Grey Revolution Redux

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Chapter 15: Forty-Eighters
The term forty-eighter refers to a person of German decent that fled Germany after the Revolution of 1848. The nobility wasn’t the only people that were effected once the Socialist Republic of Germany came to power, wealthy business men to small business owners pulled up stakes and left their homeland.
German exiles began to sprout up in The Chesapeake Area of Eastern Maryland, Delaware, and Eastern Seaboard of Virginia. The Royal House of Hohenzollern took up residence in Texas helping to settle the wild frontier and the sprawling port of Galveston where German arms manufacturer Johann Nicholas von Dreyse, inventor of the Dreyse needle gun, moved his bolt action rifle manufacturing.

Johann Nicholas von Dreyse

Alfred Krupp transplanted his entire operations to the outside of the German-Community in New Orleans. The future city of Krupp, Louisiana still holds the headquarters of the Krupp Arms Manufacturing.

Alfred Krupp

Prussian Junkers like Otto von Bismarck moved to New Orleans and after buying a sugar plantation, and slaves to work it, moved into local politics as a Democrat eventually winning a seat in the US House of Representatives. Bismarck will associate with the Fire-Eaters during the Secession Crisis.

Otto von Bismarck

Many German Americans also joined filibuster operations to Nicaragua. Helmuth von Moltke & Albrecht von Roon raised former Prussian soldiers to volunteer, and served distinctly in Central America. Gaining a powerful backer in the John Quitman.

Albrecht von Roon
Helmuth von Moltke

 

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Chapter 16: Know Nothings Gather
With the utter destruction of the Whig party two new political parties moved i to try and fill the void. The American Nativist Party or Know-Nothings was a party based solely one one major issue: immigration. With the south seeing an influx of immigration that would eventually help their cause of settling more land as slave owners. The nativist party elders decided to ignore the issue of slavery all together.The forty-eighters were in no way a threat for low paying jobs, but instead investors, landowners, and businessmen pushing the southern economy forward.
The Know-Nothings saw their largest support in New England and the Mid-Atlantic regions of the US. By the time of their first convention there were a few Congressmen and even elected a governor in Massachusetts, Henry Gardiner.
When the Know-Nothing Party convened on February 22, 1856 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania they hoped to build off their stunning 1854 midterm elections. Going into the convention three men were seen as front runners: Massachusetts Governor Henry Gardiner, former Commodore and Mexican-American War hero Robert Stockton, and former Senator John M. Clayton of Delaware. After three days of tumultuous bartering, haggling, and arguing the Party settled upon Commodore Robert Stockton as their candidate with Chicago Mayor Levi Boone for Vice President.

Know Nothing Ticker former Commodore Robert Stockton and Chicago Mayor Levi Boone

 

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Chapter 17: Republicans in Philadelphia
The Republican Party met on June 17th in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Republican Party was bringing together elements of The Free-Soil Party members, former Whigs, Abolitionist, & Anti-Slavery Know-Knothings. The main contenders for the nomination were Senator from North California John C. Frémont, Associate Justice of the Supreme Court John McLean of Ohio, Senator from New York William H. Steward, & former Congressman from Pennsylvania David Wilmot. The Republican platform called for admission of free states immediately (not waiting for slave state admissions) in contradiction of the Taylor Doctrine, stopping the spread of slavery, defeating Nicaraguan annexation, and end of polygamy in Mormon settlements in Utah Territory.

John C. Frémont, John McLean, William Steward, David Wilmot.

Seward was the first to concede even before the nomination took place throwing his support behind Frémont, McLean’s own campaign manager tried to concede his support for his candidate but Congressman Thaddeus Stevens forced it back into contention losing more support with the fiasco. By the fourth ballot Frémont was nominated with David Wilmot as his running mate.

 

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Chapter 18: Democrats Nominate their Giant
The Democratic Party still stunned by its drubbing in the 1854 midterms went into the nominations determined to jettison Atchison from the top spot on the ticket. Three main candidates emerged: Senator Stephen Douglas of Illinois had the support of the powerful railroads and many northern democrats that wanted to check the power of the southern expansionists. Former Secretary of State and recently elected Senator from Pennsylvania James Buchanan had a solid backing from his home state and southern members of the party. President David R. Atchison desired his own term, and worked with anyone who could get him the nomination.
The balloting began with Buchanan holding a solid lead, but not the two-thirds needed to secure the nomination. Atchison gained momentum as a favorite son candidates. Douglas for his part worked to gather southern support showing his part in Cuban annexation. After a dozen ballots Atchison agreed to release his delegates to Douglas if he continued his support for railroad and westward expansion. Buchanan for his part decided that after a long illustrious career getting the presidency was again out of his grasp. After twenty ballots Stephen Douglas the “Little Giant” was the Democratic nominee for president. To bring balance to the ticket Kentucky Congressman John C. Breckinridge was nominated for Vice-President.
The Democratic platform called for the continuation of the Taylor Doctrine, Nicaraguan Annexation, and the building of a Nicaragua Canal to help spur westward expansion.

 

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Chapter 19: Election of 1856
The Republicans campaigned on the slogan “Free Soil, Free Men, Free Press, Free Speech, and Frémont”. The Know-Nothings ranted about immigration, and a secret papal canal to overtake the United States. The Democrats campaigned on a solid Union, peace, and expansion.
The results told a fantastic story: the Know-Nothing party captured the state of Massachusetts and Delaware. The republican party took the rest of New England plus New York, Ohio, Michigan, Wisconsin, and Iowa. The Democrats took the solid south, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, both of the California’s, and the battle ground states of Indiana & Illinois. With the popular vote and the elector college secured Stephen Douglas became the 16th President of the United States.

 

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Chapter 20: John Brown Part 2
The New England Aid Society was a secret abolitionist military society that planned to fight slavery’s extension into Central America. The first group of volunteers arrived in Costa Rica in late October 1855 among them was a John Brown and four of his sons. In command of a group of 110 men Brown now called “Captain” Brown joined another group of abolitionist under Jim Lane of Indiana.
By this time the countries of Costa Rico, Guatemalan, El Salvador, and Honduras declared war upon Nicaragua in hopes of throwing out the American Filibusters. The abolitionist volunteers were accepted warily. Fearful of a “Yankee” double cross. Together with the Central American Armies they invaded Nicaragua.
It was at the Second Battle of Rivas where the Filibuster/Nicaraguan Army under the command of Helmuth von Moltke with the help of being armed with the Dreyse Needle Rifle that made Moltke’s small force double its rate of fire, and routed the invading Costa Rican army. It was the rearguard action of John Brown and his men that bought vital time for the Costa Rican Army under a Jose Porras.
After the defeat Brown and his men turned away from conventional fighting and turned to guerrilla style of fighting. This intensified once Nicaraguan forces invaded Costa Rica.
Journalist John L. Sullivan wrote stories for Harper’s Weekly that depicted the gruesome beheading of Nicaraguan soldiers by Brown and his men. The telling of John Brown’s brutal killing of three captured soldiers told from eyewitness accounts stunned the Southern Populace, and worried many northern democrats even President elect Stephen Douglas
Southern politicians now doubled down on the need to annex Nicaragua and bring peace and stability to the land. With a Democratic majority in the incoming Senate and a divided House Democratic leaders proposed to use the lame duck session to push through Nicaraguan annexation.

 

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Chapter 21: The Little Giant takes his place

16th President of the United States Stephen Douglas
The four months between getting elected and his inauguration President-Elect Douglas began to build his cabinet. The top spot of Secretary of State was offered to James Buchanan but the old politician declined looking forward to retirement from politics. In his place Massachusetts lawyer and former ambassador Caleb Cushing took over the State Department. Treasury Department was given to former Speaker of the House Howell Cobb of Georgia. War Department went to former Virginia Governor John B. Floyd. Attorney General went to Pennsylvanian Jeremiah Black, Postmaster General went to New Yorker John A. Dix, Issac Toucey of Connecticut was made Secretary of the Navy , Interior Secretary went to Iowan Augustus Dodge.
Before the dust had settled Republican politicians in Pennsylvania claimed voter fraud and that the election was stolen leaving many Republican die hards angry and felt that the Democrats and their slaver masters had stolen the election. Fremont vowed that not another election would be stolen from the American people again.
On Inauguration Day March 4, 1857 Chief Justice Roger Taney issued the oath of office. In his inauguration speech Douglas committed himself to the Taylor Doctrine, vowed to sign a Nicaraguan Annexation Bill, and commented on the division over the issue of slavery confronted the nation.
The Taylor Doctrine was put to the test when Oregon asked for admittance into the Union in the first months of 1857. With Senator Davis taking the lead the Oregon-Cuban Act was passed admitting the States of Oregon as a free state, the state Cuba as a slave state.
In regards to Nicaragua Douglas sent US Army troops under Brigadier General Albert S. Johnston, and offered to negotiate an end to fighting in the Central America. With the threat of US intervention the alliance of Central American nations came to the negotiating table. The resulting Treaty of Washington 1857 saw an end to what many called the Filibuster War, and acknowledged the US annexation of Nicaragua which had passed the US Senate and just awaited President Douglas’s signature. In return Nicaragua and the Filibuster army withdrew from Costa Rica. With Nicaragua finally brought into the Union it was agreed that the new territory couldn’t immediately apply for statehood, and would have to be Americanized. A strong military presence maintained to help stabilize the region, and disarm all abolitionist guerrillas.
In early 1858 a financial panic gripped parts of the country. Overnight 1400 banks closed and folded and some three thousand business foreclosed. The southern part of the United States escaped unscathed while unemployment skyrocketed in the north. By 1859 the economy turned itself around, but this only helped fueled an already sectional divide that was gripping the nation.
In regards to foreign policy an arrangement was reached with Great Britain for the transfer of the Mosquito Coast in return for favored status for transit “ through” Nicaragua. This hoped to lay the groundwork for a future Nicaraguan Canal through Central America. With issues in Europe heating up Great Britain was happy to give responsibility of Central America to the a United States.
One man who would dominate the next last fourteen months and would be closely associated with death and disunion....John Brown.

 

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Chapter 22: John Brown part 3
Following the annexation of Nicaragua the abolitionist returned to Boston, and was greeted as heroes. When federal marshals tried to arrest them for violation of the Neutrality Act a mob nearly tore the officers to pieces. Brown and his followers now grown to nearly 200 armed men went to New York at the behest of a powerful benefactor Garret Smith.
Smith was part of the powerful Secret Six, a secret society of wealthy abolitionist who believed that open ware fare was the only way to ride the country of the evil of slavery. The other five members were George Luther Stearns , Thomas Wentworth Higgins, Samuel Gridley Howe, Franklin Benjamin Sanborn, Theodore Parker.

George Luther Stearns

Franklin Benjamin Sanford

Gerrit Smith

Theodore Parker

Samuel Gridley Howe

Thomas Wentworth Higgins


In early 1859 John Brown proposed to the Secret Six his plan to raid Harper’s Ferry, and with the captured weapons lead a slave revolt through the south. Money was distributed to Brown, and told to keep information about his mission secret. In late August 1859 Brown met up with Harriet Tubman, and about 20 former slaves that had been freed from the area, outside of Hagerstown, Maryland. Here Brown awaited the arrival of his 200 strong army of volunteers.
On October 17, 1859 John Brown with a force of 225 volunteer swept down on the sleepy federal armory. Within hours Brown had captured over 10,000 rifles and a dozen hostages that included Lewis Washington, the great-grandnephew of George Washington.
Just as soon as the arsenal was occupied was word broke out of what was happening. Local townsmen soon gathered and began to harass Brown and his men. In Washington President Douglas instructed Lt. Gen. David Twiggsto gather what forces available, and put down the rebellion. Secretary of War Floyd sent telegrams to the governors of Virginia and Maryland to call out the militia.
Scott sent for Lt. Col Robert E. Lee who was in Washington, and directed Lee to take a mock force of marines, sailors, and artillery men stationed in the capital and squash the rebellion.

 

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Chapter 23: Robert E. Lee
Lt. Col. Robert E. Lee was the son of Revolutionary War hero “Light Horse” Harry Lee. After the death of his father the family was destitute due to his father’ s failed financial investments Lee, with the help of one of his uncles was admitted to West Point Military Academy. He would graduate to n 1829 second in his class of 45 graduates. Following his graduation As customary with his placement Lee went into the Engineers. Lee later married Mary Custis great grand daughter to Martha Washington.
Lee would serve with distinction during the Mexican-American War serving under Winfield Scott. After the war Lee served as the Superintendent of West Point. There his eldest daughter Agnes fell in love with another instructor of the facilities Captain George H. Thomas of Virginia, and they married in the Spring of 1853.
On the night of Brown’s seizure of Harpers Ferry Lee and Thomas were at the family mansion of Arlington outside of Washington D.C. President Douglas tasked Lee with putting down the rebellion. Lee gathered his small force of barely 150 soldiers, marines, and sailors and header toward Harper’s Ferry and Brown army.
Brown was well informed as he had scouts and spies to relay him information. With US forces gathering faster than he anticipated Brown decided to abandon his position. It was decided that Brown would leave a message when the captives were hanged and signs placed around their necks saying “For the Crime of Slavery”. Dividing his force in half “ General” Tubman, as Brown addressed her gave her the mission of delaying the army as the rest of his force moved westward. Tubman with 25 freedmen & runaway slaves held up in the armory as Virginia militia surrounded the building. When Lee arrived with his regulars an offer of surrender was sent to the blockhouse, but Tubman refused. Keeping a constant fire on the defenders a dozen of marines led by Captain Thomas rushed the blockhouse. Using a battering ram the doors were forced open where fierce hand to hand combat ensued. After about 10 minutes Tubman, who was wounded, and six of her “freedom” fighters were subdued.
Tubman and her lot were given over to the Virginia militia while Lee went after Brown. Crossing into the mountains of Western Virginia Lee came across burnt out houses, and hanged corpses. Brown’s renegades killed without remorse or distinction, and the men following them were very quickly filled with hatred toward their foes.
It was at the Ohio border where things escalated when Ohio militia allowed Brown and his men to escape, but hindered the US and Virginia militia from stepping onto Ohio soil on orders from Governor Salmon P. Chase. Lee became enraged with “those people”, and messaged General Twiggs for orders. After two days Lee was allowed to pursue, Brown’s forces had escaped. Rumors swirled that he had escaped into Canada, but even $500,000 reward wasn’t enough to bring Brown or his followers to justice.

 

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Chapter 24: The South Responds
The after shock of Brown’s Raid was felt almost immediately. The state of Virginia put Harriet Tubman and about a dozen other participants of the raid on trial for murder and inciting a slave revolt. All were found guilty and sentenced to hang. Virginian Governor Henry A. Wise invited dignitaries from throughout the South to attend the hanging.

Gallows in Charles Town, Virginia where Tubman and others met their end.
Southerners Governors; especially Virginia, Kentucky, and Maryland became fearful of what Ohio’s Abolitionist Governor would do next. Brown and his men were still at large, and was literally a bogey man for the South. Weeks after the Harper Ferry Raid in Maryland Brown’s cabin was seized and inside found papers that connected the Secret Six to the raid. Governor Chase was rumored to have been bought off to help Brown escape, but no evidence was ever recovered to prove it just his actions.
Armed militia units were raised throughout the South. In Virginia Governor Wise appointed recently returned to the United States Albrect von Roon Adjuntant General of the Army of Virginia. Von Roon worked with Virginia Legislature spearheaded by the head of the Legislature Military Committee James Kemper to establish the infrastructure to prepare for the coming conflict.
Small well armed companies were formed under soon to be famous officers like: Turner Ashby, William E. Jones, John D. Imboden, & George S. Patton Sr.
General von Roon began a program of updating Virginia’s militia arsenal to the Dreyse needle gun, which proved so effective in Nicaragua. Soon other southern states were following Virginia’s lead. By early January 1860 a convention was call for and hosted in Richmond. Representatives from all the slave states and territories arrived in Richmond and began to discuss amongst themselves how to deal with the growing abolitionist threats. Seeing the federal government ineptitude to handle the situation many felt it was up to the states themselves to protect themselves.
Douglas and his cabinet were soon at odds with each other. Southern members blamed northerners for inactivity. Calls for the arrest of Governor Chase were being discussed within the cabinet for defying the federal government.

 

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Chapter 25: Douglas goes to Charleston
The time following John Brown’s Raid was chaotic for Democratic Party Leaders. Southern Fire-Eaters called for open secession if the federal government couldn’t keep abolitionist instigators from murdering southern citizens then a new type of government was needed. Leaders of the Fire-Eaters William L. Yancey of Alabama, Roger Pryor of Virginia, and Robert Barnwell Rhett of South Carolina planned to push for a Southern on the top of the ticket.
By 1860 no Democratic President since Andrew Jackson had been renominated for the Presidency, and many believed that should be continued. Once President Stephen Douglas acknowledge his intent to run for Re-election many northern and southern candidates took to the field. Many critics of the president claimed he was trying to secure the nomination by admitting the states of Minnesota and Rio Grande in early March.
By the time Douglas and his supporters arrived in Charleston there were three camps arrayed against him: the Fire-Eaters had no major leader, but wanted a pro-southerner at the top of the ticker, former Vice- President Daniel Dickinson of New York had the backing of the strong power base of New York under Tammany Hall under William Tweed, then there was the so called “backer of presidents” Francis Blair Sr who had support throughout the border states (Maryland, Delaware, Virginia, Kentucky, and Tennessee) had become alarmed after John Brown’s Raid and feared for the nation.
On the first day of the convention Yancey and the Fire-Eaters tried to break the alliance between the Illinois and Kentucky delegations by nominating Vice President Breckinridge for the Presidency. Almost immediately Breckinridge as head of the Kentucky delegation gave a speech in support of President Douglas and stated he would not accept any nomination for the Presidency, and served at the wished of President Douglas.
Many southern delegates seeing that Douglas had the backing of Kentucky and his VP began to switch or abandoned their favorite son’s of their states. Seeing this Frank Blair Sr lent his support to Douglas. Not wanting to disrupt any hope of patronage from a sitting president Boss Tweed dumped Dickinson and threw his support to Douglas.
By the third ballot Stephen Douglas had secured the nomination. When it came to nominating a Vice President the Fire-Eaters turned their wrath toward Breckinridge and tried to force him off the ticket, This time the President didn’t return the favor to his Vice President and instead allowed Georgian Hershel V. Johnson to be nominated. This act of betrayal wouldn’t be lost on Kentuckians and many moderate southerners.

 

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Chapter 26: Republicans gather in Chicago
The Republican Party Convention convened on June 4, 1860 in Chicago, Illinois. This would be an even bigger event as the Republican and the Know Nothings had decided to join forces and hold a joint convention for president. A host of potential candidates soon entered the field: the 1856 candidate John C. Frémont of North California, the 1856 Vice-President Candidate David Wilmont, New York Senator William Seward, Ohio Governor Salmon P. Chase, Pennsylvania Senator Simon Cameron, Representative from Vermont Jacob Collamer, Speaker of the House Nathaniel P. Banks of Massachusetts, and Associate Justice of the Supreme Court John McLean.
In the beginning Seward and Chase were in essence tied for the top spot. It soon came down to whittle down the favorite son candidate of states, and wheeling and dealing to gain the upper hand. The Secret Six proclaimed their support for Chase fueling speculation from many the John Brown was backing Chase. After two days of balloting it was the head of the Illinois delegation Abraham Lincoln that put The nail in Seward’s defeat. Remembering being rebuked by the New York Senator years before Lincoln relished in serving to him a gigantic political defeat.
To help heal the wound of the party Chase asked long time friend of Seward’s Massachusetts Senator Charles Sumner, the hero of the Caning by Preston Brooks years before.

The 1860 Republican Ticker of Chase & Sumner

 

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Chapter 27: A crowded field
Following the Democrats and Republican nominations a group of former Whigs that didn’t fit into either major party decided there was a need for a third choice for the electorate. These men called themselves Constitutional Unionist Party and gathered in Baltimore, Maryland. These politicians hoped to throw the election into the House of Representatives by denying both parties the necessary electoral college victory.
Politicians past their prime gathered in the hope of using their name recognition to win enough votes to deny both Douglas and Chase their chances in the White House.
These aged men put forth former Whig nominee and former Mexican-American hero Winfield Scott, Kentucky Senator John Crittenden, Tennessee Senator John Bell, former Massachusetts Senator Edward Everett, and former Speaker of the House Robert C. Winthrop of Massachusetts. Balloting after the first round saw Winfield Scott take the lead. Many leaders felt that a war hero could secure enough votes for a victory so on the second ballot Scott secured the nomination. Even though Scott was a southern by birth but his views on slavery were that of a free-soiler. Believing that slavery should be slowly faded out and that the southwest United States wasn’t made for slavery. The leaders of the Constitution Union decided that a southern would be needed on the ballot. Former Senator from North Carolina William Graham was chosen to even out the ticket.

When the people of the United States went to the ballot on November 6, 1860 it was a complete route. The Republicans captured the elector rich states of New York and Pennsylvania securing the election. Douglas and the Democrats secured the slave states plus the candidate’s home state of Illinois and Oregon. Scott claimed New Jersey and Kentucky and in essence took votes from Douglas instead of from Chase. Charges of election fraud in major cities were thrown around by both parties, but no one could counter that the Republicans had won the White House.

 

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Chapter 28: Who is Salmon P. Chase
Salmon Chase was born of New England stock in New Hampshire in 1808 one of nine siblings. After his father died when he was nine years old Chase was sent to Ohio to live with his uncle who was a Episcopal Bishop. Graduated with distinction from Dartmouth College in 1826 Chase moved to Washington DC to study law under US Attorney General William Witt. By 1830 Chase had returned to Ohio and practice law in Cincinnati. From his early beginnings of practicing the law Chase took up the banner of Abolitionist cause. Defending those who escaped slavery against those that tried to impose slavery’s yoke onto others. For his efforts Chase was dubbed “the Attorney General for Fugitive Slaves”.
Chase joined the Liberty party of Ohio and soon there after became the leader in that state. By 1848 Chase had combined the Liberty Party with other like minded followers of former President Martin Van Buren and became Free Soil Democrats. In 1849 Chase was elected as a Free Soil Democrat Senator from Ohio. While in the Senate Chase championed anti-slavery legislation calling the Taylor Doctrine an evil that spawned from harlot called slavery. After 1854 Chase joined the Republican Party.
In 1855 Chase was elected Ohio’s first Republican Governor. During his tenor as Governor Chase made Ohio a destination for fugitive slaves making their way into Canada. It was believed that Chase was part of John Brown’s Raid, made many enemies for his part in allowing Brown’s escape including the President of the United States.

Picture of Salmon Chase as Governor of Ohio

 

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Chapter 29: Secession
Just as soon as the results of Chase’s victory did Southern leaders begin to plot. Governor Henry Wise of Virginia was the first to act. By getting a law passed that changed the state’s constitution to allow him to run for a second term; which he won hands down since no opposition challenged him. The state militia was placed on ready alert, and General von Roon sent coded messages to his most trusted officers.
By December 1st Governor Wise called for a special convention to meet on December 26, 1860 to decide the question of secession. This threw the states of the Deep South into action as well. South Carolina called for a Secession Convention as well to meet in conjunction with Virginia. What many didn’t know was that Virginia and South Carolina we’re working together, and that Virginia was given the honor of deciding first. On December 28, 1860 Virginia voted to secede from the Union. As the results were being sent to the rest of the country militia units under Captains Turner Ashby and George Patton occupied Harper’s Ferry Arsenal, and another group under Captain William Jones captured the Gosport Naval Yard in Norfolk, Virginia.
Across the state of Virginia the bloodless coup occupied federal property throughout the state, and where the Stars and Stripes once flew in its place flew the flag of the Commonwealth of Virginia. The next day South Carolina voted in favor of secession, and joined their sister state now turned republics.
Over the next month the following states seceded: Alabama January 2nd, Mississippi & Florida January 8th, Georgia January 10th, Cuba January 16th, Louisiana January 20th, Texas February 1st, North Carolina February 4th, Rio Grande February 5th.
On February 6, 1861 the states that had seceded met in Richmond, Virginia to help form a provisional government until the people could vote on it at a later date. The men that gathered in Richmond were impressed with the work that they saw in Virginia. Outside of the city cadets from the Virginia Military Institution drilled recruits in the annuals of warfare. Industry like the Tredgar Iron Works began to turn out war materials. With the basics of government copied from the US Constitution with some notable changes in slavery’s favor the decision on who would lead the new nation. When the delegates gathered notable men were nominated for the Presidency: former Secretary of the Treasury from Georgia Howell Cobb, Senator from Georgia Robert Toombs, Mississippi Senator Jefferson Davis, Senator from Virginia R.M.T Hunter, and leader of the Knights of the Golden Circle John A. Quitman.
Quitman who had been training his personal army in Nicaragua for the last year offered some 6,000 trained veterans that have been fighting abolitionist renegades in the jungles of Central America.
Almost immediately Davis let it be known that he wanted to serve in the battlefield and not the halls of government. Impressed with Quitman’s pitch many delegates joined his camp. A last minute push by Hunter’s camp to nominate Virginia Governor Henry Wise failed. This finally led to John A. Quitman being nominated as Provincial President of the Confederate States. To fill the spot of Vice President the delegates turned to Howell Cobb, but he refused. Eventually Robert Toombs of Georgia was selected as Vice President of the Confederate States.

Provisional President of the Confederate States John A. Quitman

Provisional Vice President of the Confederate States Robert Toombs

 

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Chapter 30: Building a Government
On February 8, 1861 John A. Quitman was sworn in as the Provisional President of the Confederate States of America. Immediately Quitman went to work building his cabinet. He selected the Adjutant General of Virginia Albrecht von Roon as his Secretary of War, former Floridian Senator Stephen Mallory as Secretary of the Navy, Louisiana delegate to the convention and former US Representative Otto von Bismarck as Secretary of State, South Carolinian Christopher Menninger as Treasury Secretary, Thomas Bragg of North Carolina as Attorney General, and John Reagan of Texas as Postmaster General. Each man chosen was given a Herculean effort in front of them, and that was building a national infrastructure in what would soon be a war time atmosphere.
State
Secretary Bismarck went to work immediately by convincing President Quitman to set up the Office of Secret Service. This department under the umbrella of the State Department would be responsible for sending out diplomats & lobbyists to help convince European governments to aid the Confederacy, helping secessionist movements in other states and territories, gather information by usage of spy rings throughout the northern states, aid guerrilla activities, and spread pamphlets & giving speeches to influence northern political opinion. The motto “Let Us Go” or “Let Them Go” became a popular theme used by Agents.
To lead the Secret Service Quitman took counsel from Bismarck and named Judah Benjamin Director of the department. Fearful of being isolated within the Confederacy Bismarck dispatched diplomats to the courts of Europe. James Chestnut (Spain), Roger A. Pryor (England), and William C. Rives (France) were dispatched days after the Government was formed. Their missions were to purchase much needed war material, and influence popular opinion against the United States.
To assist the diplomats Secretaries Mallory and von Roon sent purchasing agents along to Europe. To deal with their respected areas each man tackled in their own way.
Navy
At the Naval Department Mallory began to organize his department, and began to prioritize the needs of the nation. The defense of the Mississippi River became paramount; along with coastal ports. A way to defeat any potential Union blockade would be necessary, attack northern commerce around the globe.
Luckily for Mallory and the nation the state of Virginia turned over the Gosport Naval Yard to the Confederate States Navy. A treasure trove of 1200 cannons, including 50 new Dahlgren guns, tons of ammunition, large dry dock, rope walks, foundry, machine shops, boiler shops, and covered ways. Plus four outdated and dilapidated ships in need of repairs.
Next Mallory had to procure funds from Congress. After a lengthy speech historians remember this one phrase “no nation that has ever had to build a navy for defense, had done it cheaply. We may well mortgage our future for a generation, but I promise you we will have a future to mortgage.”
Even though combined with the Army Appropriation Bill the national debt created would take a lifetime to overcome. With funds in hand Mallory began to duplicate what was needed from designs from Norfolk all over the south. Cities like Tuscaloosa (Alabama), Augusta (Georgia), and Vicksburg (Mississippi) began to lay the ground work of building a modern navy for the CSA
War
Albrecht von Roon was a professional soldier, and had survived the Revolution of 1848 by coming to America. He was determined to not let what had happened to his homeland now happen to his new home. The first couple of days after assuming his office saw the arrival of Helmuth von Moltke as the head delegate from the Territory of Nicaragua that sought acceptance into the CSA. Moltke soon became a vital member of von Room’s staff in building the War department. The War Department soon took form with the role of Adjutant and Inspector General going to Samuel Cooper, Quartermaster General went to Colonel Abraham C. Myers, Commissary-General of Substance went to Brigadier General William Wallace Smith Bliss, Surgeon General went to Colonel Samuel Moore, Chief of Ordnance attached to the Quartermaster would go to Colonel Josiah Gorgias, Chief of Torpedoes a position that was brought forward and a technical advance that was spearheaded during the Seminole Wars now took center stage would be assigned to Colonel Gabriel Rains it’s original inventor. With the help of Secretary Bismarck the Department of Railroads were created (the Militarized Railroad Act allowed the President to conscript the railroads during times of war or national emergency) would soon be headed by Brigadier Isaac Trimble.
Treasury
To help finance all the government new taxes were levied that allowed for the taxes to be paid in agricultural products. Cotton, sugar and tobacco would be used to help finance the war. A 10% tax was levied on slaves, much to the dismay of large plantation owners. With word coming from up north that soon to be inaugurated President Chase would send troops to bring the south back forcibly, and extinguish slavery once and for all the plantation owners soon ceased their opposition to these bills.

 

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Chapter 31: Drumbeats toward War
Following his defeat in the 1860 election President Douglas tried to mediate a return of the secessionist states. As the governor of Ohio and the President-Elect Salmon P. Chase refused to offer an olive branch to the South. He now had a platform to chastise the secession states infuriating southerners. Governor Chase called up some five thousand militiamen after the secession of Virginia. On New Years Eve in a speech given in Cleveland, Ohio Chase broke with the President when he promised to push for admittance of states as soon as they were ready. Hinting to admitting both Kansas and Nebraska without southern counters. This soon enraged fence sitting southerners as they saw the Taylor Doctrine as a reasonable way to admit states to the Union.
With Virginia right on the border of the District of Columbia many in what was left of the nation’s capital feared for its safety. With the leaving daily of politicians from Washington as well as the president’s own cabinet the government ground to a halt. Senators Andrew Johnson of Tennessee and John Crittenden of Kentucky called upon Republicans and Democrats to negotiate before things got out of hand. Moderates from both sides of the Mason-Dixon Line gathered in Washington, but Republicans looking to take three out of the four branches of government with Southern Senators resigning and heading home leaving them in control of Congress felt as the need to negotiate was over.
As federal property was being occupied throughout the south, Soon to be President Chase began to lay out his plan to combat the secession. He promised to cleanse the federal government of southern sympathizers, evict slavery out of the nations capital, and push for the removal of inter-state trade of slavery.
After both houses of a Congress certified the election of Chase as President the President-Elect headed toward Philadelphia where abolitionist forces under John Brown and Jim Lane were gathering to protect Chase from rumors of southern assassins waiting to kill him.
On March 4, 1861 Salmon P. Chase was inaugurated as the 17th President of the United States in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania by Associate Justice John McLean, after Chief Justice Taney refused to make the trip to Philadelphia. The next day Chase and members of his cabinet along with militia units from Ohio and Pennsylvania joined with John Brown as they moved toward Washington D.C.

 

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Chapter 31: Baltimore Riots
On March 6, 1861 elements of Chase’s caravan arrived in the city of Baltimore. Amongst the first to arrive is John Brown with a host of fully armed body guards. When word of Brown’s presence reached Police Chief George Kane he called out his force, and made a plea for local militia to assist in the apprehension of Brown (as he was still wanted by the federal government). Kane along with Mayor George Brown of Baltimore called upon the army commander at Fort McHenry Major Robert Anderson for assistance. Not aware of Chase’s presence Anderson gathered some 50 soldiers and joined the forces of Kane’s policemen and militia. Anderson, under a flag of truce, demands Brown surrender. Hearing his southern accent, and fearing a secessionist plot open fires. Yelling “for the republic!” Brown launches an assault without waiting for the 1st Ohio under Colonel Edward McCook. The fighting is street to street, and house to house. The battle is a mess and confusion controls the day. Major Anderson is wounded, but refuses to relinquish the field.
After a day of terrible fighting the train station is occupied, and the President who now trusts Brown with his life continues onto Washington D.C. Colonel McCook, an ex-regular army office tries to negotiate with Anderson, but the defenders of Baltimore refuse to answer the call for parley as they feared what Brown would do. It’s not until the next day that McCook along with Governor Thomas H. Hicks try to bring order to the ordeal. Anderson’ s arrest is ordered by President Chase along with the garrison of Fort McHenry enraged the local populace. They see Anderson and the men as saviors of the city. McCook is forced to tread carefully as the local militia gather around him even the once pro-unionist governor of Maryland sees the destruction caused by Brown/Chase, and demand that the Ohio militia leave the area. McCook agreed to leave and marches toward the capital.
The results of the Baltimore Riots, as described in the north or the First Battle of Baltimore as described in the south set off a chain reaction throughout the nation. Governor Hicks called upon the state’s legislature to call for articles of secession, and sent pleas of help to Richmond, and other states. Before the end of the month Maryland would join the CSA , a new front in the war of secession would begin.
Major Anderson while vilified in the north as a traitor would be seen as a hero throughout the south decided to walk away from the United States Army as he was already an enemy of the President. Anderson accepted a commission as a a Major General of Maryland Militia. Plans were now being formed in both Washington and Richmond on what to do next.

Major General Robert Anderson of the Maryland forces CSA

 

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Chapter 32: Defense of Washington
When President Chase arrived in Washington D.C. on March 8, 1861 he found only Acting General of the Army Major General John E. Wool waiting at the train station. Since the former General of the Army David Twiggs resigned and offered his services to the Confederacy the top spot in the army was vacant, and with southern born officers resigning in droves the military was lacking in regular officers at the moment.
Chase accepted Wool’s counsel and began to get to work. Chase’s first act upon arriving in Washington was to give a full pardon to Brown and his followers. There would be no question on how the new president planned to handle the south.
After meeting with Wool and his advisors Chase called for 100,000 volunteers to help suppress the rebellion. The new Republican controlled Congress was more than happily to oblige. Congress also passed Army Loyalty Act aimed at routing out disloyal southern officers in the US Army. This soon forced hundreds of loyal and moderate officers to be forced out of the military, and eventually into the service of the CSA. Bills were passed to finance the war, and the Manumission Act of 1861 saw the freeing of all slaves within the United States. Southerns were now furious and knew there was no turning back.
With the call for troops to put down the rebellion and the over reaching of the federal government other southern states began to secede: Arkansas March 21st, Rio Grande March 25th, Tennessee April 1st, Missouri April 10th, South California April 15th, and Delaware plus Kentucky would call for a referendum on secession. The territories of Sonora, Chihuahua, Coahuila and Yucatán would follow their southern neighbors and eventually go with secession.
As many would call the President’s plan to subdue the south crazy and far fetched members of his inner circle saw his vision and began to lay the ground work for the coming war.
On April 1, 1861 President Chase declared the southern United States in rebellion and a state of war existed. The next day Confederate forces launched attacks upon Union held outposts and fortifications at Fort Pickens, FL and Fort Summer, SC. Summer would fall after four hours of bombardment while Pickens would remain a thorn in the Confederate side for the remainder of the war.

 

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Chapter 33: Army of Eastern Maryland
On April 3, 1861 Brigadier General Pierre Gustave Toutant Beauregard arrived in Annapolis, Maryland via courtesy of the CSN along with two brigades of infantry to assist and defend the population of Maryland as state had finally agreed to secession.
Beauregard along Maryland’s top officer Major General Robert Anderson, Beauregard’s former professor at West Point, began the task of building fortifications in the hope of preserving the state of Maryland or buying time for more reinforcements to arrive. With the addition of Maryland into the Confederacy all of Maryland’s militia was transferred into Confederate service.
Beauregard’s mission soon doubled once Union forces invaded the state of Delaware on April 15th forcing that state to vote for secession, and bringing the Delaware’s militia under the command of Major General Henry du Pont under Beauregard jurisdiction. By early May Beauregard was promoted to the new rank of General. This was to supersede any militia ranks.

Henry du Pont commander of the Delaware militia

General Beauregard first commander of the Army of Eastern Maryland (AEM).


The first major battle of the Eastern Theatre was at Greenville, Delaware where elements of Brigadier Daniel Tyler Army of the Atlantic met elements of the AEM. Du Pont fighting a defensive battle was able to hold off until reinforcements arrived under Beauregard, and the 1st Delaware Cavalry under Colonel Thomas Bayard was able to lead a charge upon the demoralized union soldiers causing panic in the ranks. Overnight the small state of Delaware had produced heroes for the Confederacy,

Thomas Bayard

With the first drive into Chesapeake Area by the Union a failure President Chase tasked Major General Irving McDowell with invading the area, opening up Washington to the rails through Baltimore, and remove permanently the thorn of the AEM.