Chapter 14: the great Uprising of the people.
- Excitement throughout the country, 335. -- the President calls for troops to put down the insurrection -- extraordinary session of Congress called, 336. -- requisition of the Secretary of War -- replies of disloyal Governors, 337. -- some newspapers on the call for troops, 338. -- the “Conservatives” -- the conspirators at Montgomery, 339. -- utterances of the disloyal press, 341. -- how a “United South” was produced -- boastings of the loyal press, 342. -- providence favors both sides -- flags and letter envelopes attest the loyalty of the people, 343. -- Uprising in the Slave-labor States -- the writer in New Orleans, 344. -- excitement in New Orleans, 345.--“on to Fort Pickens!” -- a Sunday in New Orleans, 346. -- effects of the President's proclamation -- Unionists silenced, 347. -- journey northward -- Experiences in Mississippi and Tennessee, 348. -- treason of General Pillow, 349. -- alarming rumors, 350. -- first glad tidings -- conspirators in Council, 351. -- scenes on a journey through Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey, 352. -- attitude of New York City, 354. -- great War meeting at Union Square, New York, 355. -- speeches of representative Democrats elsewhere, 357. -- Impressions of an intelligent Englishman among the citizens of New York. 358. -- resolutions of the great meeting, 360.
The attack on Fort Sumter had been looked for, and yet, tidings of the fact fell on the ears of the loyal people of the country as an amazing surprise. It was too incredible for belief. It was thought to be a “sensation story” of the newspapers. The story was true; and when the telegraph declared that the old flag had been dishonored, and that “a banner, with a strange device,” was floating over that fortress, which everybody thought was impregnable, and the story was believed, the latent patriotism of the nation was instantly and powerfully aroused. It seemed as if a mighty thunderbolt had been launched from the hand of the Omnipotent, and sent crashing, with fearful destructiveness, through every party platform — every partition wall between political and religious sects — every bastile of prejudice in which free thoughts and free speech had been restrained, demolishing them utterly, and opening a way instantly for the unity of all hearts in the bond of patriotism, and of all hands mailed for great and holy deeds. Heart throbbed to heart; lip spoke to lip, with a oneness of feeling that seemed like a Divine inspiration; and the burden of thought was,
Stand by the Flag! all doubt and treason scorning,The Sabbath day on which Anderson and his men went out of Fort Sumter was a day of wild excitement throughout the Union. Loyalists and disloyalists were equally stirred by the event — the former by indignation, the latter by exultation. The streets of cities and villages, every place of public resort, and even the churches, were filled with crowds of people, anxious to obtain an answer to the question in every mind — What next? That question was not long unanswered. Within twenty-four hours from the time when the Stripes and Stars were lowered in Charleston harbor, the President of the United States had filled every loyal heart in the land with joy and patriotic fervor, by a call for troops to put down the rising rebellion. That call answered the question.
Believe, with courage firm and faith sublime,
That it will float until the eternal morning
Pales, in its glories, all the lights of Time!
