Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1871-04-01
Miscellaneous.
A New Chapter Of History. "a
Ho,c California ,cos Kept from Bein O
D,.n,r,, s,,fo fLe Ka.s... 40. c, .I-lr.-

A New Chapter Of History. "a
Hoc California teas Kept from Being
Drawn into tie Vorte1 Of Rebellion.
A writer in Chicago paper gives wha
he claims has never before been given {,
the reading public, rela tive to the politica
situation of California In the dark days o
1861. The writer proceeds to say =
Then, in 1861, State after State was
throwing off allegiance to the Union aud
joining the unholy alliance which was to
perpetuate human bondage. Fortress after
fortress on the Southern coast, was being
taken by force or Surrendered by treason,
Priceless military stores in navy yards
and arseuals were being DESTROYED, lest
they should fall into the hands OF the ene-
my. Every departnisat of government
contained Rebel spies, and the very air in
our National capitol seemed loaded with
treason, when there came, one day, 10 our
good President, O message that caused his
cheek to pale, and his great heart to beat
quick with apprehension. This was the
message, short as it was ominous "There
is treason on Alcatraz." Alcatraz is the
name of the island fort that guards the
Golden Gate, and commands the harbor
and city of San Francisco.
1t is "a rock of a few acres in extent, ris-
ing, perhaps, fifty feet above the surface of
the water. The fort is the Gibralter of
America, as much stronger than Sumter
or Pickens as solid rock is stronger than
brick and mortar. Its commander at this
time was Albert Sidney Johnston. The
force under his command consisted of but
a few companies. The Pacific coast was
strongly Democratic. Its population con-
sisted largely of emigrants from the slave
states, who retained an intensely Southern
Ieeling and sympathy, embittered by the
Tact that the great State of California had
been lost to slavery upon its tsadmission into
the Union ten years before.
A few leading spirits had long been in
correspondence with the leaders in the
Rebellion. AT their suggestion, more than
a year before. Floyd, then Secretary of
War. had, unknown to any loyal person
living, transferred eighty thousand stand
OF arms from the arsenal at Troy to that of
Benicia, to be used by the seccssionists in
California when the plot should be ripe,
and the Rebel flag unfurled. The program
me OF the traitors was this To obtain
possession of Fort Alcatraz, which would
give them control of the city of San Fran
cisco. Then with the arms that were
stored at Benicia, they could at once arm
and organize force that would be irresisti-
BILE throughout the State.
1t was u 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 Con-
(ederacy unbroken from the Atlantic to the
Pacific seas. To insure the success of this
scheme. Albert Sidney Johnston was
placed in command OF Fort Alcatraz. II
was arranged that the leaders in San Fran
cisco. with force of picked men sufficient
for the purpose, should surprise and cap
ture the fort. The details were all ar
ranged. They were waiting only for orders
from the Rebel Government to strike the
fatal blow. The birds of the air carried
whisperings of this treason to loyal ears.
No time was to be lost. The mails were
then carried semi-monthly by steamer be-
tween 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 running from San
Francisco to st. Joseph, No., making the
distance in sixteen days. BY this exprese
! message was instantly despatched, warn
ms PRESIDENT Lincoln of the danger. The
message was duly received, and hurried
was held with two or three
of his cabinet. 1t was decided
that Johnston must be superseded by loyal
officer. There was such an one at hand,
one whose loyaety and integrity were per-
fear and without reproach. 1t was Gener-
al Sumner. "a. ~. ..,.. g..
But how should he secure the commando
The fortress was six thousand miles away
by the travelled route. Ii the least move
ment in that direction was openly made,
ileet coursers would carry the warning over
the plains, and it would be too late. The
utmost secrecy was imperative. There
to be government war steamer
in New York harbor. General Sumner was
at once ordered on board this vessel, aud
its commander directed to put at sea in
stantly, with sealed orders, which Were to
be opened when one day out of port. These
orders directed him to lay upon the track
ot the outgoing California mail steamers,
look out Tor the one which was TO sail the
next day, put General Sumner on board of
her, and then cruise southwark for q week
before returning TO port.
These orders We're obeyed. The rebel
spies We're batlled, aud the gallant Sumner,
was on his way TO assume
Of Alcatraz. Meanwhile its
traitorous commander and his confederates
were impatiently awaiting their orders from
the rebel government by this very steamer.
In due time the signal on Telegraph Hill
the mati steamer at the Golden
Gate, Within the city all was expectation
aud excitement. The eager thousands who
thronged the streets, eNpectant OF thrilling
news irom their former homes SO far away
hardly noticed the momentary pause 0f thu
steamer when passing Fort Alcataz, nor
did they note the tiny boat that shot OF
from her side toward the island, yet that
tiny boat bore more, ~ them, than Cesar
aud his tOrtunes,n
IL bore General sumner, who 10 q few
minutes stood before the traitor eOmman-
der, and, aA his superior In rank, aud under
special orders trdin tho President, assumed
command at Fort Alcalraz. California
Was saved % the lnlon. Its people, View
ing aiar the earnaet and dasolaIiop Of war,
soon came 10 gaze with horror upon tho
dark abyss into whleb sleked aud unseru-
puloas treason would hase'piuBssd lhelp,
And, with patriotism nwasened BY the ia
spircd el0qIenee VI Starr King, whose lips
seemed touched with hallowed hra, they
Tenewed ,hsiT alleglanee 10 ths pnlon OF
thelr lAthefS
rhsnoeiorth there Was no moTo loyal
Slalo than CalliOFnla, lts grsal dlsianee
ifaia the sc,fa oi conflict forbade lie nlll