▁– ▁American ▁Civil ▁War : ▁The ▁first ▁U . S . ▁iron cl ad ▁war ship , ▁, ▁is ▁launched . ▁ ▁January ▁ 3 1 ▁– ▁Al van ▁Graham ▁Clark ▁makes ▁the ▁first ▁observation ▁of ▁Si ri us ▁B , ▁a ▁white ▁d war f ▁star , ▁through ▁an ▁eigh teen - inch ▁teles cope ▁at ▁North western ▁University . ▁▁ ▁February ▁ 1 ▁– ▁American ▁Civil ▁War : ▁Julia ▁Ward ▁How e ' s ▁ ▁Battle ▁H ymn ▁of ▁the ▁Republic ▁is ▁published ▁for ▁the ▁first ▁time ▁in ▁the ▁Atlantic ▁Month ly . ▁ ▁February ▁ 2 ▁– ▁The ▁first ▁railway ▁opens ▁in ▁New ▁Zealand , ▁by ▁the ▁Dun ▁Mountain ▁Co pper ▁M ining ▁Company . ▁ ▁February ▁ 6 ▁– ▁American ▁Civil ▁War : ▁General ▁U ly ss es ▁S . ▁Grant ▁gives ▁the ▁United ▁States ▁its ▁first ▁victory ▁of ▁the ▁war , ▁by ▁capt uring ▁Fort ▁Henry , ▁Tennessee . ▁ ▁February ▁ 1 1 – 1 6 ▁– ▁American ▁Civil ▁War ▁– ▁Battle ▁of ▁Fort ▁Don el son : ▁General ▁U ly ss es ▁S . ▁Grant ▁attacks ▁Fort ▁Don el son , ▁Tennessee , ▁capt uring ▁it ▁on ▁the ▁last ▁day . ▁ ▁February ▁ 2 0 ▁– ▁Áng el ▁de ▁Sa aved ra , ▁ 3 rd ▁Duke ▁of ▁R ivas , ▁is ▁named ▁director ▁of ▁Spain ' s ▁Real ▁Academia ▁Españ ola . ▁ ▁February ▁ 2 1 ▁– ▁American ▁Civil ▁War ▁– ▁Battle ▁of ▁Val ver de : ▁Confeder ate ▁forces ▁defeat ▁Union ▁troops