THE IMPENDING WAR: EXCITEMENT AT THE NATIONAL CAPITAL; LATEST FROM CHARLESTON: THE FLOATING BATTERY PLACED IN POSITION (4/11/1861)

New York Times archives – Times Machine ^ | 4/11/1861

[Homer_J_Simpson]

WASHINGTON, Wednesday, April 10.

RUMORED PLOT TO SEIZE THE CAPITAL.

The officers of the District Militia were yesterday ordered to have a meeting at 10 o'clock this morning, in consequence of information relative to a contemplated movement for the seizure of this city by the Secessionists under McCULLOUGH. Near midnight, however, orders were issued for the assembling of the militia at their armories this morning, and officers have been engaged summoning the men ever since 5 A.M.

The armories are now all full of men. The understanding is that they are to be drafted for service at the different public buildings; but this is not yet definitely known.

There is much excitement and anxiety here, although it is not very apparent on the streets.

Among the troops ordered out is SCHAFFER's National Rifles, which are believed to be Secessionists. The call for actual service will of course compel all the traitors to retire from the corps.

MORE ABOUT THE DEFENCE OF WASHINGTON.

Seven Militia Companies reported to Gen. SCOTT this morning, and between six and eight hundred of them volunteered for any service in which the President might desire them to act. Very many, however, refused to act. Out of seventy men among the National Rifles sixteen resigned. A large number will be drafted to make up the quota. Subsequently they repaired to the Commisary's Department and received their equipments and rations for the night. They will be stationed about the several public buildings at night, and most of them will be relieved from duty during the day.

The city resounded throughout the day with martial music; and the tramp of soldiers about the streets, and movements of companies, added much to the excitement and made the day very lively.

[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: 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 New York Times thread

https://freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/3949447/posts

[Homer_J_Simpson]

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[Homer_J_Simpson]

The Impending War: Excitement at the National Capital – 2-3
Our Washington Correspondence – 3-4
The Virginia State Convention – 4
Latest from Charleston: The Floating Battery Placed in Position – 4-5
The War Excitement: State of Feeling among the People – 5-6
More War Vessels Wanted – 6
Capt. Mercer and the Powhatan – 6
Sailing of the Pawnee – 6
Editorial: The Policy of the Administration – 6
Editorial: New-York and the Union – 6
Editorial: “Bluster and Back Down” – 6-7
The Slave-Trade: The Mate of the Notorious Slave-Ship Montauk Arrested – 7

[hanamizu]

Not nearly as frightening as the ‘Insurrection’ that occurred on January 6.

[KC_Lion]

Time is nearly up.

If only this could have been prevented.

[allendale]

Between 1820-1850 there were clever politicians especially in Congress that knew how to frame compromises and dampen war fever. By 1855 there was a dearth of good leadership. What a tragedy ensued. If war had been avoided there was a good chance that the US would have eventually followed Britain, Russia and others and would have gradually abolished slavery.

Many thanks for the efforts of posting these materials. It demonstrates just how and why history tends to repeat. Personalities, motives and behavior patterns seem to be remarkably similar whatever the time and leads one to conclude that much of what happens is genetically hard wired .

[Rebelbase]

I bet Edmund Ruffin doesn’t get a wink of sleep tonight.

[Bonemaker]

"THE IMPENDING WAR: EXCITEMENT AT THE NATIONAL CAPITAL..."

[cgbg]

This was supposed to be a ninety day war.

I wonder if any Union soldiers would have fought if they knew their ancestors would be called “racist” despite their sacrifice to free the slaves.

[BroJoeK]

"The War Excitement: State of Feeling among the People – 5-6"

"On the cars, in the ferry and steamboats, in the hotels and bar-rooms, knots of citizens gathered, and warmly discussed the movements of the Government, and paticularly the probable character of the late expeditions, their destinations, and the chances of success in provisioning or reinforcing Fort Sumpter.

"While there was here and there one who questioned the wisdom of the step, the mass of people expressed the most earnest wish for the success of the attempt, and nine out of ten men who said anything went in strongly for sustaining the Government of the country against all traitors, North or South."

"CAPT. MERCER AND THE POWHATAN"

"...The facts are as follows: He [Mercer] left the ship at Staten Island by instructions from Washington.
These instructions directed the command of the ship to be given to Commodore Porter."

In those days a "Commodore" typically commanded a squadron or small fleet and outranked a ship's captain.

The key point to understand here is that, at the time, everyone understood pretty well what was happening, and nearly all -- even in NYC -- supported Pres. Lincol;n's efforts to resupply or reinforce Fort Sumter.

There was almost nothing secret about it.