New-York tribune., 1880-10-05
LETTERS FROM THE PEOPLE
HOW CALIFORNIA WAS SAVED TO THE
Union

UNION.
pgrsIpESr LINcorx's FORESIGHT AND GENERAL
SUMMERS DETERMINATION ACCOMPLISH PUR-
Posy IN CONNECTION WITH WHICH GENERAL
uANcoCK's NAME WAS NEVER EVEN MENTIONED.
To the Edftor or The Trfbune
SIR: Your reference 10 the claim made by Gen.
eral Hancocks biograpLer. that he conspicuous In
his eff IT, 10 save California to the Union the out
break Of the rebellion reminds OF the exciting events
Of that period. II my fortune 10 be member OF he
Legislature OF California in 1s6l-that memorable win
ter the States going out OF the Union
on papcr-and when 1t feOred that Efforts wOsid
be made to take California into the SOuth'rn
Confedcracy. Day aftor day and week after week
were consumed IN discussing Union rcsolutions
questions aft citing the tight Of recession ABOUT
thnd of the members SOuthtrn-born. ara tey
anxious to promote tie success OF the rebellion
as any resident Of South Carolina. We knew not at
what moment az attempt would be made Tor the adop-
lion OF secession ordinance. UuOn men were resist
ing this disoya tide but the of General Hancock
in connection herewith never meniiuEed to my
knowledge. Indeed did no. know that there was such
individual in the State.
California was saved from attempt at secession by
TIE foresight and prompt and prudent action OF Pres
dent Lincoln. Shortly after his Inauguration &c com
missonod General f. v Sumner, OF this State and or
dered him 70 repair to ca if0rna and relieve General A
s. Johnston. then IN command of the Pacific Department
General Sumner went aboard the steamer IN New-lorK
incognit0, and his departure rot known publicly
until he reached his destination Reaching the Golden
Gate at midnight, manded the captain Of the
steamer to anchor IN the haIbOr until daylight
willie the General took small boat and went ashore
Calling upon General Johnston at his lodgings 1T the
Oriental HO,c ne advised the latter inst II" au Den
appointed Ger era Johnston replied mat
II h. would call him headquarters III me morn
ing the depnrtmen wOnld BE- turned over 10 NM pe
eral Simmer producing comlnFsicn. sad 20 General
Johnston: There Is the authority uncCr S'ch alh
directed command OF the Department OF me
Pacific, and insist upon beng Elac.d IL bOSsr ssiou
here and now" Tho transfer then MA ie anu thc
by telegraph all over tie Sfdte on TIE
following morning. and = set OF
chCpallrn as we're tine seces-lOnSts
both In and Of the legislature. Lin,o.n. General
Scott ard Republican Congress were bitterly DC
noui crd the gross outrage upon brave - neral
Upon repairing the barracks Ge cru Sum3er fOuEd
thousands ana accOur mrnts stored there, oi
winch no Oya III the state had any hn0WlcdSc.
TIE presumption was that they the CIotl wtlch
had been TO CilfOruia III ti- grand 'nDuton 0f
Buchanan's Cabinet preparatory 10 tie or.I'i1ltnn o!
rebellion. and thai Gen Johnston hal been paced
In command with Instructions . ad III c3rrYEE tAe
rebellion. Ihs re- was undJunt'dy n lHe
possession Of Democratic members ot me Legl5atuse
Gen raj sumner once iesGlppci iht sur
plus arms aud ammunition to Wa>hin-
Ton. tIPy much noeIed III
te early days war and General Johnston went 20
Southern Can't here Hancock has cu reported
have been -a'One'i-pr- nlZ I'll company o! scces
sym upgi h2 stole an equipment Ut arms rom Le
State marched the continent joined the COtfeG
Army and killed AT The ba Tie uf bhoh lhat
Is how & L. for. IA saVet To the Cnio1 and ~ the
affair General Hancock TOOK no part nor was he KNOWN
there ihcn or any prominence. II known AZ "l
BuDdio, Oct .. 1880. t. r. FARGO