The Alleghanian. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1859-1865, 1864-09-29
NUMBER Ri.
who Began the Wars


1t seems almost absurd to ask such
question at this time, when it is a matter
of notoriety all OYER the civilized world
that the rebels took up arms against the
Government, captured the United States
forts and arsenals, and set up an indepen-
dent Government, before we fired shot.
Yet the Copperhead orators actually have
the audacity to charge the inauguration
and blame Of the war upon Mr. Lincoln.
A stranger to our affairs, on hearing them,
would certainly suppose that Mr.. Lincoln
had grievousfy oppressed the rebel States,
and driven them to secession. He would
never dream that before Mr.. Lincoln took
has seat some of the rebel States seeded,
seizing all the forts, arsenals and munitions,
OF war they could possess themselves of,
and that the Montgomery constitution was
also framed and adopted before he came
to the Presidential chair Just notice the
record. Abraham Lincoln, whom these
fellows accuse Of having assailed these in
nocert and ong-suffering Southern States,
was lnaugurated on the fourth of March.
1861. On tie 10Th Of December previous.
South Carolina adopted her ordinance of
secession. Georgia followed her example
two days afterwards, and ON the 22d of De,
cember Mississippi seeded on the 9th
OF January, Florida on the 11th, Louisiana
on the Goth, and Texas on the first of Feb
ruary. Now, every one of these States
not only adopted an ordinance of secession.
but by force seized every fort, arsenal and
custom house which it could seize. with
the contents thereof. We find in our ex-
changes the following list of hostile acts
committed by the rebels before the inau-
guration of the President
December 27, 1S60-Capture of Fort
Moultrie and Castle Pinckney by the South
Carolina troops. Thereyenue cutter Aiken
was also captured. '+
January 8, 1861 Capture of Fort
Pulaski by the Savannah troops l.
January 3-The arsenal at Mt. Vernon
Alabama, with 20, 900 stand of arms, seiz.
ed by Alabama troops. s1o Fri aa
January fort Morgan, in Mobilel
Bay, taken by the Alabama troops. is3(
January 9.-The steamship Star of the
West fired INTO and driven off by the
South Carolina batteries on Morris Island.
January 10.-Forts Jackson: St. Phil
ip, and Pike, near New Orleans, captured
by the Louisiana troops
January 14.-Capture of Pensacola
Maynard, and Forts Barraucas and
M'Rae.
January 12-Capture of Baton Rouge
arsenal by Louisiana troops. @ 81
January 3l.-New Orleans mint and
custom house seized. -
February 2.--Seizure of Little Rock
arsenal BY Arkansas troops.
February 4. 4.-Capturel of the revenue
cutter Cass by the Alabama authorities. :
February l6.-Col. Waite u S. A..
and San Antonia captured by Col. Ben
MCulloch and his Texan rangers.
March 2.-The revenue cutter Dodge
seized by the Texan authorities.
And all 2his before Mr.. Linco.n had
LETT his quiet Lome in Sprinfeld. Still
further, the rebel Congress adopted the,
Montgomery Constitution and elected JEFF.
Davis and Alexander H. Stephens to the
Offices they now hold on the Sth of Feb
ruary, almost a month before Mr. Lincolns
was President 1t was not until after TIE
rebels opened fire upon Fort Sumter thas
Mr.. Lincoln called for volunteers. Yet,
in the face of these facts, so well known
that We are almost tempted to apologize
tor referring to them, these copperhead,
orators presume to affirm, with unparal-,
leled contempt for the truth, that Mr..
Lincoln began tie war, ane very need
lessly, too! If there be any thing stranger
than this, it is that men are found simple
enough to believe such stuff x8f 1ids