The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1884-06-01
ANNALS OF THE WAR.
SOME USwRirTRN HISTORY


some Impressions OF United sss,es oucer
~ she BEGINNING OF Neutrality-suspicious..
ment In Richmond.
tGcn. A. l.. Long, In Philadelphia weekly T,mes.
On arriving at New York. Captain Elzev
found orders directing him 90 Washington,
with his company. When we reached the
Federal capital we found that the outgoing
Administration, being aware Of the un.
popularity OF Mr.. Lincoln, the President
elect, among large party, and fearing Lest
an attempt might be made by the disap
pointed partS TO prevent his Inauguration
by the seizure OF the Capitol. had ordered
considerable military force 20 be collected
at Washington TO prevent such an occur.
renee Several companies had already ar.
rived, and were quartered in different parts
Of Che city. Elzey's company was posted
in the west end OF the Treasury buiIibnc
on the first floor, so as to command the
western entrance into Pennsylvania ave.
nue. from the front and TO overlook the
Presidents house and grounds from the
rear windows. As the troops arrived they
were placed in positions where they could
easily defend Pennsylvania avenue and the
Capitol.
sfRANGE SIGHTS IN FREE AMERICA.
an important aspect it was considered ne
cessary 10 call TO Washington General
Scott, the distinguished chief OF the army.
10 bring them under the control of his
wisdom and experience. IL was indeed
novel sight TO see the capital OF free Amer
lea guarded at every point with bristlIng
bayonets and wide-mouthed cannon, In
monarchial Europe il was nothing strange
10 see the populace held in subsection with
muskcts and cannon. but to an American
In his own country such spectacle was
vastly strange, nor was il less strange 10
witness the entrance OF Mr.. Lincoln into
his capital in manner so different from
that of his predecessors; instead Of being
borne in on the tide OF popular favor like
Washington, jefferson, Madison, and their
successors, amid the deafening sounds OF
rejoicing, he entered disguised. under the
cover OF darkness and silence OF night.
SCENES AT THE INAUGURATION.
The troops were put in motion early on
the morning OF the 4th OF March, 1861.
The artillery, moving slowly, occupied the
most commanding positions about the
Capitol and along the avenues, while the
infantry took possession OF the most con-
spicuous buildings, some being posted on
the roofs and others in the Easements and
were directed by the General-in- Chief in
person. In the mean time the spectators,
who had come from every portion 10 wit
ness the performance Of the day, began TO
ill the streets and avenues. BY 10 O'Clock
PENNSYLVANIA avenue was packed through
out its entire extent with the eXpectant
multitude; an hour later the President
elect, in an open carriage, surrounded by a
squadron OF Dragons, entered the avenue.
The leading horsemen, advancing slowly,
pressed back the dense crowd, which, ST.
lently yielding, cast Sombre glances on the
moving cOrtege, On reaching the Capitol
the oath OF office was taken and the in
augural address delivered, then the ma
tional salute and a feeble cheer announced
that Abraham Lincoln was President.
The mass OF spectators then dispersed, and
many OF them returned to their homes
with heavy hearts and with minds full OF
ominous forebodings.
WITH GENERAL SUMNER.
A few DAYS after the Inauguration Colo
mel Sumner received the promotion of
brigadier-general with orders to take
command Of the Department OF the Pacific.
He offered me the position OF alde-de-
camp, which | accepted, hoping TO be OF
service 10 the General and believing that
Virginia, my native State. would adhere
10 the Union, since her Convention, then
in session, exhibited a decided majority
against secession, which could only be re-
versed by some fragrant act OF political
usurpation. Being Of that opinion | was
glad OF an opportunity to leave what APP
peared would continue to be the theatre OF
an acrimonious political wrangle. General
Sumner sailed from New York about the
"a I'd roonbaA Gan LrQnPiSpn
about the Goth OF April. He found every
thing so quiet that it appeared as IL he had
left all political excitement behind him.
General Albert sydney Johnston. who bad
previously sent in his resignation, reln-
Quished his command to General Sumner
and retired to Los Angeles. in order to
make his preparations for an overland
Journey to Texas.
SUMNER IN CALIFORNIA.
General Sumner was no politician he
neither knew one party nor the other, and
il he had been called upon TO act in civil
capacity he would have shown the impair
tiality that he exhibited a few years before
in Kansas when it became his duty to dis
solve the Topeka Legislature. The Cali
fornians appeared To have amalgamated all
sectional preiudices in the one almost
purely Californian. The men were too
much occupied with their own personal
affairs to give much heed TO what was
going on in the States east OF the Rocky
Mountains, and it was only on the arrival
OF the tri-monthly mails that they seemed
TO become alive to the events that were
transpiring in the Atlantic States.
WHEN THE STATES Seeded.
The capture OF Fort Sumter was followed
bv a total rupture between the North and
the South. Mr.. Lincoln called for an adj
ditional force OF $4,000 men to enforce the
Federal authority in the South. THIS act
OF Executive usurpation caused reaction
among the southern border states, which
upfYl then had been disposed to adhere to
the Union. They withdrew, with the eX
ception OF Kentucky and Maryland, ana
ioined the COniederacy, and each section
commenced active preparations Tor war.
Kentucky declared herself neutral, while
MARYLAND, from her geographical position,
was so firmly in the grasp OF the Federal
authorities that she was unable 10 act.
This civil rupture reduced the southern
officers Of the army and navy to the alterna-
tive Of appearing in arms against tnelr
native State or TO resign their commission
and array themselves on the side OF their
feliow-statesmen for veal or woe. All,
with few exceptions, adopted the latter
course.
THE JOURNEY EASTWARD.
sent in my resignation about the lst OF
June. and left California almost immediate
ly. The route at that time had become
hazardous for returning sOutherners on