Which Virginia city became the main Confederate capital in 1861?

Richmond became the main Confederate capital in 1861.

The Confederate States of America first established its capital at Montgomery, Alabama, in February 1861. After Virginia seceded and joined the Confederacy, Confederate leaders selected Richmond as the new capital on May 8. The government moved there in late May, making Richmond the political and administrative center of the Confederacy for most of the Civil War.

Richmond’s location made it strategically important. Virginia had a large population, extensive rail connections, major manufacturing capacity, and the Tredegar Iron Works, which produced artillery and other war matériel. The city also stood near the Union capital in Washington, D.C., placing it at the center of the eastern theater of the war.

Richmond became a major military target. Union armies repeatedly tried to capture it, especially during the Peninsula Campaign and the fighting around Petersburg. When Confederate defenses finally collapsed in April 1865, the government evacuated. Retreating Confederate forces set fire to military supplies, and the resulting blaze destroyed much of the city before Union troops occupied it.