Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1911-06-27


Fifty years ago today Kentucky. the
dark and bloody ground" OF times
past, dreading the prospect of civil
war that must inevitably disrupt every
town and almost every home, was seek
ing to follow a course of complete neu-
traIity, joining neither with north nor
south, or furnishing men to both.
Including In its population many de-
scendants Of New England and of Vir-
ginia families, sympathizers with the
south, yet inspired by the loyalty to the
union taught by it's great statesman,
Hendy Clay the native state alike of
Abraham Lincoln and of Jefferson Da-
Wis, Kentucky sought to put off the day
when it must make its choice.
The citizen of Kentucky could see bet
ter than any other man, perhaps, just
what civil war meant. The man OF
Massachusetts or Of South Carolina saw
but one side; the Kentuckian saw both
sides.
Ten wears earlier the state had real
lied the impending conflict, and in the
Washington monument had placed
block Of Kentucky marble. bearing the
heaven and the precepts Of Washington.
Kentucky will be the last to give up
the union"
/. Kentuckians had first tried to prevent
war by compromises; this falling, they
hoped to keep their own state at least
neutral
THE GOVERNORS ATTITUDE.
Beriah Magofin, governor Of the state,
sympathized with the, cause OF seces-
sion, and to Lincolns call for troops he
had replied. Kentucky will furnish no
troops for the wicked purpose of sub
DUNG her sister southern states"
Encouraged by this reply, the Con-
federate secretary of war had called on
him for a regiment for the south, but
officially he could not supply this eth
er.
Governor Magoffin, according to cor
respondent of Secretary Walker, who
wrote from Louisville. April B, was
satisfied that any precipitate action on.
the part of our friends will react and
damage us"
At the same time he was Fastening
the organization and aTming of the state
guard. commanded by Gen. Simon B.
Buckner and containing a majority OF
southern sympathizers, and was seeking
to obtain a loan from the Louisville
banks for the purpose.
That the confederate government be-
lieved him to be in full agre ement with
them was shown by a letter to the mayor
of Columbus. KY, who had sought TO
get arms, referring him to the governor
You are doubtless aware by this time,
# read s"of the cooperation of Ken
lucky with the government in our mill
tary movements"
SECESSION ACTIVITY.
Newly recruited companies of the state
guard In which southern sympathizers
predorninated could get arms readily,
while those formed of Union men found
no muskets forthcoming
Some 400 Kentuckians, moreover, whom
Blanton Duncan had been recruiting
since March, had actually gone into the
service OF the Confederacy and formed
part of Jacksons force at Harper's
Ferry
BE sure to keep Kentucky out of the
fuss" said one of these in leaving the
state. I'VE are just going to Virginia
on a little frolic and will be back in
three months"
Duncan himself promised 10000 men, If
needed by the Confederacy. He was
overwhelmed with applications for au-
thority to raise companies" Gould |
have furnished me arms for 1000 men?"
wrote one man from Murray, and from
another in Lexington came the offer of
10000 men to defend southern liberty"
It was this activity that caused General
Mcclellan, across the river, in Ohio. to
think all our calculations should be
based on the superstition that Kentucky
will secede."
Meanwhile the Unionist men in the
state were no less active. They met
argument with argument, appeal with
appeal threat with threat and prepara-
ton with preparation.
When, to overake the legislature, which
for two sessions had declined to call
state convention, hundreds of ardent Sc
cessionists were gathered in Frankfort, /
the Unionists gathered likewise. and a
test vote in the legislature, elected with
a strong Democratic preponderance. /
showed a majority of one for the Union /
The first aim of the unfonists was to
arm themselves, and in this, if they
lacked the support of the state govern
ment, they had that of the authorities
at washington The shipment of arms
to Kentucky by way of Cincinnati or
to Louisville and Covington direct was
begun May A.
One of the strong union men in the
state was Garrett Davis, and it was
his suggestion that if Col. Robert An
derson, a native of Kentucky, whose