THE GREAT CONTEST: Gathering of the Forces for the Struggle; The Seventh Regiment of New-York Going to Washington; MORE VOLUNTEERS CALLED FOR (4/18/1861)

New York Times archives – Times Machine ^ | 4/18/1861

[Homer_J_Simpson]

WASHINGTON, Wednesday, April 17, 1861.

Nothing could be more untrue than all the statements that there has been any disagreement between the President and Gen. SCOTT, relative to the recent attempt to supply Fort Sumter with provisions. Gen. SCOTT, as is well known, advised that the Government had not at command regular forces sufficient to reinforce the Fort by force, because before that could be done, the battle must be fought ashore and won against all the secession batteries and troops. The President did not order an effort to reinforce it, and Gen. SCOTT was not called upon for, nor did he express, any opinion upon the political expediency of the attempt to "provision" the Fort, which the Administration considered it its imperative duty to make, whether it could succeed or not. That was a question with which the veteran soldier had nothing to do, and he is too scrupulous a disciplinarian, and understands his own duty too well to meddle with it.

The presumption that the fleet was sent to Charleston as a feint, and to do nothing but divert Gen. BEAUREGARD from an attack on Washington, is equally erroneous. The purpose was to provision the fort in boats, and steam tugs provided to tow them in. The war vessels were not expected to engage the Morris Island batteries. That would have been madness, as one gun ashore is worth ten afloat, and the vessels would inevitably have been sunk or captured had they attempted the Quixotic exploit. They were designed simply to clear the way for the steam tags, by dispersing and beating off armed boat parties from Charleston which might come down to oppose the landing of supplies.

[Homer_J_Simpson]

Free Republic University, Department of History presents U.S. History, 1855-1860: Seminar and Discussion Forum
The American 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/3951467/posts

[Homer_J_Simpson]

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[Homer_J_Simpson]

The Great Contest: Gathering of the Forces for the Struggle – 2
Important from Montgomery: Proposal to Issue Letters-of-Marque and Reprisal – 3
Important from Virginia: Debate in Convention on the President’s Proclamation – 3-4
False Rumor about Harper’s Ferry – 4
The War Excitement – 4-6
Latest Reports from Charleston – 4
The War Excitement: Movements of the Metropolitan Military – 4-6
Army and Navy News – 6
The People on Their March – 6
The War Feeling in Brooklyn – 6-7
Demonstration in Jersey City – 7
Meeting at the Chamber of Commerce – 7
Editorial: Prompt Action Demanded-Carry the War South! – 7-8
Rhode Island and Gov. Sprague – 8
Why Jeff. Davis Selects Virginia as the Seat of the War – 8
Editorial: The Great Game of Brag – 8
Editorial: The Progress of the War – 8-9
The President’s Proclamation in Kentucky – 9
Southern Privateering – 9
State of Feeling Throughout the North [truncated] – 9

[allendale]

Many young men at the time rushed to volunteer fearing the fighting would be over before they could see action. Wonder if the US were attacked today, if such sentiments are widespread.

[M Kehoe]

Hi.

“Wonder if the US were attacked today, if such sentiments are widespread.”

Imho, mom and dad’s basements would be filling up.

Although, not all basements. We still produce warriors in this country.

5.56mm

[jeffersondem]

“Wonder if the US were attacked today, if such sentiments (volunteering) are widespread.”

With Joe Biden as president I could not in good conscience advise a young person to join the military.

Biden, or whoever is giving directions, could very well order the military to turn their guns on U.S. civilians. Not for a minor infraction, but for not wearing a mask - yes I could see such an order coming down.

[rdl6989]

Amen.

[DiogenesLamp]

"The war vessels were not expected to engage the Morris Island batteries. "

The war vessels were ordered to use their entire force to place both men and equipment (munitions) into fort Sumter if they were resisted by the Confederates.

But Lincoln got his lie out in front of the truth and he would arrest anyone who wouldn't parrot his narrative.

If you don't want to start a war, don't send warships to "supply" a fortress.

[colorado tanker]

The Regiment moving to Washington appears to be the 7th New York Militia, not to be confused with the later organized 7th New York volunteers, an almost all-German regiment.

The 7th was also knows as the Silk Stockings or Blue Bloods because so many of it's members came from New York's upper crust. Because they were militia they could only be activated for brief periods of time.

This seems to have been a stop gap measure to give Washington some additional security pending arrival of the newly organizing volunteer regiments.