XV. BUCHANAN'S ADMINISTRATION. JAMES BUCHANAN, of Pennsylvania, President: 1857-1861. 1861. President Buchanan's administration was marked by the culmination of the slavery controversy and the incipient stages of the Rebellion. It was during this administration that Chief Justice Taney delivered the famous "Dred Scott Decision," to the effect that negroes had "no rights that white men were bound to respect." 1857-8. A constitution for Kansas formed at 1857. Sepoy Re- Lecompton led to a new and bitter bellion in India. conflict in Congress, but the bill based 1803-1857. Doug thereupon was finally passed. This was las Ferrold. known as the Lecompton bill and was approved by the President as a peace measure, but was opposed by the Republicans and a considerable fraction of 1804-1857. Eu- the Democrats as being virtually in the gene Sue. interests of slavery. 1858. Minnesota admitted to the Union: 32d State. Telegraphic communication was temporarily established between America and England by means of the Atlantic cable. 1859. Franco- 1859. Oregon admitted to the Austrian War. Union: 33d State. 1859. John Brown and Harper's Ferry. In October, John Brown, who had already appeared in the course of the troubles in Kansas, seized the United States Arsenal at Harper's Ferry, as a first step in an attempt to arm and free the slaves. He had but a handful of men at his command, and was speedily overpowered. Half of his party were killed. Brown himself was tried by a Virginia Court and hanged for treason in December following. This event created an intense excitement throughout the country. At the South it was regarded as a sign of a Northern purpose to liberate the slaves. 1860. Lincoln's Election. The Presidential campaign of this year, which resulted in the election of Abraham Lincoln, was one of intense activity, 1861. Victor and precipitated the stirring events of Emanuel prothe Rebellion. Four sets of candidates claimed King of Italy. Italy recwere in the field, for whom the popular ognized by Engvote was as follows: land and France. Lincoln and Hamlin, (Rep.). Douglas and Johnson, (Dem.) Breckenridge and Lane, (Pro-Slav. Dem.) 1,857,610. 1,365,976. 847,952. 590,631. 1860. Secession. Upon the election of Mr. Lincoln the Southern States at once proceeded to carry out their threats of secession. South Carolina took the lead, passing the ordinance of secession in December. This action was rapidly followed in turn by Mississippi, Florida, Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, and Texas. 1860. Population of the United States 31,400,000. VIII. PERIOD OF THE REBELLION. 1861-1865. 1861. The Beginning of the War. The secession of the Southern States was followed by a seizure on their part of forts, arsenals, and other United States property within their reach, together with large quantities of arms, ammunition, and other military stores, much of which had previously been removed from the North. January 29. Kansas admitted to the Union under the Wyandotte (anti-slavery) constitution : 34th State. February 4. Organization of the Southern Confederacy. Delegates from the seceding States met in convention at Montgomery, Ala., and formed a provisional government under the style of Confederate States of America. Jefferson Davis, of Mississippi, Secretary of War under President Pierce, was afterward chosen President, and Alexander H. Stephens, of Georgia, Vice-President. February 23. Abraham Lincoln, President-elect of the United States, reached Washington from the West in safety, notwithstanding fears of a plot to assassinate him while passing through Baltimore. XVI. LINCOLN'S ADMINISTRATION. ABRAHAM LINCOLN, of Illinois, President: 1861 - April 15, 1865. HANNIBAL HAMLIN, of Maine, Vice-President: 1861 - March 4, 1865. ANDREW JOHNSON, of Tennessee, Vice-President: March 4, 1865 - April 15, 1865. Lincoln's administration was devoted wholly to the putting down of the Rebellion, and will be for ever memorable as having, in connection with that stupendous work, effected the abolition of American slavery. March 13. Overtures for peaceful Separation. Commissioners Forsyth and Crawford, on the part of the government of the seceding States, attempted to open negotiations with the United States government looking to a peaceful adjustment of questions growing out of the proposed separation; but the Secretary of State, Mr. Seward, by direction of the President, declined to entertain any such proposition from such a source. April 12th. Fort Sumter. General Beauregard, commanding Confederate troops, opened fire on Fort Sumter, in Charleston harbor, garrisoned by Major Anderson, U. S. A., with a small force. The bombardment lasted two days, and ended in the surrender of the fort. This commencement of actual hostilities aroused the entire North and united almost all hearts in the determination to protect the integrity of the Union. April 15th. President Lincoln issued his first proclamation, calling for 75,000 militia for a three months' service. Such was the estimate of the strength of the Rebellion, and of the time that would be required to quell it. April 19th. The Sixth Massachusetts Regiment, passing through Baltimore on its way to Washington, was attacked by a mob in the streets. Three soldiers were killed, and the shots fired in return killed one and wounded several of the assailants. This, it is to be noted, was the anniversary of the battle of Lexington and Concord. May 3d. The President called for 42,000 three years' volunteers.- May 4th. General George B. McClellan took command of the Department of the Ohio. — May 18th. General Benjamin F. Butler took command of the Department of Virginia, with headquarters at Fortress Monroe. May 27th. The passage of United States troops across the Potomac to take possession of the territory on its south side, was marked by the shooting of Colonel Ellsworth, commander of one of the regiments, in one of the hotels of Alexandria, which he had entered to pull down a rebel flag. -June 10th. Battle of Big Bethel. - July 4th. Congress assembled in extra session at the call of the President, and voted ample supplies for the work of suppressing the Rebellion. July 21st. Battle of Bull Run. General McDowell, commanding a Union force of less than 30,000 men, encountered a slightly smaller Confederate force, under Generals Beauregard and Johnston, on the banks of a small stream in N. E. Virginia, about twenty-five miles from Washington. The result of the battle which ensued was a defeat of the Union army, which, panic-stricken, fled in confusion back towards Washington. This was the first serious engagement of the war, and its effect was as disheartening to the North as it was stimulating to the South. October 21st. Battle of Ball's Bluff. October 31st. General Scott was relieved from command of the Union army, and succeeded by General McClellan, who had somewhat distinguished himself in a short campaign in Western Virginia. - November 8th. Mason and Slidell, commissioners of the Confederate States to foreign powers, were taken from the British steamer Trent, by the United States steamer San Jacinto, Captain Wilkes ; an act which was quickly resented by England, and manfully repudiated by our own government. 1862. Jan. II. Edwin M. Stanton superseded Simon Cameron as Secretary of War. - Feb. 6. Fort Henry, on the Tennessee River, surrendered to Commodore Foote, U. S. N.-Feb. 8. General Burnside, commanding a Union expedition, captured Roanoke Island. - Feb. 16. Fort Donelson followed Fort Henry, General Grant demanding its "unconditional surrender." — March 9. The unique and since famous naval battle between the Merrimac and the Monitor was fought in Hampton Roads. General McClellan took command of the Army of the Potomac.- March 14. General Burnside captured Newbern, North Carolina. — April 6. Battle of 1862. Arrival of - March 11. |