The Norfolk weekly news-journal., 1911-04-28
Semicentennial OF the
First Year of Nations
Lie and Death Strus-
sle---The Going Out OF
the Cotton Republics"
ny JAr1Rs A. EDcnRToN.

Union IL now 30 nrmly cemente0 tnat
the celebration cannot disturb in the
Sightest degree the fraternal relations
between the two sections. There could
he no more complete vindication of
popular government Not only did the
Union sustain the shock of the great
est internal war In history. but in less
than single lifetime 10 more strongly
knit together than ever before.
The fret year Of the war was not
conspicuous for the number or size of
tts battles. Indeed, the fllgt Bull Run
was the only general engagement OF
flrst class Importance. II was a time
or preparation, OF the mastering In
and drilling OF armies. OF the planning
Of campaigns, OF political struggle
over the border states and Of the Sc
lection Of generals.
The preliminary steps leading to the
struggle had taken place In the last
days OF 1860. They began immediate
ly after the election. When congress
met there were various conferences Of
the southern senators and representa-
tives, followed by addresses to their
states and preparations for with
drawal, South Carolina led the way
In actually seeding from the Union,
her ordinance having been adopted on
Dec. 20, or nearly three weeks prior to
that OF any other state.
Without Compass or Rudder.
The new year opened in gloom and
uncertainty. The outgoing administra.
ton was vacillating between the doc
trine OF noncoercion on the one side
and the stifrening Union sentiment Of
the north on the other and was doing
nothing effectual. Mr.. Lincoln was
silent as to his coming policy. The
ship OF state seemed to be drifting
without compass or rudder. In this
period OF doubt the condition of the
public mind may be imagined. The
only people who seemed to know ex-
acty what they wanted were the
southern leaders. There was no lack
of decision here. On Jan. 8 Mississippi
went out Florida followed on the 10th
and Alabama on the 18th. Jan. 10
Georgia cast IN her lot with her Sc
the 2Sth, Louisiana cut loose her moor
1nge Then came Texas on Feb. 1,
completing the seven cotton states, or
cotton republics. as they were called
In the prints OF the day. that formed
the fret provisional government Of the
southern confederacy.
Events moved swiftly at the south.
Fnh ha tctn ol
at Montgomery and on the 9Th had
completed the plans for a provisional
government. The next day Jefferson
Davis, who had resigned his post as
United States senator from Mississippi
only few days before, was elected
provisional president and nine days
later, on Feb 10. was inaugurated. So
matters stood when Abraham Lincoln
became president on March 4.
Things now began to happen also at
the north. There was caution, yes, but
no more indecision or balting. The
difference was that the new head of
the Washington administration knew
As definitely what he wanted % did
the leaders Mt Montgomery His en-
tire inaugural address had been de-
voted to the one theme Of preserving
the Union, Perhaps he did not yet
'seelise the stupendous nature Of the
struggle to reach that end. Nobody
o1d. Mr.. Lincoln, ins1peYience6 a. he
WAs and unfamiliar with recent inside
fsets at Washington. vet asstned to
nave keener insight into the situa-
tson and more lively appreciation of
Ahe gravity Of the crisis. however, than
Sfd those who surrounded him. On the
very f,rst day OF his term he was face
to face with the question that was to
prove the actual starting point Of the
war, that Of provisioning snd holding
Fort Sumter
The Fall Of Sumter.
The anniversary Of the nrins on
Bort Sumter, which occurred on April
~ has already been celebrated
throughout the land. The supplies and
reenforcements ordered by Lincoln
were on their way and approached the
fort during the bombardment only to
'be turned back. Despite the discour-
agements, the disparity in numbers,
the exhausted teOd supply and the fail
ing ammunition, the little garrison
held out for three dAye. finally capitu-
ating on the l4th. On the next day
President Lincoln cent out a call for
1000 three months troops. There was
no more indecision. As Greeley said
In the Tribune, the government At last
had a ''man at the head of It," The
challenge was accepted the moment II
was made.
Major Robert Anderson, the hero OF
Fort Sumter, had a part later in the
year. BE was appointed TO recruit
Union troops in his native state of
Kentucky and as general had charge
for a time OF the Kentucky forces.
The firing on Sumter was the be-
ginning of the war. The people OF the
north were as instant as Lincoln in
rising 10 meet the crisis. The whole
north blazed. Even New York city.
that was suspected OF disloyalty, held
monster mass meetings, and one news
paper that had been siding with the
south was forced 20 cnange It's p0ncy
overnight. States overhlled their Quots
and clamored for the privilege Of oftsr.
ing more troops. Not only men were
laa.a