Harper’s Weekly – April 13, 1861

Harper's Weekly archives ^ | April 13, 1861

[Homer_J_Simpson]

Beriah Magoffin to Simon Cameron, April 15, 1861

FRANKFORT, KY., April 15, 1861.

Hon. SIMON CAMERON,
Secretary of War:

Your dispatch is received. In answer I say emphatically Kentucky will furnish no troops for the wicked purpose of subduing her sister Southern States.

B. MAGOFFIN,
Governor of Kentucky

SOURCE: The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series III, Volume 1 (Serial No. 122), p. 70

https://civilwarnotebook.blogspot.com/2014/01/beriah-magoffin-to-simon-cameron-april.html

Oliver P. Morton, Governor of Indiana, to Abraham Lincoln, April 15, 1861

EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT OF INDIANA,
INDIANAPOLIS, April 15,1861.

TO ABRAHAM LINCOLN,
President of the United States:

On behalf of the State of Indiana, I tender to you, for the defence of the Nation and to uphold the authority of the Government, ten thousand men.

OLIVER P. MORTON,
Governor of Indiana.

SOURCE: Indiana Republican State Central Committee, Oliver P. Morton, of Indiana: A Sketch of His Life and Public Services, p. 15

https://civilwarnotebook.blogspot.com/2014/05/oliver-p-morton-governor-of-indiana-to.html

Simon Cameron to Richard Yates, Governor of Illinois, April 15, 1861

WASHINGTON, April 15, 1861.

His Excellency, Richard Yates:

Call made on you by to-night's mail for six regiments for immediate service.

SIMON CAMERON, Secretary of War.

SOURCE: T. M. Eddy, The Patriotism Of Illinois, Volume 1, p. 78

https://civilwarnotebook.blogspot.com/2014/05/simon-cameron-to-richard-yates-governor.html

Proclamation of Richard Yates, Governor of Illinois, April 15, 1861

SPRINGFIELD, Ill., April 15, 1861.

I, Richard Yates, Governor of the State of Illinois, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution, hereby convene the Legislature of the State, and the members of the twenty-second session of the General Assembly are hereby required to be and appear in their respective places, at the Capitol, on TUESDAY, the twenty-third day of April, A. D. 1861, for the purpose of enacting such laws and adopting such measures as may be deemed necessary, upon the following subjects: The more perfect organization and equipment of the militia of the State, and placing the same upon the best footing to render assistance to the General Government in preserving the Union, enforcing the laws and protecting the property and rights of the people; also, the raising of such money and other means as may be required to carry out the foregoing object; and also to provide for the expenses of such session.

In testimony whereof, I hereunto set my hand, and have caused the Great Seal of the State to be hereunto affixed at the City of Springfield, the 15th day of April, A, D. 1861.

RICHARD YATES.

By order of the Governor:
O. M. HATCH, Secretary of State.

SOURCE: T. M. Eddy, The Patriotism Of Illinois, Volume 1, p. 78-9

https://civilwarnotebook.blogspot.com/2014/05/proclamation-of-richard-yates-governor.html

Governor John A. Andrew’s Special Order, No. 14, April 15, 1861

Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Headquarters, BOSTON, Apr. 15, 1861

SPECIAL ORDER, No. 14th

You are hereby ordered to muster the Regiment under your Command, in Uniform, on Boston Common, forthwith, in compliance with a requisition made by the President of the United States. The troops are to go to Washington. The Regimental Band will be dispensed with.

By order of His Excellency JOHN A. ANDREW,
Governor and Commander-in-Chief

To Col. EDWARD F. JONES 6th Regt.
To Col. ABNER B. PACKARD 4th do.
To Col. DAVID W. WARDROP 3rd do.
To Lieut. Col. TIMOTHY MONROE 8th do.

To Brig. Gen’l. B. F. BUTLER,

SIR: The foregoing order has been sent direct to the Colonels therein named.

WM. BROWN, C.R.

SOURCE: Jessie Ames Marshall, Editor, Private and Official Correspondence of Gen. Benjamin F. Butler During the Period of the Civil War, Volume 1: April 1860 – June 1862, p. 15

https://civilwarnotebook.blogspot.com/2015/10/governor-john-andrews-special-order-no.html

Rutherford B. Hayes to Sardis Birchard, April 15, 1861

CINCINNATI, April 15, 1861.

DEAR UNCLE: — . . . We are all for war. The few dissentients have to run like quarter-horses. A great change for two weeks to produce. As the Dutchman said, "What a beeples." Poor Anderson! What a chance he threw away. The Government may overlook or even whitewash it, but the people and history will not let him off so easily. I like it. Anything is better than the state of things we have had the last few months. We shall have nothing but rub-a-dub and rumors for some time to come.

All pretty well. Mother thinks we are to be punished for our sinfulness, and reads the Old Testament vigorously. Mother Webb quietly grieves over it. Lucy enjoys it and wishes she had been in Fort Sumter with a garrison of women. Dr. Joe is for flames, slaughter, and a rising of the slaves. All the boys are soldiers.

Sincerely,

R. B. HAYES.

S. BIRCHARD.

SOURCE: Charles Richard Williams, editor, Diary and Letters of Rutherford Birchard Hayes, Volume 2, p. 9

https://civilwarnotebook.blogspot.com/2014/03/rutherford-b-hayes-to-sardis-birchard_27.html

Charles Russell Lowell to Anna Cabot Jackson Lowell, April 15, 1861

MT. SAVAGE, April 15, '61.

Do not send the box yet — this war news is so startling that I do not quite know where I am, — I should be sorry to see the box miscarry and find itself in a Southern-Confederacy State.

I fear our Government will be hard pushed for the next six months — it can raise 75,000 men easily enough, but can it use them after they are raised? I am not over hopeful, dear, — it may be my liver again.

SOURCE: Edward Waldo Emerson, Life and Letters of Charles Russell Lowell, p. 197

https://civilwarnotebook.blogspot.com/2014/10/charles-russell-lowell-to-anna-cabot_8.html

Diary of Caroline Cowles Richards: April 15, 1861

The storm has broken upon us. The Confederates fired on Fort Sumter, just off the coast of South Carolina, and forced her on April 14 to haul down the flag and surrender. President Lincoln has issued a call for 75,000 men and many are volunteering to go all around us. How strange and awful it seems.

SOURCE: Village Life in America, 1852-1872, p. 130-1

https://civilwarnotebook.blogspot.com/2020/09/diary-of-caroline-cowles-richards-april.html

[Homer_J_Simpson]

Diary of William Howard Russell: Monday, April 15, 1861 (Long description of a memorable train tip from Norfolk VA to Wilmington NC. Russell sees his first Confederate flags. At Wilmington he pays extra for a private bed and avoids an interview by the Vigilance Committee searching for abolitionists to arrest.)

https://civilwarnotebook.blogspot.com/2015/07/diary-of-william-howard-russell-monday.html

Diary of John Beauchamp Jones: April 15, 1861 - 1st Entry (Still in Richmond, Jones gets word from the north that his Philadelphia office had been sacked. He is called on to speak from the hotel balcony, which he reluctantly does.)

https://civilwarnotebook.blogspot.com/2014/12/diary-of-john-beauchamp-jones-april-15_5.html

Diary of John Beauchamp Jones: April 15, 1861 - 2nd Entry (Jones attends the Virginia convention, where secession is inevitable.)

https://civilwarnotebook.blogspot.com/2014/12/diary-of-john-beauchamp-jones-april-15.html

[Homer_J_Simpson]

Today’s posts:

“The Coming Fury,” reply #34
“Lincoln,” #35
Lincoln’s proclamation, #36
“Grant,” #37
“Personal Memoirs of U.S. Grant,” #38
Mary Boykin Chesnut, #39
George Templeton Strong, #40
8 items from Civil War Notebook, #41
Diary entries of William Howard Russell and John Beauchamp Jones (2), #42

[Homer_J_Simpson]

"Russell, the correspondent of the London Times, was there"

I don't believe he was. Russell's diaries show him arriving on the 16th. This may be a case where Mary's notes were out of order.

[colorado tanker]

Well, it's done. The young men who will fight and die are champing at the bit. The old men face what's coming soberly. The women fear the sacrifices their families will have to make.

And it will all be over in a few months.

[Homer_J_Simpson]

Probably last 6 weeks, 90 days tops.

[BroJoeK]

"Probably last 6 weeks, 90 days tops."

For the first time here I've seen an explanation of why Lincoln chose July 4 to call back Congress.

"Lincoln called for troops to serve only ninety days not because he believed that the war would be over quickly but because a 1795 law limited a call-up of militia to not more than thirty days after the assembling of Congress.
With Congress called into session on July 4, the volunteer force would have to be disbanded by August 4.
He could have convened Congress earlier, but that would have meant an even shorter term of service for the volunteers."
David Herbert Donald, Lincoln

[Homer_J_Simpson]

Continued from April 15 (reply #34).

Bruce Catton, The Coming Fury

[Homer_J_Simpson]

1

2

3

James Harrison Wilson, The Life of General John A. Rawlins

[Homer_J_Simpson]

The Diary of George Templeton Strong, Edited by Allan Nevins and Milton Halsey Thomas

[Homer_J_Simpson]

Diary of William Howard Russell: April 16, 1861 (Russell arrives at Charleston and meets Gen. Beauregard and several southern dignitaries, including Mr. Chesnut.)

https://civilwarnotebook.blogspot.com/2015/07/diary-of-william-howard-russell-april.html

Diary of John Beauchamp Jones: April 16, 1861 (Virginia has seceded in spirit, if not in law.)

https://civilwarnotebook.blogspot.com/2014/12/diary-of-john-beauchamp-jones-april-16.html

Proclamation of Ignatius Donnelly, Governor ad interim of Minnesota, April 16, 1861 (MN is sending troops)

https://civilwarnotebook.blogspot.com/2014/05/proclamation-of-ignatius-donnelly.html

Proclamation of Alexander W. Randall, Governor of Wisconsin, April 16, 1861 (WI is sending troops)

https://civilwarnotebook.blogspot.com/2014/05/proclamation-of-alexander-w-randall.html

Proclamation of Oliver P. Morton, Governor of Indiana, April 16, 1861 (IN is sending troops)

https://civilwarnotebook.blogspot.com/2014/05/proclamation-of-oliver-p-morton.html

James F. Carney* to Governor John A. Andrew, April 16, 1861 (MA bank is willing to lend governor all the money allowed by law.)

https://civilwarnotebook.blogspot.com/2015/10/james-f-carney-to-brigadier-general.html

John M. Forbes to Colonel Erasmus D. Keyes, April 16, 1861 (MA railroad magnate planning to send their troops south.)

https://civilwarnotebook.blogspot.com/2014/10/john-m-forbes-to-colonel-erasmus-d.html

John M. Forbes to Colonel Richard Borden, April 16, 1861 (One MA railroad magnate to another on the subject of sending troops south.)

https://civilwarnotebook.blogspot.com/2014/10/john-m-forbes-to-colonel-borden-april.html

Diary of Reverend James Freeman Clarke: April 16, 1861 (“3d, 4th, and 6th regiments meet on Boston Common.” That’s it. That’s the entry.)

https://civilwarnotebook.blogspot.com/2014/11/diary-of-reverend-james-freeman-clarke_15.html

Brigadier-General Pierre G. T. Beauregard to Leroy P. Walker, April 16, 1861 (Gen. Beauregard report to Secretary of War on the Battle of Fort Sumter.)

https://civilwarnotebook.blogspot.com/2017/04/brigadier-general-pierre-g-t-beauregard.html

William N. Pendleton to Alexander S. Pendleton, April 16, 1861 (Episcopal priest and future Confederate general writes to his 20-year-old son, a student at UVA.)

https://civilwarnotebook.blogspot.com/2016/11/william-n-pendleton-to-alexander-s.html

[Homer_J_Simpson]

Today’s posts:

“The Coming Fury,” reply #48
A new source, “Life of General John A. Rawlins,” #49
George Templeton Strong, #50
11 items from Civil War Notebook, #51

[Homer_J_Simpson]

Continued from April 16 (reply #48)

Bruce Catton, The Coming Fury

[Homer_J_Simpson]

Continued from April 14 (reply #21).

Doris Kearns Goodwin, Team of Rivals

[Homer_J_Simpson]

The Diary of George Templeton Strong, Edited by Allan Nevins and Milton Halsey Thomas

[Homer_J_Simpson]

Gustavus V. Fox to Montgomery Blair, April 17, 1861 (Fox reports to the Postmaster General on his abortive expedition to resupply Fort Sumter.)

https://civilwarnotebook.blogspot.com/2018/07/gustavus-v-fox-to-montgomery-blair_10.html

Proclamation of Samuel J. Kirkwood, Governor of Iowa, April 17, 1861 (Iowa is sending troops.)

https://civilwarnotebook.blogspot.com/2014/05/proclamation-of-samuel-j-kirkwood.html

Governor John A. Andrew’s Special Order No. 21 (MA is sending troops, with BG Benjamin Butler to command.)

https://civilwarnotebook.blogspot.com/2015/10/governor-john-andrews-special-order-no_22.html

Claiborne F. Jackson to Simon Cameron, April 17, 1861 (MO is NOT sending troops.)

https://civilwarnotebook.blogspot.com/2014/01/claiborne-f-jackson-to-simon-cameron.html

Governor Isham G. Harris to Simon Cameron, April 17, 1861 (Not only is TN not sending troops, it will raise troops to oppose federal troops, should they invade.)

https://civilwarnotebook.blogspot.com/2019/07/governor-isham-g-harris-to-simon.html

Proclamation of Jefferson Davis, April 17, 1861 (Proclamation on Letters of Marque.)

https://civilwarnotebook.blogspot.com/2013/03/proclamation-of-jefferson-davis-april.html

Virginia’s Ordinance of Secession

https://civilwarnotebook.blogspot.com/2010/08/virginias-ordinance-of-secession.html

Diary of John Beauchamp Jones: April 17, 1861 (Jones present as Virginia convention votes to secede.)

https://civilwarnotebook.blogspot.com/2014/12/diary-of-john-beauchamp-jones-april-17.html

John M. Forbes to Colonel Richard Borden, April 17, 1861 (Shipping MA & ME troops south.)

https://civilwarnotebook.blogspot.com/2014/10/john-m-forbes-to-colonel-richard-borden.html

Colnel Richard Borden to John M. Forbes, April 17, 1861 (Shipping MA & ME troops south.)

https://civilwarnotebook.blogspot.com/2014/10/captain-richard-borden-to-john-m-forbes.html

John M. Forbes to Colonel Richard Borden, April 17, 1861 (Shipping MA & ME troops south.)

https://civilwarnotebook.blogspot.com/2014/10/john-m-forbes-to-colonel-richard-borden_14.html

Colonel Richard Borden to John M. Forbes, April 17, 1861 (Shipping MA & ME troops south.)

https://civilwarnotebook.blogspot.com/2014/10/colonel-richard-borden-to-john-m-forbes.html

Diary of William Howard Russell: April 17, 1861 (Howard in Charleston)

https://civilwarnotebook.blogspot.com/2015/07/diary-of-william-howard-russell-april_19.html

Diary of William Howard Russell: April 17, 1861 (Howard goes on expedition to Fort Sumter)

https://civilwarnotebook.blogspot.com/2015/07/diary-of-william-howard-russell-april_25.html

Brigadier-General Pierre G. T. Beauregard to Leroy P. Walker, April 17, 1861 (Further report from Gen. Beauregard to Secretary of War Walker on the reduction of Fort Sumter)

https://civilwarnotebook.blogspot.com/2017/04/brigadier-general-pierre-g-t-beauregard_13.html

[Homer_J_Simpson]

Today’s posts:

“The Coming Fury,” reply #53
“Team of Rivals,” #54
George Templeton Strong, #55
15 items from Civil War Notebook, #56

[Homer_J_Simpson]

Continued from April 17 (reply #53).

Bruce Catton, The Coming Fury

[Homer_J_Simpson]

Continued from April 17 (reply #54).

Doris Kearns Goodwin, Team of Rivals

[Homer_J_Simpson]

Continued from April 15 (reply #35).

David Herbert Donald, Lincoln