Posted on 01/05/2021 5:42:11 AM PST by Homer_J_Simpson
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Free Republic University, Department of History presents U.S. History, 1855-1860: Seminar and Discussion Forum
Bleeding Kansas, Dred Scott, Lincoln-Douglas, Harper’s Ferry, the election of 1860, secession – all the events leading up to the Civil War, as seen through news reports of the time and later historical accounts
First session: November 21, 2015. Last date to add: Sometime in the future.
Reading: Self-assigned. Recommendations made and welcomed.
Posting history, in reverse order
https://www.freerepublic.com/tag/by:homerjsimpson/index?tab=articles
To add this class to or drop it from your schedule notify Admissions and Records (Attn: Homer_J_Simpson) by reply or freepmail.
Link to previous Harper’s Weekly thread
https://freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/3919704/posts
https://freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/3919704/posts#26
Bruce Catton, The Coming Fury
Home Letters of General Sherman, edited by M.A. DeWolfe Howe, 1909
With Lincoln in the White House: Letters, Memoranda, and Other Writings of John G. Nicolay, 1860-1865, edited by Michael Burlingame
FORT SUMTER, S. C, January 6, 1861.
Col. S. COOPER, Adjutant-General:
Colonel: Through the courtesy of Governor Pickens I am enabled to make this communication, which will be taken to Washington by my brother, Larz Anderson, Esq. I have the honor to report my command in excellent health and in fine spirits. We are daily adding to the strength of our position by closing up embrasures which we shall not use, mounting guns, etc. The South Carolinians are also very active in erecting batteries and preparing for a conflict, which I pray God may not occur. Batteries have been constructed bearing upon and, I presume, commanding the entrance to the harbor. They are also to-day busily at work on a battery at Fort Johnson intended to fire against me. My position will, should there be no treachery among the workmen, whom we are compelled to retain for the present, enable me to hold this fort against any force which can be brought against me, and it would enable me, in the event of a war, to annoy the South Carolinians by preventing them from throwing supplies into their new posts except by the out-of-the-way passage though Stono River. At present it would be dangerous and difficult for a vessel from without to enter the harbor, in consequence of the batteries which are already erected and being erected. I shall not ask for any increase of my command, because I do not know what the ulterior views of the Government are. We are now, or soon will be, cut off from all communication, unless by means of a powerful fleet, which shall have the ability to carry the batteries at the mouth of this harbor.
Trusting in God that nothing will occur to array a greater number of States than have already taken ground against the General Government,
ROBERT ANDERSON,
Major, First Artillery, Commanding.
SOURCE: Samuel Wylie Crawford, The Genesis of the Civil War: The Story of Sumter, 1860-1861, p. 127
https://civilwarnotebook.blogspot.com/2015/04/major-robert-anderson-to-colonel-samuel.html
CINCINNATI, January 6, 1861.
DEAR UNCLE: — We have had the usual fun and folly during the holidays and are safely through with them. Mother is almost perfectly well again and seems contented and happy. All the rest of the family are in usual health. I had a few days' influenza which passed off doing no harm.
I shall not be very busy, but employment enough for the next few weeks. I expect to spend some days at Columbus within two or three weeks. Mother wants to hear from you; thinks something wrong if you do not write often.
R. B. HAYES
S. BIRCHARD.
SOURCE: Charles Richard Williams, editor, Diary and Letters of Rutherford Birchard Hayes, Volume 2, p. 3
https://civilwarnotebook.blogspot.com/2014/03/rutherford-b-hayes-to-sardis-birchard.html
Continued from January 4 (reply #42).
https://freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/3919704/posts#42
Doris Kearns Goodwin, Team of Rivals
Abraham Lincoln: Speeches and Writings 1859-1865, edited by Don E. Fehrenbacher
Des Moines Iowa Jan 7 1861
His Excellency Abraham Lincoln
President Elect of the United States
Sir: I learn that the name of Col. Fitz Henry Warren of this state has been presented to your consideration in connection with the position of Post Master General.
I am aware that in the present unfortunate condition of the country, the duty of selecting your cabinet officers is one of peculiar delicacy & importance and do not wish to be understood as pressing the appointment of Col. Warren if in your judgment public considerations render necessary the appointment of a gentleman from some other State.
If however no such necessity exists I am well satisfied that Col. Warrens appointment would be a matter of great pride and gratification to the people of this State and that his well known character, his acknowledged ability, his previous connection with the Post Office Department and his devotion to the principles of free government afford ample guaranty that he would discharge the duties of the position named, creditably to himself and advantageoulsy to the public.
Samuel J Kirkwood
SOURCE: This letter can be found among The Abraham Lincoln Papers at the Library of Congress.
https://civilwarnotebook.blogspot.com/2014/09/governor-samuel-j-kirkwood-to-abraham_16.html
THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY, January 7, 1861.
MY DEAR BROTHER: Your two letters have both been received; and I was delighted to find what, of course, I was prepared to expect, that your heart and your sympathies are fully with the people of your native State. Every day convinces me more and more that we acted at the right time and in the right way. Georgia will be out of the Union tomorrow, or the next day. Louisiana, Arkansas, and Texas will speedily follow; and we shall soon have a consolidated South. The rumours about mob law in this State are totally and meanly false. The internal condition of our society never was sounder and healthier. The law never was so perfectly supreme. Every right and interest of the citizen is completely protected; and our people are bound together in ties of mutual confidence, so strong that even private feuds are forgotten and buried. The whole State is like a family, in which the members vie with each other in their zeal to promote the common good. There is even little appearance of excitement. All is calm and steady determination. It is really a blessing to live here now, to see how thoroughly law and order reign in the midst of an intense and radical revolution. You need not fear that our people will do anything rash. They will simply stand on the defensive. They will permit no reinforcements to be sent to Charleston; and if Fort Sumter is not soon delivered up to them, they will take it. In a few days we shall be able to storm it successfully. We shall take the Fort, not as an act of war, but in righteous self-defence. We do not want war. We prefer peace. But we shall not decline the appeal to arms, if the North forces it upon us.
I have just concluded a defence of the secession of the Southern States, which will soon be out in the Southern Presbyterian Review. It is the last article, and is already advanced in printing. I shall have a large edition in pamphlet form struck off. To me it appears to be conclusive; you can judge for yourself, when you see it. Dr. Hodge's article has been received with universal indignation. * * *
The contributions to Foreign Missions among us will certainly fall off. We shall not be in a condition to contribute as we have done.
SOURCE: Benjamin Morgan Palmer, The Life and Letters of James Henley Thornwell, p. 486-7
https://civilwarnotebook.blogspot.com/2015/06/reverend-james-henley-thornwell-to.html
Bruce Catton, The Coming Fury
Home Letters of General Sherman, edited by M.A. DeWolfe Howe, 1909
Today’s posts at https://civilwarnotebook.blogspot.com/2015/04/documents-and-speeches-1861.html for January 8.
https://civilwarnotebook.blogspot.com/2015/07/james-buchanan-to-congress-of-united.html
James Buchanan to the Congress of the United States
https://civilwarnotebook.blogspot.com/2014/08/jacob-thompson-to-james-buchanan.html
Jacob Thompson to James Buchanan
https://civilwarnotebook.blogspot.com/2016/09/leonard-swett-to-abraham-lincoln.html
Leonard Swett to Abraham Lincoln
Bruce Catton, The Coming Fury
Continued from December 15 , 1860 (reply #3).
https://freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/3915625/posts#3
David Herbert Donald, Lincoln
With Lincoln in the White House: Letters, Memoranda, and Other Writings of John G. Nicolay, 1860-1865, edited by Michael Burlingame
Today’s excerpts:
“The Coming Fury,” Catton, reply #14
“Lincoln,” David Donald, #15
John G. Nicolay, #16
This batch of letters. Links only today.
Today’s posts on https://civilwarnotebook.blogspot.com/2015/04/documents-and-speeches-1861.html for January 9.
https://civilwarnotebook.blogspot.com/2014/08/james-buchanan-to-jacob-thompson.html
James Buchanan to Jacob Thompson
https://civilwarnotebook.blogspot.com/2016/09/joseph-j-lewis-to-abraham-lincoln.html
Joseph J. Lewis to Abraham Lincoln
https://civilwarnotebook.blogspot.com/2018/08/salmon-p-chase-to-congressman-thaddeus.html
Salmon P. Chase to Congressman Thaddeus
https://civilwarnotebook.blogspot.com/2015/07/major-robert-anderson-to-governor.html
Robert Anderson to Governor Pickens
https://civilwarnotebook.blogspot.com/2015/07/major-robert-anderson-to-governor_4.html
Robert Anderson to Governor Pickens
https://civilwarnotebook.blogspot.com/2011/01/mississippis-ordinance-of-secession.html
Mississippi Ordinance of Secession
Continued from December 31, 1860 (reply #17).
https://freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/3919704/posts#17
William J. Cooper, Jr., Jefferson Davis, American
Today’s posts on https://civilwarnotebook.blogspot.com/2015/04/documents-and-speeches-1861.html for January 10.
https://civilwarnotebook.blogspot.com/2015/06/joseph-holt-to-major-robert-anderson.html
Joseph Holt to Major Robert Anderson
https://civilwarnotebook.blogspot.com/2014/08/diary-of-thomas-ebenezer-thomas-january.html
Diary of Thomas Ebenezer Thomas
https://civilwarnotebook.blogspot.com/2014/08/jacob-thompson-to-james-buchanan_23.html
Jacob Thompson to James Buchanan
https://civilwarnotebook.blogspot.com/2011/01/floridas-ordinance-of-secession.html
Florida Ordinance of Secession
You do know, sir, that we are living these times all over again.
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