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

A Diary of American Events.–September 7, 1861

September 7, 2011

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

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September 7.—The Grand Jury of Westchester County, N. Y., in session at White Plains, presented to the Judge of the Circuit Court, the Yonkers Herald, the Highland Democrat, the Eastern State Journal of that county, and the Staats Zeitung and the National Zeitung of New York City, as disseminators of doctrines, which, in the existing state of things, tend to give aid and comfort to the enemies of the Government, and to prevent a vigorous prosecution of the war by which alone the supremacy of the Government is to be maintained, and National peace and prosperity again witnessed in the land. And they called upon the District Attorney of that county to prosecute the editors and proprietors of these journals if, after public notice, they should continue in their evil courses; and they also requested that a copy of the presentment be forwarded to Mr. E. D. Smith, the United States District Attorney in New York, that he might commence proceedings against the two German papers presented published there, and further requested that a stop might be put to the circulation of these papers in Westchester County.— N. Y. Commercial, September 9.

—Generals Pillow and Polk occupied Columbus, Kentucky, with seven thousand rebels. Jeff. Thompson was in Missouri, directly opposite, with the balance of Pillow’s forces. A reinforcement of Federal troops were sent today to Paducah, and another regiment follows immediately.—Baltimore American, Sept. 9.

—The Knoxville (Tenn.) Whig of to-day contains the following from Parson Brownlow, designed to correct some erroneous notions that prevail in regard to his position on the war question.

He says he entertains the same opinions he always has of “the heresy of secession and the leading men who brought about a dissolution of the Union, and of the motives that prompted them.” He “can never sanction the one nor confide in the other.” He wishes it understood, however, that, inasmuch as he is not a “candidate for martyrdom, or imprisonment” during the war, and has been overpowered by the action of the State at the ballot-box, and by the strong arm of the military, he has determined to “moderate in his tone,” to “cease the course of warfare” he has waged, and to “yield to the necessity upon us—a necessity none of us can avert.” After pledging himself to devote more attention hereafter to giving his readers the current news than abusing the South, he says: “I have fought, editorially, as long as I could accomplish any thing by lighting, and in my retirement to a position of neutrality, I carry with me my unchanged principles, and shall cherish them to my latest hours of life.” He further adds:

“So far as I am individually concerned, I will not be a party to any mad scheme of rebellion, gotten up at this late day, or to any insane attempt to invade this end of the State with Federal troops. And any portion of the Union men of East Tennessee who may be crazy enough to embark in either enterprise, and offer utter ruin, as they are bound to do, shall not, when “the times of these calamities be overpast,” reflect on me for having advised such a course.

I have many old friends and co-laborers in the Union cause, dispersed throughout East Tennessee, who think that I ought weekly to pitch into the State and the Confederate Governments, and into every thing and everybody connected with secession, regardless of consequences; and the more so, as I conduct the only Union paper left in the Southern Confederacy. Not being impressed with any such sense of duty, I most respectfully decline the honors and hazards of so brave and independent a course. And if there is any gentleman in the Union ranks in this end of the State who is desirous to try his hand in it, I will cheerfully yield him my position. But before he embarks, as a new beginner, I will apprise him of the fact that we are in the midst of a fearful revolution—that the civil law has given way to the military rule—and that, if he is fool enough to attempt such a course, the military authorities in the South are not fools enough to tolerate it. I come down from my extreme position, not of choice, but of necessity, and I frankly confess that I have not the courage to meet, in open combat, unarmed as I am, eleven States in arms and in full uniform.”

—At New York City, Algernon S. Sullivan, a lawyer, was arrested at his residence, No. 89 West Fourteenth street, by Sergeant Lefferts, of the detective police. The arrest was in compliance with an order from Secretary Seward. Mr. Sullivan is a prominent lawyer, and well known as one of the counsel of Capt. Baker, of the pirate ship Savannah. He is a western man by birth, and has a brother who is colonel of the Thirteenth Indiana regiment, who was at the battle at Rich Mountain, under Gen. McClellan, and another brother said to be colonel of an Ohio regiment. He admits having written some letters South connected with the Savannah pirates, but claims that they were strictly professional, and that there was nothing in them designed to reflect on the General Government or furnish intelligence prejudicial to its interests in the present rebellion.—-N. Y. World, September 9.

—Joseph A. Wright, ex-Minister to Berlin, arrived at Indianapolis, Ind. he was greeted by a large crowd of citizens, and escorted to the State House square, where be was welcomed in a patriotic speech by Gen. Dumont, Mr. Wright said he did not come to talk about parties or political platforms, when the institutions of his country were assailed. He had nothing to do with them. The Constitution must be preserved and this great rebellion would be put down. He would sustain Mr. Lincoln and the Administration in every effort to sustain the Government. He would never agree to a division of this country. We must be one people. He was for his country first, last, and all the time, and for the prosecution of the war to a successful termination, and for such a purpose would put forth every exertion. —Buffalo Courier, September 9.

—At Louisville J. S. Jackson issued a spirited call for a regiment of Kentucky cavalry, under authority of the United States, for three years or during the war.—(Doc. 39.)

—A Union meeting, called by four hundred men of all parties, who believe in a vigorous prosecution of the war and sustaining the Administration, was held at Danville, Conn., this afternoon. About fifteen hundred persons were present. Strong resolutions were adopted, with great cheering. A prudential committee of ten was appointed. Speeches were made by Hon. R. Averill and Samuel T. Seely, D. D., of Albany.—N. Y. Times, Sept. 9.

—At Newark, New Jersey, Edward P. Wilder, engineer, aged forty-five, was arrested to-day and sent to Fort Lafayette. Intercepted letters exposed him. He was making a rifle battery to send South, and expressed a willingness to fight the horde of northern abolitionists. —Newark Mercury, September 9.

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