The rebellion in the United States; or, The war of 1861; being a complete history of its rise and progress, commencing with the presidential election ... comp. from government documents and other reliable sources

Front matter

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Introduction

In offering to the public this work on the " Rebellion in the United States, " it is done with not a little embarrassment, and many fears and anxieties, known only to those who, for the first time in their life, under their own real signature, have brought before the public, to any considerable extent, the effusions of their pen.

In brmging this little volume before the people, the authoress lays no claim to rare talents, or great abilities as a " historian," nor expects to win unheard-of laurels ; but to give to the world a plam, simple, unvarnished account of passing events as they actually occur ; and she has endeavored in this work to " separate the wheat from the chaff, " or, in other words, to give the truth in its purity, and cast aside the fiction.

In submitting this work to the criticism of the press and the people, it is done with a thorough knowledge of her own incompetency, and she is fully aware that abler pens than hers are being wielded in the work of naiTating this stupendous rebellion.

In preparing this " History," the authoress has endeavored, for the tune being, as far as possible, to divest

IV INTRODUCTION.

herself of prejudice, or at least to disguise her own real sentiments, and stand upon " neutral ground," which is the only true position of the " historian," and to give only facts, without regard to party or political bearing, — writing not to win the friendship of any, hut hoping for the favor of all. To record the circumstances, and give an account of the revolution as it is, the vastness of its field of operations renders it a work of great labor to produce a history which shall be at once clear and mmute, and such a one as shall be worthy to be preserved for generations yet to come, as well as a repository of the events of the time.

Professing to stand in the shade of obscurity, and sending forth this volume to tell its own story of the " Rebellion," the writer leaves it to the sound judgment of an enlightened public to approve or condemn.

In conclusion, the authoress submits this her first edition on the " Rebellion " to that " august tribunal," the reading public of the nineteenth century, and can but express the hope that the eye of the critic will glance lightly over it, and the learned and able of the press will touch it with a gentle hand, for on them, in a great measure, depends the success of this work ; therefore hoping they will give it a careful perusal, and speak

of it according to its just merits.

J. B. F.

Chapter I. Faos

Presidential election, and its effects on the people, 12

Bank suspension, and meeting of Congress, 14

Opening prayer in the House, 15

President Buchanan's Message read to both Houses, and transmitted

South, 1^

The Union-saving committee of thirty-thi-ee organized, 19

Resignation of Howell Cobb, and his letter to the people of Georgia, 20

Exciting cabinet meeting at "Washington in regard to Fort Moultrie.

The President's opposition, and resignation of Secretary Cass,. .22, 23 Exciting letter from the wife of an officer at Moultrie, 24

Chapter II

The United States forces in the Southern States, and resignation of Secretary Cass, 25

Proclamation for a national fast, 26

The Crittenden compromise, 27

Robbery of the Indian Trust Pund bonds, in the Department of the Interior, 2S

Caleb Cushing returns from South Carolina, 30

1*

VI CONTENTS

Evacuation of Fort Moultrie, 32

Description of Fort Sumter, and officers of the garrison, 34

Exciting session of the cabinet, and demands of the South Carolina commissioners, 35

Seizure of the slaver Bonita, 37

Senator Benjamin's great secession speech in the United States Senate,. .38

Senator Baker, of Oregon, replies to Senator Benjamin, 40

Secretary of the Interior resigned, 41

CHAPTER III. An imaginary battle at Harper's Ferry, 42

The Star of the "West fired into in Charleston harbor, 43

Resignation of Secretary Thomas, and ■withdrawal of Southern senators, . 44 Abraham Lincoln, President elect, left Ilamsburg, secretly, for "Washington, 45

Great Union celebration in San Francisco, 45

Mr. Lincoln's official welcome to the Capitol, 46

Peace convention adjourned, 47

Closing of the Thirty-sixth Congress, 48

Ceremonies and incidents of the Inauguration, 48

Inaugural address of President Lincoln, 54

CHAPTER IV. Southern side of the question reviewed, with comments, 65

Great mass-meeting of the citizens at Savannah, 74

Eesignation of Senator Chesnut, of South Carolina, and exciting streetmeeting in Columbia, 75

Resignation of Senator Hammond, and enthusiastic meeting in Charleston, 76

CONTENTS'. Til

Grand gathering of citizens of Chark'ston to inaugtirate the reroln-

tion, 77

Arms and equipments of Virginia, 78

Suspension of Southern banks, 79

Chapter V

Response of the Glovemor of Texas to the people's call for an extra session of the legislature, 82

Letter written by Brigadier-General Semmes to the people of Georgia, . . 83

Fiery declaration of Governor Wise, 84

The position of the people of Texas, SG

Ministers engaged in the cause of treason, 87

Meeting of the South Carolina convention, 88

Passage of the secession ordinance 90

The " jVIinute-men " of Norfolk to South Carolina, greeting, 91

Grand demonstration in honor of the secession of South Carolina

throughout the Southern States, 92

Meeting of the South Carolina convention at Charleston, C3

Major Anderson's removal from Fort Moultrie to Sumter, 94

Governor Hicks refuses to convene the legislature of Maryland, 95

CHAPTER YI

Eesignation of Floyd, seizure of government propertj-, shipments of arms to the South, etc., 98

South Carolina convention passed an ordinance to define and punish treason, 101

Treasonable conduct of Secretaries Thompson and Toucey, 1C3

I ym CONTENTS.

J»

Miijor Anderson's action in reference to the firing into the " Star of the

AYcst," 105

Secession ordinance passed by Mississippi, 105

Secession ordinance passed by Florida and AUibama, 106

Lieutenant Slemmer's letter to the Florida commissioners, 107

The people of South Carolina demand the surrender of Fort Sumter,. . .107 An attempt to assassinate the President elect in Baltimore, 109

CHAPTER VII. The treason of General Twiggs, 115

Concentrating troops at Charleston, and preparing for the conflict,. . . .120 Military called oat in Washington, to protect the Capitol; — oath of

allegiance administered, 121

Commencement of liostilities — bombardment of Fort Sumter, 123

The fort surrendered, 126

Incidents of the fight, 128

Chapter VIII

Great excitement in the North in consequence of the news from Charleston, 131

The President's proclamation calling for troops, 134

The Governor of Massachusetts calls out the Third, Fourth, Sixth and

Eighth Eegiments, — also the Boston Light Artillery, 136

The four regiments arrive in Boston, 133

Great excitcmcut at Clapp's Wharf, 139

Enthusiastic meeting of the Irish residents, 141

The adoption of a " daughter " by the Sixth Regiment, 146

CONTENTS. IX

Arrival of different companies, presentation of the color, and departure

of the Sixth, 147

Departure of the Third and Fourth Regiments, 149

CHAPTER IX. The Eighth Regiment leave Boston for Washington, 151

Presentation of the flag and patriotic speech by Grovemor Andrew, 152

Arrival of the Sixth and Fourth Regiments in New York, 155

Harper's Ferry arsenal destroyed by Lieut. Jones, 156

The Massachusetts Sixth Regiment assailed by a mob in its passage

through Baltimore, 157

Correspondence between Governor Andrew and Mayor Brown, of Baltimore, in reference to the Massachusetts dead at Baltimore, 162

List of the wounded, 164

The President issued a proclamation declaring a blockade of secession

ports, 166

Correspondence between Governor Hicks and Grovemor Sprague, 167

Departure of the celebrated Seventh Regiment, of New York, for Washington, 169

Great rejoicing at the South over the secession of Virginia, 172

Railroad bridges burned, 1 73

Gosport navy yard destroyed, to prevent its falling into the hands of the secessionists, 1 73

I

A letter giving a description of the destruction of the navy yard, by a ^

soldier at Fortress Monroe, 175

The Fifth Regiment called out — their departure for the seat of wai-, 177

Departm-e of the Eleventh, Twelfth, and Sixth New York Regiments,

— also the Rhode Island First, 1 80

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER X. The bodies of the Massachusetts dead, killed at Baltimore, returned

to Boston, 188

Their reception by the State Authorities, 189

Governor Andrew's Letter to the Mayor of Lowell, 190

Departure of the steamer Cambridge, with troops and supplies, for Fort

Monroe, 191

Message of Governor Buckingham, of Connecticut, 191 i|

CONTENTS.

Chapter XI

PA as Number of Eegiments organized in the States of Massachusetts, New

York, Pennsylvania, and Rhode Island during the thirteen days immediately succeeding the surrender of Fort Sumter (exclusive of those who passed through Baltimore), their arrival at Annapolis — their destination, . 193

The arrival in Washington of the First Rhode Island Regiment —

incidents of their organization and march, 194

Organization in Petersburg, Va., of a company of negroes — patriotic speech by one of the company, and their departure for Norfolk. — Interesting letter from a Southern lady, 196

Doings at the Norfolk Navy Yard — raising of the ships of war by the secessionists, 198

Interesting letter of a member of the Massachusetts Fifth Regiment, . 200

President Lincoln's proclamation calling for volunteers. — Privateer Savannah captured. — Union meeting in Preston, Va., and Louisville, Ky. — Interview of President Lincoln with the committee of the Maryland legislature, 213

Funeral at Lawrence of Corporal Needham, 214

General Butler took possession of the Relay House. — Virginia and Arkansas pass an ordinance of secession. — Official correspondence between Minister Faulkner and the French Minister at Paris, 215

The Southern Congress pass an act leg.ilizing piracy, 216

Steamer " Daniel Webster " escapes from New Orleans. — Major Anderson accepted the command of Kentucky Volunteers. — Departm-e of the first troops from New Hampshire (Second Regiment), 218

Jefferson Davis authorized to raise an army. — Departure of the First Connecticut Regiment for the seat of war. — First Vermont Vol-

XII CONTENTS.

unteers leave Rutland for Washington. — Camp Jackson, Mo.,

surrendered to Captain Lyon by General Frost, 219

President Lincoln suspends the writ of habeas corpus on the coast of Florida. — Disloyalty of Government oflScials, . . . 221

Chapter XII

The Winans' steam-gun captured. — Blockade of Charleston commenced. — Great Union demonstration in San Francisco, . . . 223

Terrible tragedy in St. Louis, and proclamation by General Harney, 224

Union troops under General Butler entered Baltimore and encamped. — General Butler issued a proclamation concerning his occupation of the city, 225

Departure of the Second Maine Regiment (the first troops that left the State) for the seat of war — aft'ecting incidents on the way — arrival in Boston — their reception — Sons of Maine — departure from Boston, 226

Governor Hicks called for volunteers, 229

Bridges on the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad destroyed. — Congress at Montgomery authorized the issue of Confederate bonds. — Military department of Virginia created. — United States steamers attacked the rebel battery at Sewell's Point. — Arkansas admitted to the Southern Confederacy, 230

North Carolina passed an ordinance of secession. — Seizure of telegraphic despatches by Government. — General Butler took command at Fortress Monroe — General Sanford at Washington, and General Patterson at Fort McHenry. — Occupation of Alexandria by Union troops. — Death of Colonel Ellsworth — Death of Jackson — Funeral of Ellsworth in New York, 231

The First Regiment New Hampshire volunteers left Concord for the war, 237

Chapter XIII

Postal service discontinued in the seceded States. — Savannah and Mobile blockaded. — General McDowell took command of the army in Virginia. — Governor Banks and Fremont commissioned major-generals, 238

CONTENTS,

XIII

General Lyon assumed command in the West. — Gimboat Freeborn engaged the rebel batteries at Aquia Creek. — Skirmish at Fairfax

Court House, 239

Eebels routed at PhHippi by Colonel Kelly, 240

The Harriet Lane engaged the Pig Point batteries 241

General Patterson's advance. — Battle of Big Bethel — Death of Major

Winthrop and Lieutenant Grebble, 242

Harper's Ferry burnt and evacuated by the rebels, 248

The First Regiment for three years* service. — Skirmish at Vienna, • 249

Battle of Booneville, Missouri, 251

General McClellan took command of the department of Ohio. —

Skiimish at Patterson's Creek, 252

Engagement between gunboat Freeborn and rebel batteries at Matthias Creek — Captain Ward of the navy killed, 253

Seizure of the steamer St. Nicholas by secessionists. — The French lady, 256

Chapter XIV

General Patterson's advance into Virginia. — Battle near Martinsburg, 259 President calls for four hundred thousand men. — Fight at Buck-

hannon, Va. — Battle of Carthage — Sigel defeated, .... 261

Battle of Laurel Hill, and Rich Mountain, 263

Engagement at Can-acksford, and death of General Gamett, . . . 268

Skirmish at Millville, Missouri, 270

Occupation of Fairfax Court House, Germantown, and Centreville, —

interesting incidents of the march, 271

First Battle of Bull Run — Federal troops commanded by General

Tyler — fall back to Centreville, 279

Second Battle of Bull Run, or Manassas, 286

Depredations on the sea — Privateers Sumter and Jeflf. Davis, . . 309

Chapter XV

General McClellan in command of the Army of the Potomac. — Privateer Petrel sunk by the St. Lawrence. — War tax-bill passed Congress. — Battle of Dug Springs, Missouri — General Lyon defeated Ben McCuUoch, 312

XIV CONTENTS,

Surrender of Fort Fillmore, New Mexico, by Major Lynde, . . . 317

Village of Hampton burned, 321

Battle of Wilson's Creek, Mo. — General Lyon and McCuUoch again engaged — death of General Lyon. — Official report of General Fremont. — Retreat of Sigel to Rolla. — Terrible panic at Springfield, Missouri, 322

Ex-minister Faulkner arrested for treason. — Return from Richmond

of Union soldiers, captured at Bull Run, 329

Skirmish near Grafton, Va. — Mutiny in the Seventy-ninth New York

Regiment at Washington, 331

Martial law proclaimed in St. Louis. — Proclamation by Jefferson Davis, ordering all northern men to leave the South, .... 333

Newspapers suppressed, 335

Another skirmish on the Potomac, 336

Battle of Charleston, Mo., 337

Skirmish at Summerville, Va., 839

Sailing of the great naval expedition under General Butler, . . . 341

Chapter XVI

Skirmish at Boone Court House, Va. — Terrible railroad disaster, . 349 Occupation of Paducah, Ky., and proclamation by General Grant, . 350

Pardon of the " Sleeping Sentinel," 352

Battle of Carnifex Ferry, Va., 353

Fight at Cheat Mountain, 363

Burning of the Privateer Judith, 364

Railroad disaster on the Ohio and Mississippi railroad, 368

Arrest of legislators in Baltimore, 369

Battle of Lexington, and surrender of Colonel Mulligan, .... 370

Retreat of General Price, 382

General Prentiss takes command in the West, and General Fremont

takes the field, 383

Skirmishing in various places. — Departure of the Fourth New Hampshire Regiment for the seat of war. — Occupation of Munson's

HiU by Union troops, 884

Advance on Fall's Chuich — California troops fired into, .... 388

THE

REBELLION IN THE UNITED STATES.

Chapter I

Has our love all died out ; have its altars grown coldj Has the curse come at last which our fathers foretold 1 Brother Jonathan's Lament.

The smouldering fires which for the last thirty years have been secretly burning in the hearts of Southern politicians have, at last, found vent, and, notwithstanding all the peace policies and measures of "conciUation " extended to them by the North, they have chosen to " rebel " against the government of the United States, and to trample upon that noblest charter of liberty which the world has ever seen, framed by our forefathers, and sealed with their blood, — the Constitution of the United States ; and the last presidential campaign served to give them a single thread on wliich to suspend their disunion sentiments, and afford them a plea, though a miserable one, for declaring themselves no longer subject to the federal government, but free to found for themselves a " confederacy " where their own ambitious sons could obtain high official positions, for which they eagerly and impatiently thirsted, and which, under the federal government, for the next four years at least, was denied them. After the reins of government had been, with one or two exceptions, m the hands of the South for many succeeding years, it was deemed by the North that a change would be productive of much good, and result in untold benefits to the whole nation ; consequently, into the masses of the North was instilled the " Republican sentiment ; " and the nomination of Abraham Lincoln for President of the United States was received with general dissatisfaction tln-oughout the entire South, claiming that his " principles " were adverse to their interests. The " rabid " politicians of the North were touching every chord that would vibrate through the hearts of the people and secure a Republican administration ; while the hot-blooded demagogues of the South were stirring up the people and inciting them to " rebellion " and treachery against the general government in the event of the defeat of their candidate for the presidency.

November 6th, being the presidential election day, the following candidates were before the people, viz. : Abraham Lmcoln, Republican, of Illinois, for President ; Hannibal Hamlin, of Maine, for Vice-President ; Stephen A. Douglas, Democrat, of Illinois, for President, and Herschel V. Johnson, of Georgia, Vice-President ; John J. Breckenridge, Democrat, of Kentucky, for President, and Joseph Lane, of Oregon, Vice-President ; John Bell, unionist, of Tennessee, for President, and Edward Everett, of Massachusetts, Vice-President. The election resulted in Mr. Lincoln's triumph. Sevepteen States out of thirty-three cast their majority vote for Lincoln electors, eleven were for Breckenridge, three for Bell, wliile Douglas received the vote of Missouri and three-sevenths of the vote of New Jersey.

When the news was made known of the election of Mr. Lincoln to the presidential chair, that the Republican star was in the ascendant, it was received at the South with loud demonstrations, and threats of disunion, civil war, and bloodshed, which savored more of " conspiracies " than of statemanship or honest aims, and which was secretly responded to by many traitorous spirits at the North.

First and foremost in the rebellion, South Carolina took the lead, and, on the 20th of December, 18G0, declared herself out of the Union, and a free and independent State, and was immediately followed by Mississippi, Florida, Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, North Carolina, and Texas, forming themselves into a confederacy with their capital at Montgomery, Alabama, and Jefferson Davis as their president, who, with Governor Pickens and some other turbulent spirits among the revolutionists, seemed almost entirely lost to considerations of prudence and discretion, and to act upon the supposition that the loyal States could be bullied into a conflict or frightened into " submission " with their threatened thunder and smoke of war.

But the North remained cool and firm, thinking that when error and passion had ceased to declaim, perhaps truth might be heard, and an amicable adjustment of difficulties might be arrived at ; compromise after compromise was drawn up, and Congress was active in its efforts to repair the breach between the States, and restore peace and union where now was alienation and discord ; but all to no purpose ; in that hotbed of secession and treachery the voice of conciliation, in any form whatever, could not even gain a hearing, and the new confederacy, so belligerent in spirit, and apparently eager for the fight, would accept of no compromise, while the free States, conscious of their strength and resources, were peaceful in their inclinations, and reluctant to resort to coercion.

The news of the election of Lincoln was received at the North by many with demonstrations of rejoicing, but their joy was soon turned to sadness, for it was immediately followed by a general suspension of business ; no trade ; credit almost destroyed ; awful panic in the money market, that commodity bringing exorbitant rates of interest, and could only be procured by such as could give about three times its value in collaterals ; great declension in the manufacturing districts ; nearly all mills and manufactories were either entirely closed or were working on short time, and thousands were thus deprived of work or any means of subsistence for themselves and families, with the wants and necessities of a " Northern winter " staring them full in the face, and but little hopes of a speedy termination of difficulties.

November 22d all the banks in the District of Columbia, and also those in Philadelphia, Baltimore, Wheeling, and Norfolk, Va., together with the Farmers' and Exchange Bank in Charleston, S. C, suspended specie payments.

23d, the banks of Augusta, Ga., Trenton, N, J., and Pittsburg, Penn., suspended specie payments.

26th, all the principal banks of Tennessee, including the State Bank, suspended specie payments.

The twenty-ninth of November was observed, in most of the Northern States, as a day of thanksgiving and prayer ; sermons were preached by many eminent di\dnes, generally urging a policy of peace, concession, and fraternization in the great questions of the day.

The eyes of the masses of the North were now turned, with an imploring look, towards Congress, with the hope that that body, when convened, would take some measures to avert the impending blow which seemed ready to fall upon us, and calm the troubled waters of political discord, and restore peace and unity.

On the twenty-seventh of November a special session of the Legislature of Maryland was called for, which Governor Hicks refused to convene, and wrote a letter in reply, taking strong grounds against secession, and declared his purpose was to avoid any precipitation of his State in action on the part of secessionists.

December 3d, Congress met at Washington ; the House opened at twelve o'clock, with the following impressive and eloquent prayer for the Union, by the Chaplain of the House, the Rev. Mr. Stockton : —

" O God ! we remember the past, and we are grateful for the past. We thank thee for the discovery of this New Workl ; we thank thee for the colonization of our part of it ; we thank thee for the establishment of our National Independence ; we thank thee for the organization of our National Union ; we thank thee for all the blessings we have enjoyed within this Union, — national blessings, civil blessings, social blessings, spiritual blessings, all kinds of blessings, unspeakably great and precious blessings, such blessings as were never enjoyed by any other people since the world began. And now, Lord, our God, we offer to thee our humble praise for the past, the present ; and for all the future will it please thee, for Christ's sake, to grant us thy special aid. Thou art very high and lifted up ; thou lookcst down over the whole land, from lake to gulf, from sea to sea, from the rising of the sun to the going down thereof ; and thou knowest all our doings, and thou knowest all our failings ; thou knowest that our good men are at fault, and that our wise men are at fault, in the North and in the South, in the East and in the West, — they are all at fault ; we know not what is best for us to do, and with common consent we come to thee, Lord, our God ; and we pray thee to overrule all unreasonable and wicked men, in all parts of our confederacy. We pray thee to inspire, and to strengthen, and to assist all true patriots in every part of the Union ; may thy blessing rest upon all departments of our government. We remember, with especial solicitude, the President of these United States, and his immediate advisers. They lack wisdom, but if they call upon thee thou wilt give them wisdom, for thou givest it to all men liberally, and upbraideth not. Whilst we trust that they pray for themselves, we here, also, pray for them ; let thy Holy Spirit be granted unto them, and grant that they may speedily see what is exactly right for them to do, and grant them grace to do it, and to fully understand the position in which they are placed. We thank thee for this bright and beautiful morning ; for the assembling of the two Houses of Congress ; we pray that thy blessing may rest on the Vice-President, and upon every senator in his place ; upon the Speaker of the House, and upon every member iii his place. We rejoice to learn that they see their responsibilities, and that they feel their resjDonsibilities, and that many of them are looking towards thee for counsel and direction. Lord, our God, let thy own presence subdue every heart, every mind ; and sanctify all actions to thy own glory and the greatness of our whole people ; and grant that we may still live in peace and harmony in this blessed Union. Amen."

The roll of members wa,s then called. Most of the States were fully represented ; to the surprise of some, every member from South Carolina, except one (Mr. Bonham), answered to his name on roll-call in the House. But no senators were present from South Carolina, Georgia, or Louisiana, — the South Carolina senators, Chesnut and Hammond, having resigned their seats in the Senate, the former on the tenth, and the latter on the eleventh, of the previous month (November).

We are compelled, though painfully and reluctantly, to yield to the force of concurring evidence, establishing the fact that treachery and treason has struck at the very root of the Federal Government.

The solicitude and impatience of the peo^ile, generally, to see or hear the presidential message, was intense ; hoping, and clinging to that hope with the tenacity of life, that it might contain measures of compromise which would forever settle the question of disunion, and leave the country unscathed by the terrible ravages of civil war.

The message could not be transmitted to Congress at the opening of the session, simply because fair manuscript copies for each House could not be made out in time, without employing the clerks on Sunday.

Early on the morning of the third the President dispatched Mr. Trescott, Assistant Secretary of State, to Charleston, with the message, and to urge a postponement of action, in regard to secession, until Congress could act on compromises and remedies ; who, after an absence of seven days, returns and immediately resigns his office. At twelve o'clock, on the 4th, the President's message was delivered to both Houses of Congress, and the department reports sent in. The message takes strong grounds for conciliation ; blames the North for its aggressions on slavery ; proposes plans of compromise ; recommends amendments to the Constitution ; denies the right of secession, yet disparages coercion. Its reading was listened to with the most profound attention, yet it did not satisfy the South, nor please the North ; it was attacked fiercely in the Senate by Clingman, of North Carolina, and defended by Crittenden, of Kentucky. Southern senators declare the message to be weak, vacillating, inconsistent and untrue ; while the leading Republican senators were united and unhesitating in pronouncing it a weak, silly paper, unworthy such a man at such a time. Evidently it was not what was expected ; at the time of our country's greatest peril something more decisive was hoped for.

It was charged Ijy some that the President secretly favored secession, and quietly responded to the calls of the South, made upon the government, and if not actually assisting in the movement, at least doing nothing to hinder it. " He that is not for me is against me."

Then it was urged by the friends of Mr. Buchanan that, as his term of office had nearly expired, he declined to act, .choosing rather to leave the settlement of all national difficulties to the incoming administration — peacefnl imbecility ! How long, think you, my readers, would the " hero of New Orleans.," the immortal Jackson, have sat with his arms folded and his eyes closed, patiently waiting

2*

THE REBELLION IN THE UNITED STATES.

for the time to arrive when he should retire, and leave his successor to settle difficulties as hest he could ? " In the field of argument, or on the field of battle," would he not spring to his feet (as on a former occasion), and vrith the words — " By the Eternal, I take the responsibility ! " — employ all his powers to suppress the rebellion, though the people of his own native State were the prime movers in it ?

In the House, Mr. Boteler, of Virginia, ofiered a resolution to appoint a special committee, of one from each State, to whom should be referred so much of the President's message as " relates to the present perilous condition of the country." The United States Senate, December 4th, was characterized by the most exciting speeches of Southern senators, looking to secession as their only relief from Northern domination. In the House, on the question of referring the secession matter in the message to a special committee, the declaration of Mr. Miles, of South Carolina, that his State was already out of the confederacy, in everything but form ; of Mr. Hawkins, of Florida, that the day of compromises was passed forever ; of Mr. Singleton, of Mississippi, that his State could take care of herself; of Mr. Pugh, of Alabama, that the Union was virtually dissolved ; of Mr. Jones, of Georgia, that his State was prepared to go out of the confederacy ; and of other southerners to a similar effect, produced but little sensation. There was a slight startle upon the announcement of Mr. Miles, " that his State was out of the Union," and the inquiry was made, in the gallery, why he and his colleagues were occupying seats in the national capitol. The answer to this question was — To get their money and stationery.

December 5th, at the meeting of the State Electoral Colleges, Abraham Lincoln, for President, and Hannibal Hamlin, for Vice-President, received the votes of seventeen States, or one hundred and eighty electoral votes.