New national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1870-1874, 1871-04-06
How California Was Preserved to
the Union.
Chapter in the History OF the Great Re
helIion.

belIion.
In the dark days of 1861 State after State was
throwing off allegiance 10 the Union, and iojn
| ing the Gnholy alliance which was to perpetuate
/ human bondage Fortress after fortress on the
I Southern coast, with their heavy ordinance aud
munitions of war, was being destroyed lest they
should fall into the hands of thsenemy Every
department of government contained rebel spies.
and the very air in our National Capital seemed
/ loaded with treason, when there came one dsv
! to our good President, message that caused
| his cheek to pale, and bis great heart to beat
quick with apprehension. This was she mes
sage-short it was ominous: "There is
treason on Alcatraz" AhatraE is the name of
! the island aud fort that guards the Golden Gate
and commands the harbor and city of San
Francisco. 1t is a rock Of few acres in ex-
tent, rising. perhaps, fifty feet above the sur
face of the water. The fort is the Gibraltar of
America, as much stronger than Sumter or
PIckeDs as solid rock is stronger than brick and
mortar. It's commander at this time was Al
bert Sidney Johnston. The force under his
command consisted of but few companies.
| The Pacific coast was strongly Democratic.
is population consisted largely of immigrants
from the slave states, who retained an intensely
Southern feeling and sympathy embittered by
the fact that the Great State OF California had
been lost to slayery.upon its admission into the
Union ten years before 4 few leading spirits
had long been in correspondence with the
leaders in the rebellion. At their suggestion.
more than year before, Floyd then Secretary
OF War, had, unknown TO any loyal person liv-
ing transferred so, 900 stand of arms from the
arsenal at Troy TO that of Benicia, to be used
by the secesslonstS In California when the plot
should be ripe, and the rebel flag unfurled
The programme OF the traitors was this: To
obtain possession OF Fort Alcatraz, which
would give them control of the city of San
Francisco; then, with the arms stored at
Bencia, they could at once arm and organize q
force that would be irresistible throughout the
State. 1t was a brilliant conception TO gain
| for slavery the whole Pacific coast, with its
bOundless resources as well as all the vast region
to the eastward, extending the COnfederacy
unbroken from the Atlantic to the Pacific seas
TO insure the success of this scheme, Albert
! Sidney johnson was placed in command of
Fort Alcatraz 1t was arranged that the lead
ers in San Francisco. with a force of picked
men sufficient for the purpose, should surprise
and capture the fort. The details were ali
arranged. They were waiting only for orders
from the rebel government to strike the fatal
blow. The birds of the air carried whisper.
ings of this treason to loyal ears No time
was to be lost The mails were then carried
semi monthly by steamer between New York
and San Francisco. The time was from three
to four weeks. There was then no telegraph,
no railroad even, west of the Missouri river
There was, however, pony express run
ming from San Francisco TO st. Joseph, Mo,
| making The distance in sixteen days. By this
express message was instantly dispatched,
warning President Lincoln of the danger
The message was duly received and hurried
consultation was held with two or three
members Of his cabinet 1t was decided that
| III he daI Nv l.
There was such an one at hand, one whose
loyalty and integrity were perfect and uDques-
tonabe ; a knight without fear and without re-
proach. 1t was General Sumner. But how
should he secure the command? The fortress
was six thousand miles away by the travelled
route. If the least movement in that direction
was made openly, feet coursers would carry
the warning over the plains, and it would be
too late The utmost secrecy was imperative
There CHANGED 10 be a government war steamer
in New y ork harbor. General sumner was At
once ordered on board this vessel, It's comman-
der directed TO put to sea instantly, with sealed
orders which were to be opened when one dav
out OF port. These orders directed him to Law
upon the track of the outgoing California mail
steamers, look out for the one which was 70
sail the next day, put General Sumner on board
her, and then cruise southwark week before
returning to port. These orders were obeyed.
The rebel spies were baffled and the gallant
Sumner, unsupported, was on his way to assume
command of Alcatraz.
Meanwhile its traitorous commander and
his cODfederates were impatiently awaiting
their orders from the rebel government by this
very steamer.
In due time the signal on Telegraph Hill
announced the mail steamer at the Golden
Gate. Within the city all was expectation
and excitement. The eager thousands who
thronged the streets, expectant of thrilling
news from their old homes SO far away, hardly
noticed the momentary pause of the steamer
when passing Fort AlcatraZ nor did they
note the little boat that shot off from her side
toward the island yet that tiny boat bore more,
to them, than Caesar and his fortunes" 1t
bore General summer, who in few minutes
stood before the traitor commander, and as
his superior in rank, and under special orders
from the President, assumed command of Fort
Alcatraz. California was saved to the Union
Its people, viewing from after the carnage and
desolatIon OF war, soon came to gaze with
sorrror upon the dark abyss into which wicked
and unscrupulous treason would have plunged
them. And, with patriotism awakened by the
inspired eloquence of Starr King, whose lips
seemed touched with halowed fire, they re-
newed their loyalty. Thenceforth there was
no more loyal State than California
It's great distance from the scene of conflict
forbade its full representation in the armies of
the Union, but It's Pactolean streams of gold
replenished the exhausted treasury of the ma
tiOn and its magnificent contributions to the
sanitary fund attested that the heart of its
people was loyal and true.
Ol the plotters of treason many made their
way at once to the rebel armies Albert Sid.
ney johnson was rewarded with high COM
mand, and died on the battlefield at Plttsburg
Landlng.-ChscagO Tribune.