[Homer_J_Simpson]

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: May 2025.
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/3932940/posts

[Homer_J_Simpson]

Continued from November 10, 1860 (reply #8).

https://freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/3904291/posts#8

James Lee McDonough, William Tecumseh Sherman: In the Service of My Country, A Life

[Homer_J_Simpson]

James Buchanan to John Tyler, February 22, 1861

WASHINGTON, February 22, 1861.

My Dear Sir: I found it impossible to prevent two or three companies of the Federal troops from joining in the procession to-day with the volunteers of the District, without giving serious offence to the tens of thousands of people who have assembled to witness the parade.

The day is the anniversary of Washington's birth, a festive occasion throughout the land, and it has been particularly marked by the House of Representatives.

The troops everywhere else join such processions in honor of the birthday of the Father of our Country, and it would be hard to assign a good reason why they should be excluded from the privilege in the Capital founded by himself. They are here simply as a posse comitatus, to aid the civil authorities in case of need. Besides, the programme was published in the National Intelligencer of this morning without my personal knowledge, the War Department having considered the celebration of the national anniversary by the military arm of the Government as a matter of course.

From your friend, very respectfully,

JAMES BUCHANAN.

PRESIDENT TYLER.

SOURCE: Samuel Wylie Crawford, The Genesis of the Civil War: The Story of Sumter, 1860-1861, p. 274-5

https://civilwarnotebook.blogspot.com/2015/09/james-buchanan-to-john-tyler-february.html

[Homer_J_Simpson]

Today's posts:

Catton, The Coming Fury, reply #26
Goodwin, Team of Rivals, #27
Lincoln speech at Independence Hall, #28
William Tecumseh Sherman: In the Service of My Country, McDonough, #29
Letter from James Buchanan to John Tyler, #30.