Following the American Civil War Sesquicentennial with day by day writings of the time, currently 1863.

Wednesday, January 5, 2011

Post image for “This City is threatened and the Citizens do fear that a Mob will have possession of it…”—Horatio Nelson Taft

“This City is threatened and the Citizens do fear that a Mob will have possession of it…”—Horatio Nelson Taft

January 5, 2011

Diary of US patent clerk Horatio Nelson Taft.

SATURDAY 5

People were startled today to hear that the U.S. Forts and Arsenals at Savannah & Mobile had been taken possession of by the Revolutionists. Where this is all to end God only knows. It looks dark for our Country at present. But there is still a strong feeling that the Government will be upheld. This City is threatened and the Citizens do fear that a Mob will have possession of it unless measures are taken to defend it; incendiary fires occur every night and we feel very unsafe.

______

The three diary manuscript volumes, Washington during the Civil War: The Diary of Horatio Nelson Taft, 1861-1865, are available online at The Library of  Congress.

Post image for At the Court of St. James.—George Mifflin Dallas, United States Minister to England.

At the Court of St. James.—George Mifflin Dallas, United States Minister to England.

January 5, 2011

Diary of George Mifflin Dallas, United States Minister to England 1856 to 1861

1861. January 5.—….Mr. Motley, the historian, called and spent an hour in chat. I expressed my great delight with his recently issued work, the “Dutch Republic.” Told him I had noted two new spellings, Escorial and Burghley; the first he said was unquestionably correct, the second he took from the Lord Treasurer’s uniform mode of signing his name, though it was spelled very variously. In the course of conversation he avowed the opinion that Walsingham, not Burghley, was the great Minister of Queen Elizabeth, and he thought that Elizabeth had taken to herself merit and glory which really belonged to the British people generally. We turned over the distressing condition of American politics. He is for saving the Union at almost any sacrifice; but I thought I could perceive that he entertained the theory that, maintaining the name, the flag, and the Constitution, we should be happier and equally great without the cotton States. He is inveterately hostile to slavery. Now that his two volumes are making him famous, he proposes to be presented with his wife and daughter at Court. Of course I shall be proud to gratify his wish in that respect. I think he remembers that the literary fame of Washington Irving made him chargé at this Court and subsequently Minister at Madrid. Lincoln can give me no more acceptable successor. The foundations for such an appointment are more broad, more durable, and in every way more satisfactory than those of mere political partisanship.

Post image for Susan Bradford.—”Cousin Rob does not care about the convention..,”

Susan Bradford.—”Cousin Rob does not care about the convention..,”

January 5, 2011

Through Some Eventful Years by Susan Bradford Eppes

January 5th, 1861.—This is Saturday and Mother lets Lulu make candy on Saturday and if she, my black mammy, will let us, we help with it. She says we “do not help but hinder;” maybe she is right. Cousin Rob is spending the day here and Lulu has promised to teach us how to make the candy baskets, which we love to have her make for us. Cousin Rob does not care about the convention, he is going to school in town but comes home Friday after school and goes back Monday morning. He is calling me now to play Graces, so will say goodbye for this time, little diary.

Post image for A Diary of American Events – January 5, 1861

A Diary of American Events – January 5, 1861

January 5, 2011

The American Civil War,The Rebellion Record—A Diary of American Events; by Frank Moore

—A large meeting was held at Norfolk, Va., this evening. Strong speeches were made, urging the citizens to arm themselves and place themselves in a state of defence for any emergency, which were loudly cheered.

Resolutions recommending the Legislature to organize thoroughly the military power of the State, and prepare for civil war should it occur; scorning coercion; and preparing to resist invasion, were unanimously adopted.—National Intelligencer, Jan. 7.

—Apprehensions of an attack on Washington are subsiding, in consequence of the measures already taken. General Carrington, of that city, has issued a call for a military organization for its defence.—(Doc. 15.)

—In the State Convention of Florida, assembled at Tallahassee, resolutions were offered declaring the right of Florida to secede, and the duty of the State to prepare for secession, made special order for the 7th.

Resolution was unanimously adopted in the Missouri Senate, instructing the Committee on Federal Relations to report a bill calling a State Convention.— Times.

—Steamship Star of the West, Captain McGowan, cleared at New York for Havana and New Orleans. Two hundred and fifty artillerists and marines, with stores and ammunition, were put on board in the lower bay by steam-tug, and in the night the ship went to sea, supposed to be destined for Charleston.

—The South Carolina Convention adjourned this morning, subject to the call of the president—Evening Post, Jan. 5.

Post image for D. L. Yulee: “The occupation of the navy-yard will give us a good supply of ordnance and make the capture of the forts easier.”—Operations in Florida—Confederate Correspondence

D. L. Yulee: “The occupation of the navy-yard will give us a good supply of ordnance and make the capture of the forts easier.”—Operations in Florida—Confederate Correspondence

January 5, 2011

The American Civil War,War of the Rebellion: a Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies

WASHINGTON,
January 5, 1861.

JOSEPH FINEGAN, Esq., or

Col. GEO. W. CALL [Tallahassee, Fla.]:

MY DEAR SIR: The immediately important thing to be done is the occupation of the forts and arsenal in Florida. The naval station and forts at Pensacola are first in consequence. For this a force is necessary. I have conversed with Mr. Toombs upon the subject. He will start this week for Georgia, and says if the convention of sov’y [sovereignty] will ask Governor Brown, of Georgia, for a force he will immediately send on sufficient force and take the navy-yard and forts. The occupation of the navy-yard will give us a good supply of ordnance and make the capture of the forts easier. Major Chase built the forts and will know all about them. Lose no time, for, my opinion is, troops will be very soon dispatched to re-enforce and strengthen the forts in Florida. The arsenal at Chattahoochee should be looked to, and that at once, to prevent removal of arms.

I think that by 4th March all the Southern States will be out, except perhaps Kentucky and Missouri, and they will soon have to follow.

What is advisable is the earliest possible organization of a Southern Confederacy and of a Southern Army. The North is rapidly consolidating against us upon the plan of force. A strong Government, as eight States will make, promptly organized, and a strong Army, with Jeff. Davis for General-in-Chief, will bring them to a reasonable sense of the gravity of the crisis.

Have a Southern Government as soon as possible, adopting the present Federal Constitution for the time, and a Southern Army. I repeat this because it is the important policy.

Virginia, Maryland, and Tennessee are rapidly coming up to the work.

God speed you.

I shall give the enemy a shot next week before retiring. I say enemy! Yes, I am theirs, and they are mine. I am willing to be their masters, but not their brothers.

Yours, in haste,

D. L. YULEE.

Lose no time about the navy-yard and forts at Pensacola.

The Secession of Alabama and Mississippi

January 5, 2011

War of the Rebellion: a Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies

Mobile, January 5, 1861.

DEAR SIR: I have been superseded by Colonel Todd, of the Militia of Alabama, and he took and receipted for all the property belonging to the Ordnance Department and fort.

I wait for orders from the Adjutant-General.

……….I am, very respectfully,

S. PATTERSON,
Ordnance Sergeant, U. S. Army.

The ADJUTANT-GENERAL.