lordroel
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Post by lordroel on Dec 20, 2022 3:48:20 GMT
Events leading up to the United States Civil War, December 20th 1860
District of Columbia
Outgoing President James Buchanan appointed Edwin M Stanton as 25th United States Attorney General.
The United States Senate established the Committee of Thirteen comprised of seven Democrats, five Republicans and one Constitutional Unionist senators, the Committee of Thirteen was formed to investigate the possibility of a "plan of adjustment" that might solve the growing secession crisis.
The members were:
Democrat - William Bigler (Pennsylvania) Democrat - Jefferson Davis (Mississippi) Democrat - Stephen Douglas (Illinois) Democrat - Robert M. T. Hunter (Virginia) Democrat - Lazarus W. Powell (Kentucky) Democrat - Henry M. Rice (Minnesota) Democrat - Robert Toombs, (Georgia) Republican - Jacob Collamer (Vermont) Republican - James Rood Doolittle (Wisconsin) Republican - James W. Grimes (Iowa) Republican - William Seward (New York) Republican - Benjamin Wade (Ohio) Constitutional Unionist - John J. Crittenden (Kentucky)
Maryland
William H Collins of Baltimore issued an address to the people of Maryland in favor of the United States.
North Carolina
North Carolina received Commissioners from Alabama and Mississippi.
South Carolina
At the South Carolina Secession Convention in the Institute Hall in Charleston, all the attending delegates unanimously voted (169-0) for secession. At 7:00 p.m. that same day, the delegates marched into Institute Hall and began signing the Ordinance of Secession and after two hours, at 9:00 p.m., president of South Carolina's Secession Convention, David F. Jamison proclaimed "the State of South Carolina an independent commonwealth." The Ordinance adopted read: "We, the people of the State of South Carolina, in convention assembled, do declare and ordain, and it is hereby declared and ordained, That the ordinance adopted by us in convention on the twenty-third day of May, in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and eighty-eight, whereby the Constitution of the United States of America was ratified, and also all acts and parts of acts of the General Assembly of this State ratifying amendments of the said Constitution, are hereby repealed; and that the union now subsisting between South Carolina and other States, under the name of the "United States of America," is hereby dissolved. Done at Charleston the 20th day of December, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty. D.F. Jamison: Delegate from Barnwell and President of the Convention, and others." The Declaration of Secession for South Carolina states, "We affirm that these ends for which this Government was instituted have been defeated, and the Government itself has been made destructive of them by the action of the non-slaveholding States. Those States have assume the right of deciding upon the propriety of our domestic institutions; and have denied the rights of property established in fifteen of the States and recognized by the Constitution; they have denounced as sinful the institution of slavery; they have permitted open establishment among them of societies, whose avowed object is to disturb the peace and to eloign the property of the citizens of other States. They have encouraged and assisted thousands of our slaves to leave their homes; and those who remain, have been incited by emissaries, books and pictures to servile insurrection."
Maine
Eastern Argus (The Leading Democrat Newspaper) Activity of the slave trade: Despatches from the African Squadron, received at the Navy Department, state that the steamer SAN JACINTO had captured the brig BONITO, with a cargo of seven hundred and fifty slaves. Commander Inman reports great activity on the part of vessels engaged in this inhuman traffic. A large number of suspicious looking vessels are constantly seen hovering about in various localities, evidently watching an opportunity to secure cargoes and escape without detection, but that our little squadron are not only vigilant but active, and it is seldom that they escape.
Portland advertiser (The Leading Republican Newspaper) No war: It is announced by telegraph that South Carolina does not intend to take possession of any property of the Federal Government until after the 4th of March, thus giving time to the other southern states to arrange concerted action with her. We hope for continued peace; South Carolina begins to perceive her inability to make her acts correspond to the spirit of her manifestoes. The secession ordinance has not yet passed.
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lordroel
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Post by lordroel on Dec 21, 2022 3:41:47 GMT
Events leading up to the United States Civil War, December 21st 1860
District of Columbia
The four United States Congressmen from South Carolina withdraw from the House of Representatives.
Maine
Portland advertiser (The Leading Republican Newspaper) Major Anderson: Major Anderson, of the USA, commanding at Fort Moultrie, in Charleston Harbor, is a native of Kentucky, and a graduate at West Point. In his younger days, and while a lieutenant, he had temporary command of the Kennebec Arsenal, at Augusta, Maine – Afterwards he was with Gen. Scott in Mexico, and was brevetted. At the close of the war the major was stationed at Fort Preble, Portland. Major Anderson is a very popular officer of unquestioned bravery, great prudence, and in all respects well qualified for the difficult position in which he is now placed by the War Department. He had a host of friends while in Maine.
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lordroel
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Post by lordroel on Dec 22, 2022 3:50:15 GMT
Events leading up to the United States Civil War, December 22nd 1860
District of Columbia
President-Elect Abraham Lincoln’s opposition to the Crittenden Compromise protecting slavery in the territories was made public.
North Carolina
The North Carolina Senate Bill to arm the State failed to pass the North Carolina House.
South Carolina
South Carolina Secession Convention names three commissioners to negotiate the purchase of Federal property in the state, and put all the forts under South Carolina control. President-Elect Abraham Lincoln wrote to Alexander Stephens saying he had no intention of interfering with slavery, only preventing its spread to the territories.
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lordroel
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Post by lordroel on Dec 23, 2022 7:08:48 GMT
Events leading up to the United States Civil War, December 23rd 1860
Maine
Eastern Argus (The Leading Democrat Newspaper) Important intelligence: The telegraph informs a breathless public that Mr. Abraham Lincoln ( who has …been generally regarded as President-elect of the United States ) “ received the news from Charleston calmly” -- Let the country take a long breath ; let the longitude of its visage be diminished ; and the latitude increased; let the weary tip-toes of suspense be relieved by the firmly-planted feet of confidence. But in spite of this cheering announcement, we cannot help feeling a lingering anxiety which might have been removed by a more minute statement of his manner of reception…If possible, have his photograph taken, representing him as he looked at the awful moment – and let us read in his eloquent lineaments the fate of our Union.
Portland advertiser (The Leading Republican Newspaper) Republicans in Congress: …In truth the Republican party can do nothing, consistent with the continuance of its organization, excepting to stand by the Chicago platform. Mr. Lincoln may as well withdraw his claims upon the Presidency in favor of Mr. Breckenridge, or Mr. Douglas, as to attempt to administer the government upon the principle of one or the other the parties which supported those candidates – Abraham Lincoln is a Republican, believing in the truth and justice of those principles to which he owes his election and he will conduct the administration upon those principles if he conducts it at all.
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lordroel
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Post by lordroel on Dec 24, 2022 10:24:59 GMT
Events leading up to the United States Civil War, December 24th 1860
District of Columbia
The House refuses the resignations of the four United States Congressmen from South Carolina who withdraw from the House of Representatives three days earlier.
New York
New York Republican William H. Seward proposes a constitutional amendment to the effect that Congress can never interfere with slavery in the states where it exists, and also that fugitives slaves be given jury trials, and that the unconstitutional Personal Liberty Laws and the like on the books in many Northern states be revised.
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lordroel
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Post by lordroel on Dec 25, 2022 8:26:01 GMT
Events leading up to the United States Civil War, December 25th 1860
Nothing to report.
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lordroel
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Post by lordroel on Dec 26, 2022 8:53:35 GMT
Events leading up to the United States Civil War, December 26th 1860
South Carolina
Under the cover of darkness, United States Army, Major Robert Anderson spiked the guns of Fort Moultrie and secretly withdrew all forces under his command (85 men of Companies E and H, 1st US Artillery) from Fort Moultrie and other forts on the mainland to Fort Sumter in Charleston Harbour. Major Robert Anderson believes the former location will soon be attacked and that the change of location is necessary to “prevent the effusion of blood.” South Carolinians view the troop transfer as a violation of their agreement with Buchanan to maintain the status quo.
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lordroel
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Post by lordroel on Dec 27, 2022 3:49:58 GMT
Events leading up to the United States Civil War, December 27th 1860
District of Columbia
Three commissioners from South Carolina (Barnwell, Orr and Adams) arrived in Washington, D.C. to negotiate the process of secession with the Federal government.
South Carolina
In Charleston harbour, Fort Moultrie and Fort Castle Pinckney were seized by South Carolina State troops.
United Revenue Service, Captain N L Coste surrendered the United States Revenue cutter USRC WILLIAM AIKEN to the state authorities.
Georgia
Georgia agrees to send troops to their South Carolina aid if hostilities open.
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lordroel
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Post by lordroel on Dec 28, 2022 3:50:00 GMT
Events leading up to the United States Civil War, December 28th 1860
District of Columbia
Outgoing President James Buchanan meets with South Carolina commissioners as "private gentlemen". They demand removal of federal troops from Charleston. Buchanan states he needs more time to consider the situation.
Maine
Eastern Argus (The Leading Democrat Newspaper) Fort Moultrie evacuated: A dispatch, received here yesterday noon, announced that on Wednesday night Fort Moultrie in Charleston Harbor was evacuated, the guns spiked, the carriages burned, and the fort rendered otherwise quite useless. We shall probably have some additional intelligence before our paper goes to press. In the mean time the following extract of a letter from the Washington correspondent of the Journal of Commerce may account in some measure for the evacuation and destruction of the Fort and the removal of the soldiers to Fort Sumpter : “ I learn from friends of Major Anderson that he is loyal and gallant, and will perish in the attempt to defend the fort, rather than surrender it, unless ordered to do it. If a hundred and fifty men be put in this fort, and if the gates be shut down, neither fort can be taken by South Carolina, without fleets and artillery. So say military men.”
Orders have been received at the Navy Yard, Portsmouth, N.H., to prepare the sloop-of-war MACEDONIAN for sea immediately. She is about ready, and will sail shortly under sealed orders. Three hundred sailors arrived at the yard on Tuesday. Several of the crew escaped from the cars by jumping out of the windows – the doors being sealed.
Portland advertiser (The Leading Republican Newspaper) Fort Moultrie: The news of the evacuation of Fort Moultrie by Major Anderson, excited the most intense feeling, and as the reason for the act becomes known, the feeling will by no means diminish. The opinion very generally prevails, that Major Anderson obeyed the orders of Gen, Scott, in leaving the fort, and taking his troops to Fort Sumpter, which may more easily be defended by a small garrison. Moultrie is open to attack from the side of the city, and from its own immediate vicinity, the defences on the land side being very imperfect. Sumpter is situated on an island a little more than a mile from Moultrie, and is defensible on all sides… If South Carolina intends war, and means to take the initiative, then war and all its horror must come, and God must take care of the issue. If we only had a MAN at the head of the government, all present evils might still be remedied. But with the traitor Buchanan or an imbecile to direct, revolution and rebellion may grow so great that months, perhaps years, may pass before the last head of the hydra is cut off.
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lordroel
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Post by lordroel on Dec 29, 2022 3:52:52 GMT
Events leading up to the United States Civil War, December 29th 1860
District of Columbia
(United States) Secretary of War John Buchanan Floyd of Virginia, resigned because President James Buchanan had declined “to withdraw the garrison from the harbour of Charleston altogether” after the transfer of United States Army, Major Robert Anderson’s command from Fort Moultrie to Fort Sumter.
Maine
Portland advertiser (The Leading Republican Newspaper) The news: Actual rebellion and open war in South Carolina, confusion, imbecility and treason at Washington; behold the story which the telegraph sent us last night !... The rebels have taken forts Moultrie and Pickney; they have raised the Palmetto flag upon the fortifications, the arsenal, the Custom House and the Post Office; they have suspended communication by telegraph, and the government which should have protected the Federal property is wrangling and whining, doing nothing, attempting nothing. President Buchanan, the chosen chief of this nation,, sheds childish tears, and sends muskets to arm traitors…The North is loyal, let the North speak out, and speak in language that cannot be misunderstood. What though Carolina is in rebellion, what though the government is prostituted to treason? The people can, if they will, retrieve all losses and crush all enemies of the Union and the Constitution!
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lordroel
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Post by lordroel on Dec 30, 2022 8:31:31 GMT
Events leading up to the United States Civil War, December 30th 1860
South Carolina
The United States Arsenal, Post Office, and Custom’s House at Charleston were seized by South Carolina State troops. The Arsenal contained over 70,000 stand of arms and other military stores.
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lordroel
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Post by lordroel on Dec 31, 2022 10:17:19 GMT
Events leading up to the United States Civil War, December 31st 1860
District of Columbia
(United States) Postmaster General Joseph Holt was put in temporary charge of the United States War Department following the resignation of John Buchanan Floyd.
The Senate Committee of Thirteen reports its failure to reach any agreement. Louisiana’s senator, Judah Benjamin, observes ominously, “The day for adjustment has passed.” Pleading for accepting the course of the inevitable he calls upon his Northern colleagues, “let this parting be in peace.”
Maryland
Mississippi Commissioner A H Handy addressed the citizens of Baltimore in favor of disunion.
South Carolina
The South Carolina convention votes for election of commissioners to other Southern states which called conventions to meet to form a provisional government.
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lordroel
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Post by lordroel on Jan 1, 2023 9:19:24 GMT
Events leading up to the United States Civil War, January 1st 1861
District of Columbia
Following discussions between outgoing President James Buchanan and United States Army, General-in-Chief Major-General Winfield Scott on 31 December 1860, preparations were instigated for the future defense of the Capital District.
On January 1st 1861, the United States Army was made up of 198 companies formed into 10 Regiments of Infantry, 4 Regiments of Artillery, and 5 Regiments of Cavalry. There were 1,098 Officers and 15,304 Enlisted Men of whom 727 Officers and 13,930 Enlisted Men were present for duty. The majority of field forces were deployed along the western frontier and in the new territories. Garrisons were also located in the primary east coast ports where a new generation of coastal fortifications was under construction. These forts were not fully garrisoned but were held ready for occupation by the State Militia in the event of war with a European power. Of the 198 available companies or batteries, 183 were stationed at 79 different posts west of the Mississippi. The other fifteen companies, mostly artillery, were allocated to coastal fortifications, 23 arsenals, and at posts on the Canadian border.
Georgia
On New Year's Day Georgians go to the polls to elect either a pro-United States or pro-Secession slate of delegates to a state convention to be held in Milledgeville.
Virginia
A pro-United States meeting in Parkersburg (now West Virginia) resolves that "secession is revolution."
Maine
Portland advertiser (The Leading Republican Newspaper) Buchanan and treason: If it be true that the President of the United States has, in addition to his numerous sins of omission and commission, agreed with the emissaries of South Carolina, that he will recall Major Anderson, and surrender Fort Sumter, he is clearly guilty of “aiding and abetting the enemies of the United States” and ought to be tried for his crimes. Arnold was never more recreant to his trust than James Buchanan has been to his, and side by side the two names will go down to a remote posterity blackening the page of history…With a President on friendly terms with traitors, with a Cabinet changing almost daily, with no settled line of policy yet determined upon, we may reasonably expect that “matters will grow worse before they become better.“
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lordroel
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Post by lordroel on Jan 2, 2023 8:02:32 GMT
Events leading up to the United States Civil War, January 2nd 1861
District of Columbia
United States Army, Inspector General Charles Pomeroy Stone is placed in charge of securing the safety of the nation's capital, Washington, D.C.
North Carolina
North Carolina state troops were ordered to seize Fort Macon, the forts at Wilmington, and the United States Arsenal at Fayetteville.
South Carolina
South Carolina was deemed by the United States government to be in a state of rebellion after passing an ordinance of secession on December 20th 1860.
Outgoing President James Buchanan refused to receive a letter from the South Carolina Commissioners informing the President of the vulnerable situation of United States Army, Major Robert Anderson’s garrison at Fort Sumter. This letter prompted the United States Government to prepare reinforcements to be sent to Fort Sumter.
Georgia
Georgia state troops occupy the United States Arsenal in Savannah and forts in Pulaski and Jackson.
Virginia
The United States Government ordered the wooden screw sloop USS BROOKLYN, stationed at Norfolk, to be prepared to sail to the possible aid of Fort Sumter in Charleston Harbour, South Carolina.
Reports from Virginia suggest that its citizens are leaning toward secession to a much greater degree.
California
Based in San Francisco, the Department of the Pacific is created for the United States Army.
Maine
Israel Washburn succeeded Lot M Morrill as Governor of Maine.
Michigan
Austin Blair succeeded Moses Wisner as Governor of Michigan.
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lordroel
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Post by lordroel on Jan 3, 2023 3:51:44 GMT
Events leading up to the United States Civil War, January 3rd 1861
District of Columbia
The United States War Department reversed the orders of the former Secretary of War, John Buchanan Floyd, and began to move weapons from many United States Arsenals, to avoid them falling into the hands of the seceding Southern States.
South Carolina’s Commissioners left Washington, D.C., after outgoing President James Buchanan refused to acknowledge official communications from a seceded institution.
South Carolina
South Carolina commissioners propose a meeting to form a provisional government for February 4 in Montgomery, Alabama.
Delaware
Delaware votes to remain in the United States despite its position as a slave state.
Georgia
Georgia militia under the command of Francis "Frank" Bartow seizes Fort Pulaski. Fort Pulaski, a brick fortification on Cockspur Island, Georgia, at the mouth of the Savannah River.
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