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

Tuesday, January 11, 2011

Post image for “Treason is rife in the City, and we know not what a day may bring forth.”—Horatio Nelson Taft

“Treason is rife in the City, and we know not what a day may bring forth.”—Horatio Nelson Taft

January 11, 2011

Diary of US patent clerk Horatio Nelson Taft.

FRIDAY 11

Yesterdays Telegraphic news was incorrect as to Maj Anderson. The “Inteligencer” this morning publishes a letter from an ex-Congressman from the south exposing the treasonable proceedings at their Secret meetings of the Senators from the Cotton States now here. Yulee (brother of the Senator from Fla) in my room today said they were acting from patriotic motives. I denounced them as conspirators and traitors. Y “looked daggers” but was silent. Whitaker (from S.C.) looked blank. He is our 2nd assistant and is emphaticaly a “literary know nothing.” No particular news today. Treason is rife in the City, and we know not what a day may bring forth. A pretty cold day. M. about 20.

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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 A Diary of American Events – January 11, 1861

A Diary of American Events – January 11, 1861

January 11, 2011

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

—To-day a party of Louisiana State troops, under command of Captain Bradford, took possession of the United States Marine Hospital, about two miles below New Orleans. The patients in the Hospital, numbering two hundred and sixteen, were ordered to be removed; those who are convalescent, immediately, and those who are confined to their beds, as soon as possible. The reason assigned for this inhuman action is that the authorities want the quarters for their own troops.

—A Union meeting was held at Wilmington, N. C., this evening, which was attended by over one thousand persons.—Evening Post, Jan. 15.

—Florida and Alabama adopted ordinances of secession; Florida passed her ordinance by a vote of 62 to 7, and Alabama by yeas 61, nays 39. The Alabama Convention was far from unanimous; a large part of that State is decidedly opposed to extreme measures.

The Alabama ordinance of secession cells upon the people of all the Southern States to meet in convention at Montgomery, on the 4th of February next, for the purpose of forming a provisional or permanent government. Immediately after the passage of the ordinance, an immense mass meeting was held in front of the capitol; a secession flag, presented by the women of Montgomery, was raised on the State House, cannon were fired, guns fired, etc., and in the evening the whole town was illuminated.—(Doc. 19.)—Evening Post, Jan. 12.

—Judge Jones, of the United States District Court, this afternoon announced from the windows of the court-room in the custom-house building, at Mobile, that the United States Court for the Southern District of Alabama was “adjourned forever.”

Mr. George M. Brewer, of the same place, gave one hundred cords of wood for the use of the garrison at Fort Morgan, and proffered the services of twenty negro men as laborers on the works.—Mobile Advertiser, Jan. 12.

At Richmond, Va., a banquet was given to John B. Floyd, late Secretary of the Navy. That gentleman made a speech, wherein he related a conversation with the President, which he claimed showed a breach of faith on the part of the latter, leading to the former’s resignation. He also counselled resistance to Federal coercion. Speeches were made by Lieutenant-Governor Montague, Attorney-General Tucker, and others. The policy of the Legislature was severely commented upon.

—Abolitionists attempted to hold a meeting at Rochester, N. Y. It was broken up by citizens, and resolutions in favor of the Union were passed, and cheers given for General Scott and Major Anderson. A flag bearing the inscription, “No compromise with slavery,” was not allowed to be suspended across Buffalo street. The authorities prevented a general riot. —N. Y. Herald, Jan. 12.

—Both branches of the New York Legislature adopted strong Union resolutions, tendering the assistance of the State to the President, and ordered them sent to the President, and the Governors of all the States.—(Doc. 20.)

The Secession of North Carolina

January 11, 2011

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

FORT CASWELL, N. C., January 11, 1861.

SIR: I have the honor to report herewith that this post is reoccupied by a party of citizens from Wilmington and Smithville. They took possession at 7 o’clock on the night of the 10th instant. The individual who represents them as commanding officer is a Mr. Hedrick, from Wilmington; he has signed receipts to me for all the ordnance stores at the post, and is using such of them as he needs.

I would have used every effort to communicate this matter to the Department before this, only that Sergeant-Reilly was pleased to write on the night of its occurrence. Please send me instructions how I am to act, and if I am to receive what portion of the stores that is left; and how I am to expend the property they have destroyed, in the event of my receiving the stores back.

…………..I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

FREDERICK DARDINGKILLER,
Ordnance Sergeant, U. S. Army.

Col. S. COOPER,
Adjutant-General, U. S. Army, Washington, D. C.

Post image for Florida Secession Convention—“When at length the names were all affixed, cheer after cheer rent the air; it was deafening. Our world seemed to have gone wild.”—Susan Bradford

Florida Secession Convention—“When at length the names were all affixed, cheer after cheer rent the air; it was deafening. Our world seemed to have gone wild.”—Susan Bradford

January 11, 2011

The American Civil War,Through Some Eventful Years by Susan Bradford Eppes

January 11th, 1861. We did not try to be early this morning, as the big event of the day did not take place until one o’clock. Capitol Square was so crowded you could see nothing but heads and the Capitol itself was full of people looking from the windows, which looked out on the east portico. Somehow Father and I had seats on the portico itself, close up to the wall where we were not in the way and yet we could both see and hear.

There was a table already there with a large inkstand and several pens, nothing more. A subdued murmur came from the assembled citizens but there was none of the noise and excitement which had prevailed on other days; all seemed impressed with the solemnity of the occasion for oh, it is solemn! I did not realize how solemn until Mr. Sanderson read the Constitution and I understood just why it was necessary for Florida to secede.

As the old town clock struck one, the Convention, headed by President McGehee, walked out on the portico. In a few moments they were grouped about the table on which some one had spread the parchment on which the Ordinance of Secession was written. It was impossible for me to tell in what order it was signed, the heads were clustered so closely around the table, but presently I heard Col. Ward’s familiar voice. There was a little break in the crowd and I saw him quite plainly. He dipped his pen in the ink and, holding it aloft he said, in the saddest of tones, “When I die I want it inscribed upon my tombstone that I was the last man to give up the ship.” Then he wrote slowly across the sheet before him, “George T. Ward.”

The stillness could almost ‘be felt. One by one they came forward and after a while Col. Owens, a Baptist minister, who is lame, came up to sign and in a loud voice he said: “Unlike my friend, Colonel Ward, I want it inscribed on MY tombstone that I was the FIRST man to quit the rotten old hulk.”A very faint applause greeted this, but it died away before it hardly began. This was no time for jesting; it meant too much.

When at length the names were all affixed, cheer after cheer rent the air; it was deafening. Our world seemed to have gone wild.

General Call is an old man now; and he is a strong Union man. Chancing to look toward him I saw that the tears were streaming down his face. Everybody cannot be suited and we are fairly launched on these new waters; may the voyage be a prosperous one.

Nearly everybody seems to be happy and satisfied. The Supreme Court Judges, into whose hands the document just signed, has been placed, have carried it to Miss Elizabeth Eppes to engross or adorn it with blue ribbon; the judges selected Miss Bettie because she is a granddaughter of Thomas Jefferson. I hope President Jefferson likes our Ordinance—I believe those who are gone know all we are doing here below.

Father says the rest of the proceedings of this convention will be confined to business matters and though he is planning to attend, he will leave me at home and let me go on with my studies. I wonder if I can collect my wits enough to learn my lessons. I will have Saturday to rest up in and Lulu will make us some candy.