penal sum of five thousand dollars; or if such vessel be provided with more than one hundred and fifty men, then in the penal sum of ten thousand dollars, with the condition that the owners, officers, and crew who shall be employed on board such commissioned vessel shall observe the laws of these Confederate States, and the instructions given them for the regulation of their conduct, that shall satisfy all damages done contrary to the tenor thereof by such vessel during her commission, and deliver up the same when revoked by the President of the Confederate States. attached this seventeenth day of April, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty-one. "JEFFERSON DAVIS. "ROBERT TOOMBS, Secretary of State." At the same time that President Davis thus threatened Northern commerce with a fleet of privateers, he called upon the Confederacy for a hundred and fifty thousand men, in addition to the thirty-two thousand already demanded. A loan of five millions of dollars had been issued, and subscriptions were reported to be rapidly coming in under the stimulus of approaching war. Davis' invitation to applications for letters of marque created great alarm, and was received by the North with a universal burst of indignation. Privateering was pronounced an infamous weapon of warfare. The destruction of private property in the course of a conflict between two hostile parties was declared to be a relic of barbarism. Davis was reminded of the treaties of the United States with certain European powers, which prohibited citizens of either nation from accepting letters of marque from any authority hostile to "And I do further specially enjoin on all persons holding offices, civil and military, under the authority of the Confederate States, that they be vigilant and zealous in the discharge of the duties incident thereto; and I do, moreever, exhort the good people of these Confederate States, as they love their country-as they prize the blessings of free government as they feel the wrongs of the past, and those now threatened in an aggravated form by those whose enmity is more implacable, because unprovoked-to exert themselves in preserving order, in promoting concord, in maintaining the authority the agreeing parties. This, they deand efficacy of the laws, and in support-clared, would prevent his obtaining priing and invigorating all the measures vateers from Europe, and destroy any which may be adopted for a common hope of toleration from them from that defence, and by which, under the bless- quarter. It was declared that there was ings of Divine Providence, we may hope not one foreign port where, if Davis' for a speedy, just, and honorable peace. privateers should venture to enter, they would not be seized as pirates, and dealt with accordingly. If any man, in this country, or in any other, dared to ac "In witness whereof, I have set my hand and have caused the seal of the Confederate States of America to be THE FRIGHT AT THE NORTH. cept a letter of marque from the Confederacy and act upon it, he would, it was threatened, be hung as a pirate. The proclamation was, in a word, branded as a formal sanction of piracy, and it was met not only with the menace of the yard-arm, but its author was reminded that the most terrific retaliation awaited him if he should carry out his purpose. "The first seizure of an American vessel by one of his privateers will let loose," said a journalist,*"upon the South more John Browns than he can hire pirates in a year." The commercial cities of the North were greatly fluttered by the prospect of a swoop by the rebellious birds of prey upon their fleets which were winging their way over every sea and ocean. The Chamber of Commerce of New York met and resolved, "That the proposition of Mr. Jefferson Davis to issue letters of marque to whomsoever may apply for them, emanating from no recognized government, is not only without the sanction of public law, but piratical in its tendencies, and therefore deserving the stern condemnation of the civilized world." To this was added the further resolution, that "it is the duty of our Government to issue at once a proclamation warning all persons that privateering under the commissions proposed will be dealt with as simple piracy." The President promptly responded by establishing a blockade of the ports of the seceding States, and did not hesitate to warn all privateers sailing New York Times. 171 under the flag of the Confederates that they would be treated as pirates: "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 been already 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 endorse 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 CHAPTER XV. Inquietude about the Border States.-The Convention of Virginia.-Committee appointed to wait upon the President. -Its Message. - President Lincoln's Answer.-Its effect.-Virginia Convention passes an Act of Secession.-Impatience of the Secessionists.-Proclamation of Governor Letcher.-Recognition of the Southern Confederacy.— Preparations for War.-The Harbor of Norfolk Obstructed.—Attempt on Harper's Ferry.-Description of the place. -Its picturesque beauty.-Its Resources.-Unhappy Associations.-Virginia Troops Mustering for an Attack upon Harper's Ferry.—A Force Marches.—Description of the March.-The Federal Commander and his little Garrison.— Anticipated Attack.—Preparations to thwart its object.—Preparing for a Conflagration.—Positive Information.— The Torch applied.—Retreat of the Federal Commander and his Men.-An excited Populace.-Held at Bay.-Continued Flight of the Federal Commander.-Safe arrival in Pennsylvania.-Rewards of Gallantry.-Another Destruction of Public Property.-Hemming in of the Gosport Navy Yard.-Exulting Dispatch.-Description of the Navy Yard.-The Ships.-Resolution of Commodore Macaulay. The Demand of the Insurgents.-Arrival of the Pawnee. Her Sail from Fortress Monroe to Norfolk.-Boisterous Welcome.-The Marines set to work.-Securing the Papers.-Destruction of Arms.-The Firing of the Barracks.-Laying of the Trains.-Departure of the Pawnee. -A Signal.-The Conflagration of Ships and Navy Yard.-The Burning of the old Pennsylvania.-The People of Norfolk bursting through the Gates of the Navy Yard.-The Havoc.-Incomplete Destruction.-Curious Reasons for it.-Details of the Property destroyed.-The Feeling at the North.-The Destruction pronounced unnecessary. Quick work of the Insurgents.-Erection of defiant Batteries. 1861. THE greatest inquietude had long existed at the North in regard to the action of the border States, and more especially of Maryland and Virginia. In the latter State a convention had been for some time in secret session, and the result was awaited with intense anxiety. A committee, consisting of PRESIDENT'S ANSWER TO VIRGINIA. Messrs. Preston, Stuart, and Randolph, had been appointed to wait upon the President at Washington, and to present to him the following preamble and resolution passed by the Convention of Virginia: Whereas, in the opinion of this Convention, the uncertainty which prevails in the public mind as to the policy which the Federal Executive intends to pursue toward the seceded States is extremely injurious to the industrial and commercial interests of the country, tends to keep up an excitement which is unfavorable to the adjustment of the pending difficulties, and threatens a disturbance of the public peace, therefore, 6 173 what course I intend to pursue. Not having as yet seen occasion to change, it is now my purpose to pursue the course marked out in the inaugural address. I commend a careful consideration of the whole document as the best expression I can give to my purposes. As I then and therein said, I now repeat: The power confided in me will be used to hold and possess property and places belonging to the Government, and to collect the duties and imports; but beyond what is necessary for these objects there will be no invasion, no using of force against and among the people anywhere.' By the words 'property and places belonging to the Government,' I chiefly allude to the military posts and property which were in possession of the Government when it came into my hands. But if, as now appears to be true, in pursuit of a purpose to "Resolved, That a committee of three delegates be appointed to wait on the President of the United States, present to him this preamble, and respectfully ask him to communicate to this Convention the policy which the Federal Ex-drive the United States authority from ecutive intends to pursue in regard to these places, an unprovoked assault has the Confederate States." The bearers of this demand, courteous April in form but insolent in substance, 13. were duly presented at the White House, and received from Mr. Lincoln a response in which he characteristically rather discussed the question amiably with his interlocutors, than firmly asserted his Executive authority. been made upon Fort Sumter, I shall hold myself at liberty to repossess it, if I can, and like places which had been seized before the Government was devolved upon me; and in any event I shall, to the best of my ability, repel force by force. In case it proves true that Fort Sumter has been assaulted, as is reported, I shall, perhaps, cause the "In answer, I," said the President, United States mails to be withdrawn "have to say that having, at the begin- from all the States which claim to have ning of my official term, expressed my seceded, believing that the commenceintended policy as plainly as I was able, ment of actual war against the Governit is with deep regret and mortification ment justifies and possibly demands it. I now learn there is great and injurious I scarcely need to say that I consider uncertainty in the public mind as to the military posts and property situated within the States which claim to have seceded, as yet belonging to the Government of the United States, as much as they did before the supposed secession. Whatever else I may do for the purpose, I shall not attempt to collect the duties and imposts by any armed invasion of any part of the country; not meaning by this, however, that I may not land a force deemed necessary to relieve a fort upon the border of the country. From the fact that I have quoted a part of the inaugural address, it must not be inferred that I repudiate any other part, the whole of which I reaffirm, except so far as what I now say of the mails may be regarded as a modification." This answer, however, was sufficiently firm to convince the Virginian commissioners that the President had determined to exercise his proper authority in the suppression of rebellion. Their return to Richmond with this response served to precipitate the action of the Convention, and accordingly it passed, in secret session, on the 17th of April, an April ordinance of secession, conditional, 17. however, upon its ratification by a majority of the votes of the people of the State on the fourth Thursday in the ensuing month of May. The secession leaders of Virginia, however, in their impatience to rebel, could not await the deliberate course of law, and began at once a series of hostile acts, soon to result in open war against the Federal authority. Letcher, the Governor of Virginia, April issued a proclamation in which he 17. recognized the independence of the seceded States, declaring that they have, " by authority of their people, solemnly rescued the powers granted by them to the United States, and have framed a constitution and organized a government for themselves, to which the people of those States are yielding willing obedience, and have so notified the President of the United States by all the formalities incident to such action, and thereby become to the United States a separate, independent, and foreign power." At the same time he thought proper "to order all armed volunteer regiments or companies within the State forthwith to hold themselves in readiness for immediate orders." Before the people of the State, however, had an opportunity of expressing their will as legally provided by the acts of the Virginia Legislature and Convention, Governor Letcher commenced to wage war against the United States. He ordered the main entrance of the harbor of Norfolk to be obstructed by the sinking of small boats, to prevent communication with the Federal navyyard at that port, which he had evidently determined to seize on the first occasion favorable to his purpose, as will be developed in the course of this narrative. His first attempt, however, was to capture the United States arsenal and armory at Harper's Ferry. This town, now so memorable, is in Jefferson Co., Virginia. It is situated on the Potomac River, just where the Shenandoah enters, and the two streams united pass through the Blue Ridge. The town originally |