The U.S.S. Penguin had captured the schooner Albion, formerly the Lucy R. Waring of Baltimore, near Edisto Island, off the coast of South Carolina, after a three hour chase on the morning of November 25, 1861. Found to be running the Charleston blockade with arms, ammunition, and other military supplies, a prize crew under Master's Mate George N. Hood sailed the seized vessel into New York.  (By John Osborne)

At the constitutional convention of the seceding Virginia counties in Wheeling, for various reasons, the provisional name for the new state, Kanawha, was dropped and a debate ensued for a replacement.  Voted on in nominating style, other state names were proposed, till "West Virginia" emerged, strongly supported by Waitman T. Willey as the one by which the region was already widely recognized, with 30 of the 44 votes cast. (By John Osborne)  

Eleven days before, the newly assembled U.S. Senate, alarmed at the recent defeats, voted 33 to 3 to appoint a committee of to investigate the progress of the war. The House agreed and on December 20, 1861, the Joint Committee on the Conduct of the War met, with Senator Benjamin Wade of Ohio in the chair. Senators Zachariah Chandler and Andrew Johnson and Representatives Daniel W. Gooch, John Covode, George W. Julian, and Moses F. Odell were the other members. The Committee would meet throughout the war.  (By John Osborne)  

The newly assembled U.S. Senate, alarmed at the recent defeats, voted the day before 33 to 3 to appoint a joint committee of Congress to investigate the progress of the war.  The vote called for a group of seven legislators, three from the Senate, four from the House, with full powers of examination.  The House agreed and on December 20, 1861, the Joint Committee on the Conduct of the War met, with Senator Benjamin Wade of Ohio in the chair.  The Committee served throughout the war, holding 272 meetings.  (By John Osborne)  

The newly assembled U.S. Senate, alarmed at the recent defeats, voted 33 to 3 to appoint a joint committee of Congress to investigate the progress of the war.  The vote called for a group of seven legislators, three from the Senate, four from the House, with full powers of examination.  The House agreed the next day and on December 20, 1861, the Joint Committee on the Conduct of the War met, with Senator Benjamin Wade of Ohio in the chair.  The Committee met throughout the war, holding 272 sessions.  (By John Osborne)