Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1916-08-12
Edna Enid Derby Says Civil
War Greatest of All

Dear Juniors:
will write about the civil war which
is the greatest war in which our coun-
try has been involved. 1t was brought
about by the slavery question. After
Lincoln was elected president the cot
ton states passed ordinances declaring
they left the union. By February L,
1861 seven states, South Carolina, Mis-
sissippi, Florida. Georgia, Louisiana
and Texas had seeded. On February 4
delegates from six of these states met
in Montgomery, Alabama, formed
constitution, established the Confeder-
ate States Of America and elected JEFF
ferson Davis president. Almost all
places belonging to the U. S. govern
been seized by confederates. but Fort
Sumter In Charleston harbor was still
in union hands and when Lincoln no
titled the governor Of South Carolina
that supplies would be sent the con-
federate army. already gathered In
Charleston, bombarded the Fort till
Major Anderson surrendered 1t on APP
ril IA, 1861. The great civil war now be-
gan in earnest. On April Is, Lincoln
called for seventy-five thousand militia
to serve for three months. Virginia,
sas then seeded and Joined the con-
federacy. The confederate capital was
soon moved from Montgomery to Rich
mond, Virginia.
The first call for troops was soon fol-
lowed by another and by July 1, 1851
over one hundred and eighty thousand
union soldiers were under arms. The
dividing line stretched from Norfolk.
Virginia, up Chesapeake bay and the
Potomac river to Harper's Ferry. then
across western Virginia, Kentucky and
Missouri.
In July. 1861 the battle Of Bull Run
was Tough. The union was beaten bad
ly. The rest of 1861 was spent in drill
ing the soldiers but in 1852 the confed-
crate army in Kentucky was driven
back. The next battle was that Of Shi-
lob or Pittsburg Landing, a victory for
the union. The confederates now turn
ed and rushed across Tennessee and
Kentucky but were beaten at Perryville
Ky. They then went into winter quar-
tiers at Murfreesboro, where they were
attacked by union soldiers and badly
beaten. This was fought Dec. 81, 1851
to January 2, 1862. In September 1862
the battle Of Antietam Creek was
fought. The union won. After this came
the battle Of Fredericksburg which was
great loss to the union.
Lincoln now issued his emancipation
proclamation. When the armies Of Lee
and Mcclellan were facing each other
at Antietam he decided if Lee was
beaten to issue an emancipation proc
lamation. Lee was beaten and on Sept.
% the proclamation came forth declar-
ing that on January /, 1868 all persons
held as slaves in any states or part of
state then in rebellion against the U.
S. shall be then, thenceforth and for
ever free.
The great battle of Gettysburg was
fought July l to 8. 1863. 1t was an aw-
ended Lees plan for taking the war
into the north. Then followed the bat
ties Of Vicksburg and Port Hudson
both victories for the north which open
ed the Mississippi river and cut the
confederacy in two. The battles Of
Chickamauga and Chattanooga now
took place. both union victories.
On May 4. 1854 Sherman started on
his march through Georgia.
In April 1865 Lee found himself un-
able to hold Richmond and Petersburg
any longer and on April 9 he surrend
cred to Grant at Appomattox court
house west Of Richmond. Johnson sur
rendered to Sherman near Raleigh, N
C. April 26. Jefferson Davis was cap.
tured at Irwnville, Ca. on May 10. 1861
and the war on land was over. The
union had won the war Total number
of troops was 2,772,40S On March 4
1865 Lincoln was reelected as president
with Andrew Johnson as vice president
On the night Of April IA, while Lin.
coin with his wife and some friends wa.
seated in a box at Ford's theater ir
Washington he was shot by an actor
who had stolen up behind him HI
died the next morning and our counts