PROVISIONAL GOVERNMENT IN MISSOURI; TEXAS AFFAIRS. 37 ment, but asserted that allegiance was due first to the State.* This announcement of active hostility did not take Lyon by surprise. On June 13 he embarked one of his regular batteries and several battalions of Missouri volunteers, steamed up to Jefferson City where he arrived June 15, and took possession of the town without resistance,† Jackson and his adherents, having retreated some 40 miles above to Booneville, cutting off the telegraph and destroying the railroad bridges along the route. Leaving a small guard at the capital, Lyon followed Jackson, reached Booneville on the 17th, landed without difficulty and, after a spirited skirmish, dispersed the hostile forces. The loyal State government was soon regularly restored. The State convention met at Jefferson City on July 22 and took up the task of reconstructing the disorganized machinery of civil administration. The State offices were declared vacant, new elections were provided for, and on July 31 a provisional government was inaugurated with St. Louis as the official headquarters and Hamilton R. Gamble, a conservative Union man, as governor. Though this did not end the fight in Missouri, yet she remained throughout the entire war, both in form and in substance, on the side of the North.|| Peckham, General Nathaniel Lyon, p. 252. Carr, Missouri, p. 314; Battles and Leaders, vol. i., p. 267. Nicolay and Hay, Life of Lincoln, vol. iv., pp. 223-224. For further details see Snead, The Fight for Missouri. Meanwhile, on February 1, at a special session of the legislature, Texas passed an ordinance of secession which was adopted on February 23 by nearly 25,000 majority. Brigadier-General David E. Twiggs had assumed command of the department of Texas, but, sympathizing with the secession movement, asked to be relieved, and on January 28 Colonel C. A. Waite was placed in command of the department.* Five companies of artillery stationed along the Rio Grande were withdrawn by sea and sent to Fort Jefferson at Tortugas, to Fort Taylor, at Key West, and to Washington. On February 15 Scott ordered Waite, in the event of Texas seceding, to march his entire com mand to Fort Leavenworth, Kansas; preliminary thereto, however, Waite was to concentrate troops in sufficient bodies to protect their march out of the State. Before this order arrived, a force of secessionists under Ben jamin McCulloch marched on San Antonio and took possession of the arsenal and public store houses. Commissioners had been appointed by the State convention to treat with General Twiggs regarding the public property in the State, but after the occupation of San Antonio a peremptory demand was sent to Twiggs to surrender all military posts and public property. As he had insuffi *Official Records, vol. i., p. 584. † Ibid, p. 585. Ibid, p. 589. 38 THE SECESSION OF TEXAS. cient troops to offer successful resistance, the transfer was formally made * On March 4, after the result of the election regarding secession had become known, Texas was declared to be free and independent, and on March 5 the Confederate States constitution was ratified. Governor Samuel Houston refused to adhere to these enactments, and in a letter to the Confederate Secretary of War resented, on behalf of the people of Texas, the course pursued in annexing them to a new government without their knowledge or consent." Nevertheless the convention refused to be set aside, passed an ordinance requiring an oath of allegiance to the Confederate States and, when Houston refused to take the prescribed oath, placed LieutenantGovernor Edward Clark in power.‡ About two weeks later (April 1) orders from General Scott were received by Colonel Waite directing him to form a strongly intrenched camp at some suitable point convenient to Indianola where he was to remain until the question of secession had been settled by the people and, in case of conflict, to give aid and support to Houston. But if there should be no substantial Union party in the State ready to defend the Federal authority by force of arms, Waite might evacu Ibid, p. 513 et seq. See also Battles and Leaders, vol. i., pp. 33-39. Official Records, vol. i., p. 613. Elliott, Sam Houston, pp. 137-140; Bruce, Life of Houston, pp. 203-207; Garrison, Texas, pp. 286-287. || Official Records, vol. i., pp. 598-599. ate the State. Accordingly, as Houston declined the assistance of the Government and protested against the concentration of troops or fortifications in Texas,* Waite began the evacuation. The greater part of the troops got away safely, but before the detachment at Indianola could put to sea, Earl Van Dorn appeared in overwhelming force and compelled their surrender, later allowing them to proceed North on parole. At about the same time Colonel Waite and his staff at San Antonio were made prisoners,‡ and another detachment was captured at San Lucas Springs. Thus, by the middle of May, Texas was in the hands of the Confederate government.§ On Meanwhile, on April 29, the Confederate Congress met at Montgomery. In his address Davis made an elaborate apology for secession. the 6th of May an act was passed recognizing the existence of war between the United States and the Confederate States and authorizing Davis to issue letters of marque and reprisal. A loan of $50,000,000 was authorized which might be raised by the sale of 8 per cent. 20-year bonds, or $20,000,000 of it might be obtained by the issue of Treasury notes without inter- . est, which notes should be receivable. for all debts and taxes due the Confederate States with the exception of * Ibid, p. 551. Ibid, pp. 562-564. Ibid, pp. 552-553. || Ibid, p. 568. § For other details see Nicolay and Hay, Life of Lincoln, vol. iv., pp. 179–191. ACTS OF THE CONFEDERATE CONGRESS. the export duty on cotton. All persons were forbidden to pay their debts to individuals or corporations in the United States except in Delaware, Maryland, the District of Columbia, Kentucky, and Missouri, but they were authorized to pay the amount of their indebtedness into the Confederate States Treasury for which a Treasurer's receipt was to be given, redeemable at the restoration of peace. The exportation of cotton was prohibited save through the seaports. After Lincoln had proclaimed an increase of the Union forces, Davis was authorized also to accept without limit volunteers to serve during the war. At this session of the Confederate Congress also Viriginia, North Carolina, Tennessee and Arkansas were admitted into the Confederacy, and Richmond was designated as the capital of the new government." The Congress then adjourned to meet on July 20 at Richmond. Thus 23 States of the Union and 11 States of the Confederacy were arrayed against each other. The Union States, according to the census of 1860, contained about 22,000,000 people against 9,000,000 in the Confederate States, while of the latter 3,500,000 were slaves. The Union had much greater wealth, possessed the money market, and could borrow with greater ease than the South. The Confederacy was chiefly devoted to agriculture and dependent upon Eu Rhodes, United States, vol. iii., p. 396; Nicolay and Hay, Life of Lincoln, vol. iv., p. 263. 39 rope and the North for everything but bread and meat. The North possessed most of the manufactories, and in its armies were mechanics of all kinds and men accustomed to business system, while the Southern army, though containing splendid fighters of rare courage, was composed chiefly of gentlemen and poor whites having little knowledge of the mechanical arts as compared with the men of the North. Furthermore, the North possessed the regular army and navy and all the machinery of government. The ministers from foreign countries were accredited to the United States, and the archives of what had been the common government were also in the possession of the United States.* Many at the South believed or pretended to believe that, at the last moment, the North would not fight, but that the Democrats and Conservatives would oppose the invasion of the seceding States and so hamper the dominant party that it would be unable to consummate its designs. All held the opinion that the stand of the North was unconstitutional and un just, and hence were united in resisting encroachments upon their rights. Though they knew the immense preponderance of the North in wealth and men, they were by no means dismayed. Tyler wrote, "The numbers. opposed to us are immense, but 12,000 Rhodes, United States, vol. iii., pp. 397-398. See also Greeley, American Conflict, vol. i., pp. 498-516, and the article by A. B. Hart in New England Magazine (November, 1891). 40 COMPARATIVE STRENGTH OF THE NORTH AND SOUTH. Grecians conquered the whole power of Xerxes at Marathon, and our fathers, a mere handful, overcame the enormous power of Great Britain."* On the other hand, a tremendous task confronted the North. From the nature of the case, the North had to conduct an offensive warfare and hence the fighting must be on Southern soil. For such a task the odds in favor of the North were none too great and, as the result showed, had they been less, the North might have failed. In warlike materials the South was at a disadvantage. She had about 145,000 muskets and 19,000 rifles, whereas the Union forces had more than 400,000 muskets and over 30,000 rifles. The North possessed numerous private establishments for the manufacture of warlike implements, whereas the South was compelled to erect these after the war started. In powder and facilities for making it, the same disadvantage appeared. To offset these disadvantages, however, the Confederates had secured the adherence of Robert E. Lee, probably one of the greatest generals the world. has ever seen, not only in his military capacity but in his private character. As Lincoln in his proclamation of April 15 had allowed the insurgents 20 days in which to disperse, no forward movement could take place until the end of that time. Geographical position necessitated the advance into Virginia, but at the expiration of the * Letters and Times of the Tylers, vol. ii., p. 641. time allowed by the proclamation the people of Virginia had not voted on secession. Accordingly, it was decided best not to push matters in that section. On May 23, however, when the people voted in favor of secession and Virginia became one of the Confederate States, an advance into Virginia was entirely proper. On May 17, in planning a decisive fall and winter campaign, General Scott wrote to Cameron that, after the safety of the capital had been insured, seven or eight regiments should occupy and fortify Arlington Heights, after which an expedition could be sent to Harper's Ferry.* This movement was intrusted to Colonel J. K. F. Mansfield. On the night of May 23–24 the Union forces under Mansfield crossed the Potomac and took possession of Arlington Heights, the capture of Alexandria and its garrison forming part of the projected work. The 1st Michigan regiment was to attack the city in the rear, while the 11th New York regiment under E. E. Ellsworth was to be landed on the Alexandria wharves. The Confederate commander had his infantry under arms and, just as the Union forces entered the city, hurried his detachment to a waiting train of cars, thus making his escape. A small troop of cavalry, however, ordered to await further movements, was easily captured. Ellsworth led his regiment into the place and, after posting it in a position to prevent surprise, noticed the Confederate flag fly ELLSWORTH'S DEATH; OPENING ENGAGEMENT. ing over the principal hotel, the Mar- Though accompanied After the occupation of Arlington Heights and Alexandria, Scott turned his attention to Harper's Ferry. The command of the Pennsylvania volunteers assigned to the campaign against this post was given to General Robert Patterson. At this time there were about 7,000 Confederates of all arms at Harper's Ferry,† whereas Patterson had more than 17 regiments. Patterson reached Williamsport about June 15, only to find that the Confederates had destroyed the railroad bridge over the Potomac, abandoned their heavy guns, and retreated above Winchester, tearing up the tracks of * Duyckinck, The Late Civil War, vol. i., pp. 195-202; Pollard, First Year of the War, vol. i., pp. 72-76; Nicolay and Hay, Life of Lincoln, vol. iv., pp. 313-314; Nicolay, The Outbreak of Rebellion, chap. ix. J. E. Johnston, Narrative of Military Operations, p. 22. 41 the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad as they went.* The retreat of the Confederates seems to have satisfied Patterson who designed no pursuit, simply proposing to hold and fortify Harper's Ferry and open the railroad to the West. Several other skirmishes took place at different points in Virginia. The Confederate earthworks near Fortress Monroe were shelled; a battery on the Potomac near Aquia Creek was bombarded with no very decided effect; and on June 1 Lieutenant Charles H. Tompkins with a company of cavalry made a bold dash into Fairfax Court House and defeated a detachment of Confederates found there. At Romney a severe engagement occurred. This place was important as an outpost of the Union troops guarding the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, and also as a base for operations up the valley of the south branch of the Potomac. It was held, early in June of 1861, by Colonel Angus McDonald, with about 500 Virginia troops and two guns. On the night of June 12 Colonel Lewis Wallace, with 800 men of the 11th Indiana regiment, went by rail from Cumberland to New Creek Station, and, marching across the mountains, attacked and routed McDonald on the 13th, on the same day starting to return. Information of Wallace's movement reached General J. E. Johnston, commanding the Confederate forces at Harper's Ferry, * Battles and Leaders, vol. i., pp. 111-125. Nicolay and Hay, Life of Lincoln, vol. iv., p. 317. |