44 Results in the "Non-Fiction" category
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Chapter
To Dare
In December 1860, South Carolina’s political elite convened in Columbia, shrouded in fog, for a significant convention amidst rising tensions surrounding secession. The assembly comprised 169 prominent figures, including former congressmen, governors, and senators, each with substantial wealth, most owning slaves. The convention's atmosphere was charged with both excitement for disunion and anxiety, particularly regarding the potential consequences of Abraham Lincoln's election. The choice of Columbia…-
261.4 K • Ongoing
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Chapter
A Wife’s Disappointment
In the chapter titled "A Wife’s Disappointment," set against the backdrop of rising tensions in Washington, the creation of a "Select Committee" highlights a deepening suspicion within the government regarding potential treasonous acts. This "Committee of Five"—comprised of two Republicans, two pro-Union Democrats from the North, and one Southern Democrat—casts a wide net of inquiry, spurred on by information from Edwin M. Stanton, the new attorney general. Stanton's covert communications point to a…-
261.4 K • Ongoing
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Chapter
Frustration
In this chapter titled "Frustration," set between December 20 and 24, Navy Lieutenant David Dixon Porter navigates the political tensions in Washington amidst the secession crisis. While en route downtown, he encounters the residence of Senator Jefferson Davis, where a vibrant party is underway. Although Porter is a loyal Unionist, he maintains friendships across political lines to gauge prospects for peace. His connection to the Davis family leads him to attend the gathering, where excitement over South…-
261.4 K • Ongoing
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Chapter
The Major Gets an Idea
In the chapter titled "The Major Gets an Idea," the narrative unfolds around Capt. John G. Foster of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, responsible for bolstering defenses in Charleston Harbor during the tense days following South Carolina's secession in December 1860. Foster, a thirty-seven-year-old veteran with a distinctive appearance and a limp from past combat, had been independently working to reinforce Fort Sumter and Fort Moultrie. His efforts included hiring civilian workers to dig a wet ditch…-
261.4 K • Ongoing
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Chapter
A Signal at Christmas
In "A Signal at Christmas," the atmosphere in South Carolina surrounding Christmas Eve is highlighted by the state's secession convention, which issued a "Declaration" stating its rationale for leaving the Union, primarily around the issues of slavery and states' rights. Delegate Christopher G. Memminger emphasizes grievances against the Union for not honoring slaveholding rights, citing broken contracts and violations of the Constitution. This declaration notably quotes Thomas Jefferson, advocating the…-
261.4 K • Ongoing
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Chapter
Subterfuge
In "Subterfuge," Major Anderson embarks on a strategic plan to occupy Fort Sumter amid escalating tensions with South Carolina forces. Anderson, recognizing the imminent threat of an attack on Fort Sumter, instructs his officers to evacuate the families of twenty women and twenty-five children from Fort Moultrie to Fort Johnson, portraying the move as a precautionary measure. He charters three schooners under the pretext of ensuring their safety, but his intention is to mislead observers while secretly…-
261.4 K • Ongoing
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Chapter
Strange News
In the chapter titled "Strange News," dated December 27, Edmund Ruffin's steamer approaches Fernandina, Florida, as he seeks to sway the state's legislature toward secession. His plans involve taking a train to Gainesville and then visiting the Marion County plantation of his friend, William Owens, before attending Florida's secession convention in Tallahassee on January 3. While on the train, Ruffin receives telegrams, one of which reports that the garrison at Fort Moultrie has moved to Fort Sumter. This…-
261.4 K • Ongoing
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Chapter
Smoke and Cheers
The chapter titled "Smoke and Cheers" from "The Demon of Unrest" begins at Fort Sumter, where the atmosphere is one of gloom and tension. Captain Doubleday describes the fort—its dark, damp, and unfinished structure—with only fifteen guns mounted out of a planned one hundred and twenty. Despite its formidable design as a coastal fortress meant to protect against invasions, it remains incomplete, with debris cluttering the interior, making communication within the fort challenging. The officers,…-
261.4 K • Ongoing
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Chapter
Blood and Dishonor
**Chapter Summary: Blood and Dishonor** On December 27, in Washington, former Assistant Secretary of State William Henry Trescot met with Senators Jefferson Davis of Mississippi and R.M.T. Hunter of Virginia to discuss urgent news. They rushed to the White House to speak with President Buchanan, who was visibly anxious. Trescot noted Buchanan’s nervousness as he made a casual reference to the consul in Liverpool, prompting Davis to shift the conversation to the real concern at hand. Davis inquired if…-
261.4 K • Ongoing
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Chapter
Turmoil
In Charleston on December 27, 1860, following Major Anderson's occupation of Fort Sumter, newly elected Governor Francis W. Pickens ordered the South Carolina militia to seize remaining federal properties in Charleston Harbor. Although the governorship was mainly ceremonial, Pickens acted against the state legislature's objections. The first target was Castle Pinckney, taken by around 150 militia members who, after scaling the fort's walls, found it nearly empty, occupied only by a lieutenant and some…-
261.4 K • Ongoing
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