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

Wednesday, January 12, 2011

Post image for “The indications now are that Virginia & Maryland will both ‘secede.’”—Horatio Nelson Taft

“The indications now are that Virginia & Maryland will both ‘secede.’”—Horatio Nelson Taft

January 12, 2011

Diary of US patent clerk Horatio Nelson Taft.

SATURDAY 12

Mr Sewards Speech is the great event of the day. Did not hear it. The Senate Chamber was crowded by 9 o’clock. Got letter from Julia through Chas. Wrote her today. Hardly know how to get her Home, or (in fact) whether it is best for her to come here to Washington at this Crisis. Went round to the Hotels this evening. Gave Mr Hoard M.C. from N.Y. name of exmr in Pat office who got pay in advance and then “Seceded” (R. R. Rhodes of Mississippi). Pay Clerk Hugh McCormick, all unlawful. The indications now are that Virginia & Maryland will both “secede.” Cold and windy today. Temperature about the same as yesterday.

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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 12, 1861

A Diary of American Events – January 12, 1861

January 12, 2011

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

—The Star of the West arrived at New York, having failed to land her troops at Fort Sumter. The Captain reported that unexpected obstacles in the removal of buoys, lights, and ranges, which, though he arrived in the night, compelled him to wait till daybreak outside the harbor, rendered a successful entrance impossible.—(Doc. 21.)

—Senator Seward, in his place in the Senate, spoke upon the present troubles of the country, and avowed his “adherence to the Union, in its integrity and with all its parts; with his friends, with his party, with his State, or without either, as they may determine; in every event, whether of peace or of war; with every consequence of honor or dishonor, of life or death.” He said that “Union is not less the body than liberty is the soul of the nation.” The speech is denounced by both extremes, and is understood by the Southerners to mean “coercion,” while the political friends of the Senator consider it a relinquishment of his principles.—Times, Jan. 18.

Four Barrancas and the navy yard at Pensacola, were seized. The late commandant of the navy yard, in a dispatch to Government, says:

“Armed bodies of Florida and Alabama troops appeared before the gate of the navy yard, and demanded possession. Having no means of resistance, I surrendered and hauled down my flag. They are now in possession.”

A dispatch to the Florida senators announced the same as follows:

“We repaired down here and captured Fort Barrancas and navy yard, and then paroled the officers, granting them permission to continue to occupy their quarters. We are now in possession. This move was in consequence of the Government garrisoning Fort Pickens, which has before remained unoccupied. You will propose to the Administration, resuming the status quo ante bellum and we will immediately evacuate.”

The Pensacola navy yard contains a hundred and fifty-six thousand dollars’ worth of ordnance stores.—Richmond Enquirer, Jan. 14.

—Artillery were ordered to Vicksburg by the Governor early this morning, to hail and question passing boats on the Mississippi river.

A salute of fifteen guns was fired last night at Jackson, on the reception of the news from Alabama and Florida.—Raleigh Standard, Jan. 14.

Post image for Operations in Charleston Harbor

Operations in Charleston Harbor

January 12, 2011

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

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NEW YORK HARBOR,
January 12, 1861.

COLONEL: I have the honor to report that I reached this post at 8½ o’clock this morning with my command, having been unable to reach Fort Sumter. I will make a detailed report without delay.

I am, colonel, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

CHARLES R. WOODS,

First Lieutenant, Ninth Infantry.

Col. H. L. SCOTT, A. D.C.

Post image for “I hope is not true, that it was the purpose of the administration to coerce the Southern States, and that troops were on their way to garrison the Southern forts…”—The Secession of North Carolina

“I hope is not true, that it was the purpose of the administration to coerce the Southern States, and that troops were on their way to garrison the Southern forts…”—The Secession of North Carolina

January 12, 2011

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

EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT,
Raleigh, January 12, 1861.

His Excellency JAMES BUCHANAN,
………………….. President of the United States:

SIR: Reliable information has reached this Department that on the 9th instant Forts Johnston and Caswell were taken possession of by State troops and persons resident in that vicinity, in an irregular manner. Upon the receipt of this information I immediately issued a military order requiring the forts to be restored to the authorities of the United States, which order will be executed this day.

My information satisfies me that this popular outbreak was caused by a report very generally credited, but which, for the sake of humanity, I hope is not true, that it was the purpose of the administration to coerce the Southern States, and that troops were on their way to garrison the Southern forts and to begin the work of our subjugation. This impression is not yet erased from the public mind, which is deeply agitated at the bare contemplation of so great an indignity and wrong, and I now most earnestly appeal to your Excellency to strengthen my hands in my efforts to preserve the public order here by placing it in my power to give public assurances that no measures of force are contemplated towards us.

Your Excellency will therefore pardon me for asking whether the United States forts in this State will be garrisoned with Federal troops during your administration? This question I ask in perfect respect, and with an earnest desire to prevent consequences which I know would be regretted by your Excellency as much as myself. Should I receive assurances that no troops will be sent to this State prior to 4th March next, then all will be peace and quiet here, and the property of the United States will be fully protected as heretofore. If, however I am unable to get such assurances, I will not undertake to answer for the consequences.

The forts in this State have long been unoccupied, and their being garrisoned at this time will unquestionably be looked upon as a hostile demonstration, and will, in my opinion, be certainly resisted.

Believing your Excellency to be sincerely desirous of preserving peace and preventing the effusion of the blood of your countrymen. I have deemed it my duty to yourself, as well as to the people of North Carolina, to make the foregoing inquiry, and to acquaint you with the state of the public mind here.

………………..Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

JOHN W. ELLIS.

Post image for “We are in a revolution.”—Rutherford B. Hayes

“We are in a revolution.”—Rutherford B. Hayes

January 12, 2011

Diary and Letters of Rutherford Birchard Hayes,The American Civil War

CINCINNATI, January 12, 1861.

DEAR UNCLE:—I will write oftener hereafter. I have some work, the days are short, and the state of the country is a never-ending topic which all you meet must discuss, greatly to the interruption of regular habits. I rather enjoy the excitement, and am fond of speculating about it.

We are in a revolution; the natural ultimate result is to divide us into two nations, one composed of free States, the other of slave States. What we shall pass through before we reach this inevitable result is matter for conjecture. While I am in favor of the Government promptly enforcing the laws for the present, defending the forts and collecting the revenue, I am not in favor of a war policy with a view to the conquest of any of the slave States; except such as are needed to give us a good boundary. If Maryland attempts to go off, suppress her in order to save the Potomac and the District of Columbia. Cut a piece off of western Virginia and keep Missouri and all the Territories.

To do this we shall not need any long or expensive war, if the Government does its duty. A war of conquest we do not want. It would leave us loaded with debt and would certainly fail of its object. The sooner we get into the struggle and out of it the better.

There, you can read that perhaps. If you can’t, you lose nothing. If you can, it is no more worthless than the dispatches from Congress.

Sincerely,

R. B. HAYES.

S. BIRCHARD.