Chapter VII: Preparing for War

Effects of Sumter’s Fall--President’s Call for Troops--Response
in the Loyal States--In the Border States--Baltimore Riot--
Maryland’s Position--President’s Letter to Maryland Authorities--
Blockade Proclamation--Additional Proclamation--Comments Abroad--
Second Call for Troops--Special Order for Florida--Military
Movements.

Sumter fell, but the nation arose. With one mind the Free States determined that the rebellion must be put down. All were ablaze with patriotic fire. The traitors at heart, who lurked in the loyal States, found it a wise precaution to float with the current. The shrewder ones among them saw well how such a course would give them vantage-ground when the reaction, which they hoped, and for which in secret they labored, should come. But the great mass of the people would not have admitted the possibility of any reaction--action was to continue the order of the day until the business in hand was finished.

* * * * *

On the 15th of April, 1861, the President issued his first proclamation:

“WHEREAS, The laws of the United States have been for some time
past, and now are opposed, and the execution thereof obstructed,
in the States of South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Florida,
Mississippi, Louisiana, and Texas, by combinations too powerful to
be suppressed by the ordinary course of judicial proceedings, or
by the powers vested in the marshals by law; now, therefore, I,
ABRAHAM LINCOLN, President of the United States, in virtue of the
power in me vested by the Constitution and the laws, have thought
fit to call forth, and hereby do call forth, the militia of the
several States of the Union to the aggregate number of seventy-five
thousand, in order to suppress said combinations and to cause the
laws to be duly executed.

“The details for this object will be immediately communicated to
the State authorities through the War Department. I appeal to
all loyal citizens to favor, facilitate, and aid this effort to
maintain the honor, the integrity, and existence of our national
Union, and the perpetuity of popular government, and to redress
wrongs already long enough endured. I deem it proper to say that
the first service assigned to the forces hereby called forth, will
probably be to repossess the forts, places, and property which have
been seized from the Union; and in every event the utmost care will
be observed, consistently with the objects aforesaid, to avoid any
devastation, any destruction of, or interference with property, or
any disturbance of peaceful citizens of any part of the country;
and I hereby command the persons composing the combinations
aforesaid, to disperse and retire peaceably to their respective
abodes, within twenty days from this date.

“Deeming that the present condition of public affairs presents an
extraordinary occasion, I do hereby, in virtue of the power in me
vested by the Constitution, convene both Houses of Congress. The
Senators and Representatives are, therefore, summoned to assemble
at their respective chambers at twelve o’clock, noon, on Thursday,
the fourth day of July next, then and there to consider and
determine such measures as in their wisdom, the public safety and
interest may seem to demand.

“In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand, and caused the
seal of the United States to be affixed.

“Done at the City of Washington, this fifteenth day of April, in
the year of our Lord, one thousand eight hundred and sixty-one,
and of the independence of the United States the eighty-fifth.

“By the President: ABRAHAM LINCOLN

“WILLIAM H. SEWARD, Secretary of State.”

In response to this proclamation enthusiastic public meetings were held throughout the loyal States; all party lines seemed obliterated; enlistments were almost universal; Washington, which was at one time in imminent danger, was soon considered amply defended. The majority entertained no doubt that with the force summoned the rebellion would be nipped in the bud; the more sagacious minority shook their heads, and wished that a million of men had been asked.

An excellent opportunity was afforded to the border slave States for pronouncing their election--whether to stand by the Government, or, practically, to furnish aid and comfort to the rebels. Magoffin, Governor of Kentucky, was soon heard from: “Kentucky will furnish no troops,” said he, “for the wicked purpose of subduing her sister Southern States.” Letcher, of Virginia: “The militia of Virginia will not be furnished to the powers at Washington for any such case or purpose as they have in view;” and on the 17th, the State was dragooned into passing, in secret, an ordinance of secession, and immediately commenced those warlike preparations, whose evil fruits she was destined so soon and in so much sorrow to reap. The Executives of Tennessee and North Carolina refused compliance; and those States, together with Arkansas, went over to the “Confederacy.”

How was the call for troops received by the rebel conclave at Montgomery? They laughed.

The first blood shed in the war was in the streets of Baltimore, on the 19th of April. Massachusetts troops, passing through that city for the defence of the common capitol, were attacked by a mob, instigated and encouraged by men of property and social standing. The State hung trembling in the balance between loyalty and treason. Had its geographical position been other than it was, it would have undeniably embraced the fortune of the South. Its Governor was, however, strongly inclined to support the Government, although the peculiar circumstances in which he was placed called for peculiar tact and dexterity in management. It was seriously proposed that no more troops should be sent through Baltimore.

* * * * *

The day following this attack, the President sent the following letter in reply to a communication broaching this modest proposition:

“_Washington_, April 20th, 1861.

“GOVERNOR HICKS AND MAYOR BROWN:

“GENTLEMEN:--Your letter by Messrs. Bond, Dobbin, and Brune, is
received. I tender you both my sincere thanks for your efforts to
keep the peace in the trying situation in which you are placed. For
the future, troops _must_ be brought here, but I make no point of
bringing them _through_ Baltimore.

“Without any military knowledge myself, of course I must leave
details to General Scott. He hastily said this morning in presence
of those gentlemen, ‘March them _around_ Baltimore, and not through
it.’

“I sincerely hope the General, on fuller reflection, will consider
this practical and proper, and that you will not object to it. By
this a collision of the people of Baltimore with the troops will
be avoided, unless they go out of the way to seek it. I hope you
will exert your influence to prevent this. Now and ever, I shall
do all in my power for peace, consistently with the maintenance of
government.

“Your obedient servant,
“A. LINCOLN.”

To a delegation of rebel sympathizers from the same State, who demanded a cessation of hostilities until Congress should assemble, and accompanied their demand with the statement that seventy-five thousand Marylanders would dispute the passage of any more United States troops over the soil of that State, he quietly remarked that he presumed there was room enough in the State to bury that number, and declined to accede to their proposal. The Maryland imbroglio was, after no great time, adjusted, and ample precautions taken to guard against any future trouble in that quarter.

* * * * *

On the 19th of April, every port of the States in rebellion was declared blockaded by the following proclamation:

“WHEREAS, An insurrection against the Government of the United
States has broken out in the States of South Carolina, Georgia,
Alabama, Florida, Mississippi, Louisiana, and Texas, and the laws
of the United States for the collection of the revenue can not be
efficiently executed therein conformably to that provision of the
Constitution which requires duties to be uniform throughout the
United States:

“AND WHEREAS, A combination of persons, engaged in such
insurrection, have threatened to grant pretended letters of marque
to authorize the bearers thereof to commit assaults on the lives,
vessels, and property of good citizens of the country lawfully
engaged in commerce on the high seas, and in waters of the United
States:

“AND WHEREAS, An Executive Proclamation has already been issued,
requiring the persons engaged in these disorderly proceedings to
desist therefrom, calling out a militia force for the purpose
of repressing the same, and convening Congress in extraordinary
session to deliberate and determine thereon:

“Now, therefore, I, Abraham Lincoln, President of the United
States, with a view to the same purposes before mentioned, and to
the protection of the public peace, and the lives and property
of quiet and orderly citizens pursuing their lawful occupations,
until Congress shall have assembled and deliberated on the said
unlawful proceedings, or until the same shall have ceased, have
further deemed it advisable to set on foot a blockade of the ports
within the States aforesaid, in pursuance of the laws of the United
States, and of the laws of nations in such cases provided. For this
purpose a competent force will be posted so as to prevent entrance
and exit of vessels from the ports aforesaid. If, therefore, with
a view to violate such blockade, a vessel shall approach, or shall
attempt to leave any of the said ports, she will be duly warned by
the commander of one of the blockading vessels, who will indorse
on her register the fact and date of such warning; and if the same
vessel shall again attempt to enter or leave the blockaded port,
she will be captured and sent to the nearest convenient port, for
such proceedings against her and her cargo as prize, as may be
deemed advisable.

“And I hereby proclaim and declare, that if any person, under the
pretended authority of said States, or under any other pretence,
shall molest a vessel of the United States, or the persons or cargo
on board of her, such person will be held amenable to the laws of
the United States for the prevention and punishment of piracy.

“By the President: ABRAHAM LINCOLN.

“WILLIAM H. SEWARD, Secretary of State.”

On the 27th of April, the following additional proclamation was issued:

“WHEREAS, For the reasons assigned in my proclamation of the 19th
instant, a blockade of the ports of the States of South Carolina,
Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas was
ordered to be established; AND WHEREAS, since that date public
property of the United States has been seized, the collection of
the revenue obstructed, and duly commissioned officers of the
United States, while engaged in executing the orders of their
superiors, have been arrested and held in custody as prisoners,
or have been impeded in the discharge of their official duties,
without due legal process, by persons claiming to act under
authority of the States of Virginia and North Carolina, an
efficient blockade of the ports of these States will therefore also
be established.

“In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand, and caused the
seal of the United States to be affixed.

“Done at the City of Washington, this 27th day of April, in the
year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty-one, and of
the independence of the United States the eighty-fifth.

“By the President: ABRAHAM LINCOLN.

“WILLIAM H. SEWARD, Secretary of State.”

This greatly affected the commercial interests of the European powers, who made haste to announce that the blockade must be an effectual one, in order to be respected; supposing, in common with the rebels, that they were demanding what would prove to be an impossibility. To say that they erred decidedly in this opinion, is but stating a matter of general notoriety, and simply adds another to the list of serious mistakes made, during the progress of the war, by the two European nations most deeply interested in its issue.

It was soon perceived that more men would be needed in the field, Davis, in a message to his Congress, having proposed “to organize and hold in readiness for instant action, in view of the exigencies of the country, an army of six hundred thousand men.” On the 3d of May, accordingly, another call was made, in anticipation of its ratification at the extra session of Congress, which ratification took place, without opposition.

“WHEREAS, Existing exigencies demand immediate and adequate
measures for the protection of the national Constitution and
the preservation of the national Union by the suppression of the
insurrectionary combinations now existing in several States for
opposing the laws of the Union and obstructing the execution
thereof, to which end a military force, in addition to that
called forth by my Proclamation of the fifteenth day of April,
in the present year, appears to be indispensably necessary, now,
therefore, I, Abraham Lincoln, President of the United States,
and Commander-in-chief of the Army and Navy thereof, and of the
militia of the several States, when called into actual service,
do hereby call into the service of the United States forty-two
thousand and thirty-four volunteers, to serve for a period of three
years, unless sooner discharged, and to be mustered into service
as infantry and cavalry. The proportions of each arm, and the
details of enrolment and organization will be made known through
the Department of War; and I also direct that the regular army of
the United States be increased by the addition of eight regiments
of infantry, one regiment of cavalry and one regiment of artillery,
making altogether a maximum aggregate increase of twenty-two
thousand seven hundred and fourteen officers and enlisted men,
the details of which increase will also be made known through the
Department of War; and I further direct the enlistment, for not
less than one nor more than three years, of eighteen thousand
seamen, in addition to the present force, for the naval service of
the United States. The details of the enlistment and organization
will be made known through the Department of the Navy. The call
for volunteers, hereby made, and the direction of the increase of
the regular army, and for the enlistment of seamen hereby given,
together with the plan of organization adopted for the volunteers
and for the regular forces hereby authorized, will be submitted to
Congress as soon as assembled.

“In the meantime, I earnestly invoke the coöperation of all
good citizens in the measures hereby adopted for the effectual
suppression of unlawful violence, for the impartial enforcement of
constitutional laws, and for the speediest possible restoration
of peace and order, and with those of happiness and prosperity
throughout our country.

“In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand, and caused the
seal of the United States to be affixed.

“Done at the City of Washington, this third day of May, in the year
of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty-one, and of the
Independence of the United States the eighty-fifth.

“By the President: ABRAHAM LINCOLN.

“WILLIAM H. SEWARD, Secretary of State.”

On the 10th of May, 1861, the following proclamation was promulgated:

“Whereas, An insurrection exists in the State of Florida, by which
the lives, liberty, and property of loyal citizens of the United
States are endangered.

“And Whereas, It is deemed proper that all needful measures should
be taken for the protection of such citizens and all officers of
the United States in the discharge of their public duties in the
State aforesaid:

“Now, therefore, be it known that I, Abraham Lincoln, President of
the United States, do hereby direct the commander of the forces
of the United States on the Florida coast to permit no person to
exercise any office or authority upon the islands of Key West, the
Tortugas, and Santa Rosa, which may be inconsistent with the laws
and Constitution of the United States, authorizing him at the same
time, if he shall find it necessary, to suspend there the writ of
_habeas corpus_, and to remove from the vicinity of the United
States fortresses all dangerous or suspected persons.

“In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand, and caused the
seal of the United States to be affixed.

“Done at the City of Washington, this tenth day of May, in the
year of our Lord, one thousand eight hundred and sixty-one, and of
the Independence of the United States the eighty-fifth.

“By the President: ABRAHAM LINCOLN.

“WILLIAM H. SEWARD, Secretary of State.”

Volunteers meanwhile presented themselves for the defence of the country in numbers greater than could be accepted, and the strife was who should secure the coveted distinction of a citizen soldier. An early movement upon the rebel army in Virginia was contemplated, and it was confidently anticipated that to advance was to put the enemies of the Government to flight.