398

ADVANTAGES GAINED BY THE INSURGENTS.

destroyed, estimated at seven millions of dollars, was the least of the loss to the one and the gain to the other. It also swelled amazingly the balance of advantages for the insurgents, who were quick to discern and to be encouraged by it. And it was made the topic of special discourses from the pulpit, from which disloyal ministers were continually giving words of encouragement to the conspirators.'

Only a portion of the vessels at the Gosport station were absolutely destroyed. The New York, on the stocks in one of the ship-houses, was totally consumed. The Pennsylvania, Dolphin, and Columbia had nothing saved but the lower bottom timbers; the Raritan was burnt to the water's edge; the Merrimack was burnt to her copper-line and sunk; the Germantown was also burnt and sunk; while the useless old United States, in which Decatur won glory, was not injured; and the Plymouth was not burned, but scuttled and sunk. The same fate overtook the Columbus and Delaware. The Plymouth was afterward raised; so was the Merrimack, and converted into a powerful iron-clad vessel of war.

The insurgents seized old Fort Norfolk, situated a short distance below the city of Norfolk, on the 21st. It had been used as a magazine, and contained about three hundred thousand pounds of gunpowder and a large quantity of loaded shells and other missiles. On the same day, General Taliaferro issued an order prohibiting the Collector of the port of Norfolk from accepting drafts from the National Government, or allowing the removal of money or any thing else from the Custom House. At the same time troops were hastening to Norfolk from lower Virginia; and on the 22d, three companies of soldiers from Georgia arrived in the express train from Weldon, a portion of whom took post at the Marine Hospital on the Portsmouth side of the river. The hull of the old ship United States was towed down the river, and moored and sunk in the channel, a mile below Fort Norfolk; and a battery of heavy guns was immediately erected at Sewell's Point, and another on Craney Island, to command the entrance to the Elizabeth River and the harbor of Norfolk. The insurgents had now secured a most important military position, as well as valuable materials

camps in the several States, of heavy pieces of ordnance, with their equipments and fixed ammunition, fully attest the fact."-Report in the Richmond Enquirer, February 4, 1862.

1 On the 13th of June, 1861, a fast-day proclaimed by Jefferson Davis, Dr. Elliott, Bishop of the Protestant Episcopal Church in Georgia, preached a sermon on "God's Presence with the Confederate States," in which he gave, as instances of that manifest presence, the ease with which Twiggs, the traitor, accomplished the destruction of the National Army in Texas; the downfall of Fort Sumter; the easy manner in which the "Confederates" had been enabled to plunder the arsenals and seize the forts, mints, and custom houses of the United States, in the absence of competent force to protect them, and the advantages gained through this most dishonorable act of treachery at the Gosport Navy Yard. In all these iniquities the venerable prelate saw "God's Presence with the Confederate States," and spoke of the failure of a handful of men against multitudes, and of human wisdom against the diabolical plottings of perjured men, as the result of fear. "Fear seemed to fall upon our enemies-unaccountable fear," he said. Then, looking down from that lofty Presence" to temporal things, the prelate said, referring to the Gosport affair, "Nowhere could this panic have occurred more seasonably for us, because it gave us just what we most needed, arms, and ammunition, and heavy ordnance in great abundance. All this is unaccountable upon any ordinary grounds." He likened the action of the Government servants, who hastily fired and abandoned the Navy Yard and vessels, to the panic of the Syrians on one occasion, when the Lord, in order to deliver Israel, made them hear a noise like that of a mighty host coming upon them:-" Wherefore they arose and fled in the twilight, and left their tents, and their horses, and their asses, even the camp as it was, and fled for their life." The preacher did not heed the wise injunction of the king of Israel (1 Kings, xx. 11):-"Let not him that girdeth on his harness boast himself as he that putteth it off."

2 Report of the Select Committee of the United States Senate for investigating the facts in relation to the loss of the Navy Yard, et cætera, submitted by Senator Hale, of New Hampshire, April 18, 1862.

FALSE PRETENSES OF THE CONSPIRATORS.

399

of war; and they held that post, to the great hurt of the National cause, until early in May the following year, when they fled at the approach of troops under Major-General John E. Wool.

By obtaining possession of Harper's Ferry and the Gosport Navy Yard, the most important preliminary movements for the seizure of Washington City were successfully accomplished within a week. after the evacuation of Sumter. The practical annexation of a greater part of Virginia to the "Southern Confederacy" within eight days after these movements, and the assembling of troops upon its soil from the more Southern States, gave increased value to those acquisitions. Fire had materially lessened their immediate value, yet they were vitally imIt now only remained for the portant. Marylanders to follow the bad example of the Virginians, to make the seizure of the National Capital an apparently easy achievement. 61 10

Let us consider the events at that Capital and its vicinity at this critical period in its history. edges Notwithstanding the protestations of the leading conspirators everywhere, before the attack on Fort Sumter, that they had no aggressive designs against the Republic; notwithstanding the Legislature of Virginia had, on the day when the Peace Convention assembled at Washington and the Convention of conspirators began at Montgomery, en- a February 4, deavored to lull the National Government into a sense of security most fatal to its life, by resolving that there were "no just grounds for believing that citizens of Virginia meditate an attack on or seizure of the Federal property, or invasion of the District of Columbia, and that all preparations to resist the same are unnecessary, so far as this State is concerned," it was too well known that leading and powerful politicians in Maryland and Virginia were secretly preparing to seize the Capital, when a proper opportunity should offer, to allow the Government to relax its vigilance or its preparations for the defense of its seat, for a moment. And yet, when the crisis came-when the secession of Virginia was proclaimed, and the movements against Harper's Ferry and Gosport were begun-the foes of the Union developed such amazing proportions, vitality, and strength, that the Government was in imminent peril. The public offices were swarming with disloyal men, and the Capital held thou

400

THE PUBLIC DANGER UNDERSTOOD.

sands of malignant secessionists of both sexes, secret and open.' Secession flags flaunted defiantly from many a window, and secession badges were sold openly at the doors of the Avenue hotels. It was evident to the least observant that the disloyal elements of society there were buoyant with pleasant anticipations. Information had reached the Government that the Minutemen of Virginia and Maryland, and their sympathizers in the District of Columbia, were unusually active. The leading secessionists of the city of Baltimore, comprising the "State-Rights Association," were in conference. every evening; and Governor Hicks had been continually importuned to call an extraordinary session of the Legislature, that a secession convention might be authorized. Because he refused to do so, knowing how large a portion of its members were disloyal, he was abused without stint.

a April 15,

The Government was soon made painfully aware that the call for troops to put down the rising rebellion was not an hour too soon. There was a general impression in the Free-labor States that the Capital would be the first point of attack, and thither ward volunteers instantly began to march in large and hourly increasing numbers. Within three days after the President's call for troops went forth," probably not less than one hundred thousand young men were leaving their avocations to prepare for war. The movement was simultaneous in all the Free-labor States, and the armories of volunteer companies were everywhere thronged with enthusiastic men eager to fly to the protection of the President, his Cabinet, the archives, and the Capital.

1861.

The Governor of Massachusetts (Andrew) had been the first of the State Executives, as we have observed,' to prepare for war. On the 1st of January, Brigadier-General E. W. Peirce, of the Massachusetts militia, wrote

1 Taking advantage of the deference paid to their sex in this country, the women of Washington, Baltimore, and other cities within Slave-labor States yet controlled by National authority, who sympathized with the conspirators, were much more openly defiant of the Government, when the war commenced, than men. They not only worked secretly and efficiently in aid of the rebellion, and used the utmost freedom of speech, but they appeared in public places wearing conspicuously either a secession badge or the "stars and bars" of the "Southern Confederacy" in their costume. The sacque, then a fashionable outer garment, was sometimes made, as seen in the picture, so as to display the seven stars of the early "Confederate" flag on the bosom, and the red and white bars on the short skirt. These were flaunted in the streets: and women who wore them took every occasion to insult National soldiers, and show their hatred of the National flag. Finding at length that their conduct was more injurious to themselves than annoying to Union soldiers and Union citizens, the vulgar habit soon fell into disuetude, and sensible women who had practiced it became heartily ashamed of their folly.

2 See page 208.

MASSACHUSETTS TROOPS CALLED FOR.

401

to the Governor, tendering his services to the country; and on the 5th, Andrew sent agents to the Governors of the other New England States, to press upon them the importance of placing the militia of the respective Commonwealths in condition for a prompt movement in defense of the Capital. At the same time the volunteer companies of the State, five thousand strong, began drilling nightly at their armories. Early in February, as we have observed, the Governor sent a staff officer (Ritchie) to Washington, to consult with the General-in-Chief concerning the forwarding of troops to the Capital if they should be needed; and the Massachusetts Senators (Sumner and Wilson) urged the President to call for these well-drilled companies, should the Capital be in apparent danger.

That exigency occurred when Fort Sumter was attacked; and on the day when the President called for seventy-five thousand men, Senator Wilson telegraphed to Governor Andrew to dispatch twenty companies to Washington City immediately. A few hours later, the formal requisition of the Secretary of War arrived; and so promptly was the call from the Capital responded to by the Governor, that before sunset of the same day, orders were in the hands of Colonel Wardrop, of the Third Regiment, at New Bedford; of Colonel Packard, of the Fourth, at Quincy; of Colonel Jones, of the Sixth, at Lowell; and of Colonel Munroe, of the Eighth, at Lynn, to muster forthwith on Boston Common. As in 1775, so now, the first companies that appeared, in response to the call of authority for the protection of the liberties of the people, came from Marblehead. These appeared on the evening of the 15th, and early the following day the four regiments called for were on Boston Common, mustered in regular order, with banners flying and bayonets gleaming, and each company with full ranks. These companies had arrived by different railways. They had left their homes with the blessings of neighbors and friends, who assured them that their families should be taken care of during their absence, as adopted children. They were cheered on the way by the huzzas of the people in villages and at the waysides, and were welcomed in Boston with every demonstration of delight. The citizens of the New England metropolis had forgotten their usual avocations, and were intent only upon the business of saving the Republic. The old warspirit of Faneuil Hall-the "Cradle of Liberty"-was aroused; and all over Boston there were

"Banners blooming in the air,"

in attestation of the patriotism of the people.

On the 16th, Senator Wilson again telegraphed for a "brigade of four regiments." These were then in readiness on Boston Common; and on the morning of the 17th, the Governor commissioned Benjamin F. Butler, of Lowell (then a Brigadier-General of Militia), the commander of the brigade. Butler knew the chief conspirators well. He had passed evenings with Davis, Hunter, Mason, Slidell, Benjamin, and other traitors at Washington, three months before, and had become convinced of their determination to destroy the Republic, if possible. Impelled by this conviction, he had not ceased to counsel the authorities of his State to have the militia of the Com

1 See note 1, page 337.

VOL. I.-26

402

RESPONSE OF MASSACHUSETTS AND RHODE ISLAND.

monwealth prepared for war. He and Governor Andrew worked in unison to this end; and on the day before his appointment, he was instrumental in procuring from the Bank of Redemption, in Boston, a temporary loan to the Commonwealth, for the use of the troops, of the sum of fifty thousand dollars.

It was determined that the Sixth Regiment, Colonel Jones, which was a part of Butler's old brigade, should go forward at once to Washington, by way of New York, Philadelphia, and Baltimore. It consisted of eleven companies. To these were added the

companies of Captains Sampson and

Dike, making a corps of thirteen full med fabody bloody

companies. They were addressed by Governor Andrew and General Butler,

in the presence of a vast multitude of citizens, and, in the after

April 17, noon, departed for Wash1861. ington by railway. At

about the same time, Colonel Wardrop and his regiment embarked on a steamer for Fortress Monroe, in Virginia, then defended by only two companies of artillery, and in imminent peril of seizure by the insurgents of that State. These were followed by Colonel Packard and his regiment. The Eighth, under Colonel Munroe, accompanied by the General, departed for Washington on the evening train. Rhode Island and Connecticut, through which these troops passed,

BENJAMIN F. BUTLER.

were in a blaze of excitement. Governor Sprague, of the former State, had promptly tendered to the Government the services of a thousand infantry and a battalion of artillery, and called the Legislature together on the 17th. That body promptly provided for the State's quota, and appropriated five hundred thousand dollars for war purposes. The banks offered adequate loans to the State; and large sums were tendered by individuals. Within five days after the call for troops, the Rhode Island Marine Artillery, with eight guns and one hundred and ten horses, commanded by Colonel Tompkins, passed through New York on their way to Washington; and the First Regiment of Infantry, twelve hundred strong, under Colonel Burnside, was ready to move. It was composed of many of the wealthier citizens of the State, and was accompanied to Washington by Governor Sprague, as Commander-in-chief of the forces of Rhode Island.