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

Thursday, January 20, 2011

Post image for “Servile insurrection, too, seems contemplated in Virginia.”—Diary of George Mifflin Dallas, United States Minister to England.

“Servile insurrection, too, seems contemplated in Virginia.”—Diary of George Mifflin Dallas, United States Minister to England.

January 20, 2011

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

1861. January 20.—….The news from home during this week has been deplorable. On the l0th inst. the President sent a message to Congress which depicts the state of things in the gloomiest colours. South Carolina, at Charleston, has fired repeated volleys at a United States transport carrying troops for Major Anderson at Fort Sumter, and has compelled her to retire. The Brooklyn, a second-class screw steamer of fourteen guns, and the revenue cutter Harriet Lane are about to convoy the troops back again to Charleston on board the Star of the West, and we may expect our next news to announce a bloody fight, possibly a bombardment of the city. Seward has made a speech in the Senate which the Times calls “grand and conciliatory,” but which obviously asserts a determination to enforce the laws. Servile insurrection, too, seems contemplated in Virginia, some twenty-five barrels of gunpowder having been disinterred from secret hiding-places.

Post image for “There are so many villinous looking fellows roaming about the City, that it seems necessary for some one to be on the watch all the time.”—Horatio Nelson Taft.

“There are so many villinous looking fellows roaming about the City, that it seems necessary for some one to be on the watch all the time.”—Horatio Nelson Taft.

January 20, 2011

Diary of US patent clerk Horatio Nelson Taft.,The American Civil War

SUNDAY 20

Cooler today, and quite windy, but did not freeze till night. Did not go to church today. Took care of the house while the rest of the family went. Read the “Times” “Herald” and Partons last Vol of Jackson. There are so many villinous looking fellows roaming about the City, that that [sic] it seems necessary for some one to be on the watch all the time. Burglaries and incendiary fires occur every night. I sleep with a loaded “revolver” within reach every night. Took a walk with the boys round Lafayette Square this evening and did not go out again. The air was cool and bracing. It freezes tonight.

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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 Operations in Florida – Confederate Correspondence

Operations in Florida – Confederate Correspondence

January 20, 2011

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

WASHINGTON, January 20, 1861.

Gov. M. S. PERRY, Tallahassee, Fla.:

The Southern Senators all agree that no assault on Fort Pickens should be made; that the fort is not worth one drop of blood at this time, and desire us to invoke you to prevent bloodshed. First get the Southern Government in operation. The same advice has been given as to Charleston, and will no doubt be adopted there.

S. R. MALLORY.

D. L. YULEE.