S. [[President Abraham Lincoln]].