The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1907-03-13
ALABAMA in THE CONFED=
ERATE WAR-1S01 TO 1865
BY THOMAS. M. OWEN.

". "A. Is.
instructions of the joint resolutions of the
state legislature of February a. 1860, is
sued his proelama ton calling for the cleo
ton, December "a, 1860, of delegates to
convention of the state to consider, de-
ternine and to do whatever in the opin-
ion of said convention, the rights. inter-
ests and honor of the state of Alabama
require to be done for their protection
ANTICIPATING secession, the governor
ed Forts Gaines and Morgan, at the
entrance of Mobile bay, and the arsenal
at Mount Vernon, be occupied by the
troops of the state. He also appointed
commissions to all the slaVeholdlhg
states to consult as to what was best
TO be done to protect their rights. Inc
convention met January Z 1861, IN the
cit.- OF Montgomery. Under the leader
ship of William l.. Yancey, but only after
an earnest struggle, on January II, 1t
adopted, by vote of 81 to SO, AN ordi-
nance to dissolve the unuion between the
state of Alabama and other states under
ths compact The constitution of the
nited States of America. After us
passage the members of Congress from
Alabama at once withdrew from thae
boz. In the meantime, in obedience to
q resolution of January S, the governor
dispatched 500 troops to aid the state OF
orida in taking --4=rge OF the forts at
the mouth of the Pensacola harbor. On
March 13 the convention ratified the Con-
federate States constitution. 1t also pro-
vidud for annual instead of biennial ses-
sio,s Of the general assembly; and on
March 81 adjourned.
In February. 1861, Thomas ]. Judge Wis
j. Washington City, as commissioner
fro.t Alabama to the t.deral government,
to negotiate with the latter IN reference
to the forts arsenals and customs houses
in the state, the public debt of the United
States, and the future relations OF Ala
pama with the United States government.
President Buchanan declined to receive
h. !, in any other capacity than as a as
tlnguished citizen of Alabama. Inc
g .rse of the President in declining TO
recei e the commissioner was deemed an
abandonment of al claims of the gov
eminent to the federal property for
which the state thror III its represents
two desired to make compensation.
fe.erate States of America convened at
Montgomery on February 4, 1861. On the
Sth followl it adopted constitution,
m don the 9th elected Jefferson Davis
president and Al lander Fl. Stephens
vice-rresident of the Confederate states.
o.. ! e 18th of the same month, on the
,.tico OF the historic capitol building at
Montgomery, the Inauguration of these
officials took place. 1t adjourned March
49, ana on April 20 a called session con-
yened at the same place
On February 81, Leroy Pope Walker of
Alabama was made the first secretary
of war in the cabinet of President Davis.
In the meantime, on January H. the
general assembly of Alabama met in ex-
traordinary session. 1t promptly re-
sponded with appropriate legislation in
support of the action of the conven-
ton. An appropriation of Soooooo was
made to the cause of southern indepen-
dence;" the governor was authorized to
issue 81 100000 in treasury notes, and he
was also authorized TO issue $2,0oo,oo0 IN
g nor cent state bonds "for the military
defense of the state" A second called
session convened October 2S, while the
fret regular session of the year assem-
bled November II, 1861.
IN, the secession of the state William
Giles Jones resigned as federal district
Judge but President Davis reappointed
him. Disregarding the latter appont-
ment. on March %, 1861, the President of
tho United states appointed George w.
Lane, but he never performed any of the
duties of tho position.
A formal proclamation of war was
maze on April Is, by President Lincoln.
At once the brave, patriotic people of
Alabama rallied to its defense.
The sentiment of the state is thus de-
ecribed by Governor Thomas II. Watts
in his inaugural address, December l,
1868:
"And when the first tocsin of war
sounded, co-operationists and secession
lists marched shoulder to shoulder to our
northern border; from the mountains,
valleys and plains; from the east and
fro,, the west, the stalwart sons of Ala
bama rushed to the standard of the new
born republic; and with dauntless bravery
and heroism. they have crimsoned with
their blood every battlefield from Manas-
sas to Chickamauga. An imperishable
monument of glorious renown has been
erected for the stated The name Ala
bamian' has become immortal in our his
tory!'
IT must be borne in mind, however, that
there was ctrong Union sentiment in
some parts of the state, and during the
first year of the war a plan was dis
cussed to organize the northern section
into a new state, to be called "Nicka-
jack"
During the whole of the first year of
,he war Governor Moore was in the ex-
ecutiye office. lie was an ardent seces-
sionis. and did much to hasten the move
ment of events in the state, as well as
IN arouse the people to prompt response
"a arms when war became inevitable.
THE general assembly. December g. 1861,
.donted Joint resolutions in testimony OF
his ability, patriotism and fidelity
Al the election of 1861, John Gill Shorter
as chosen governor. He had no opposi-
linn although complimentary vote was
cast for The-1as II. Watts. Mr.. Shorter
ss a native of Georgia. Entering on the
,,r.ctice of law, he had risen in popular
favor and when elected he was a MEM
bar Of the provisional congress. Not