Benson J. Lossing, Pictorial Field Book of the Civil War. Volume 1.

[140]

Chapter 6: Affairs at the National Capital.--War commenced in Charleston harbor.

• Excitement throughout the country
-- withdrawal of South Carolina Representatives from Congress, 140. -- action of New York Representatives, 141. -- State of feeling in Washington City, 142. -- intentions of the conspirators, 143. -- robbery of the Indian Trust -- funds, 144. -- resignation of Secretary Floyd -- Cabinet changes, 146. -- South Carolina Commissioners in Washington, 147. -- their Correspondence with the President, 148. -- the President on New year's day, 151. -- departure of the Commissioners -- preparations to re-enforce Fort Sumter, 152. -- expedition of the Star of the West, 153. -- preparations to attack Fort Sumter -- the seizure of National forts recommended, 154. -- approach of the Star of the West, 155. -- she is driven from Charleston harbor, 156. -- boastings and sufferings of the conspirators, 158. -- Correspondence between Major Anderson and Governor Pickens, 159. -- the surrender of Fort Sumter demanded and refused, 160.

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When intelligence of Anderson's occupation of Fort Sumter went abroad, it created intense excitement. In the Freelabor States, as we have observed, it produced joyful emotions. In the Slave-labor States it kindled anger, and intensified the hurricane of passion then sweeping over them. From these, proffers of sympathy and military aid were sent to the South Carolinians, and they were amazingly strengthened by the evidences of hearty co-operation in their revolutionary designs, which came not only from the Cotton-producing States, but from Virginia, Kentucky, Tennessee, Missouri, and even from Maryland.

The National Capital, in the mean time, became the theater of important and startling events, calculated to add to the feverish excitement throughout the country. Congress had not adjourned during the holidays, as usual. On the day when the South Carolina Ordinance of Secession was passed,

December 20, 1860.

the House of Representatives was discussing the Pacific Railway Bill. Half an hour after that ordinance was adopted, the telegraph told the news to the representatives of that State in Congress, and all but two of them immediately left the hall. A little later it was publicly announced by Representative M. R. H. Garnett, of Virginia, who, contending in the discussion that his State would not be responsible for any bonds which the Government might issue for the construction of the Pacific Road, said:--“Why, Sir, even while your bill is under debate, one of the Sovereign States of this Confederacy has, by the glorious act of her people, withdrawn, in vindication of her rights, from the Union, as the telegraph announced to us at half-past 1 o'clock. . . . It is my solemn belief that the people of Virginia, when my State takes that course which thronging events will lead her to take, will not hold themselves responsible for the first cent of these bonds and appropriations.” ¹ These words were followed by applause from some of the Southern members; and Messrs. Boyce and Ashmore, the two remaining representatives of South Carolina, arose from their seats, shook hands with some of their friends, and left the hall. Four days afterward, a letter signed by the entire South Carolina delegation, then in Washington, was sent in to the Speaker, announcing, in the peculiar phraseology of the devotees of State Supremacy, that the action of their State had dissolved their connection with those whom they had “been associated with ”