Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-02-17
INCIDENTS LEADING UP
TO WAR BETWEEN STATES
Bitter Feeling Grew Apacc as Issues
Were Discussed In Schools
and on the Forum.
RICHMOND FIRMS EXPERIENCE
Had ShipIoad OF Rifles, Seized by
New York Authorities, When
News Came Of Adoption by Fir-
ginia OF Ordinance of Secession.
ny JOHN TYLER,
veteran of the War Between the stnte

learning in Connecticut-Quite a cos
mospolitan school. for there were stu
dents there from England. South Amer
lea. France, Cuba. Porto Rico and the
Island Of ST. Thomas. West Indies. be-
sides from nearly all OF the Southern
States. Being at this school for three
years, 1 had carried experience there.
! On on one occasion l had as a room
mate Spaniard, man of thirty odd
years. who could not speak English.
I but had come 10 this school to learn our
/ language. Another term had as
roommate a captain in the French
army, Nardau du Trcil by name. who
also came to learn our language. This
put me in contact with both the Span
ish and French languages. which was
a most valuable experience.
"FIGIITING JOE- WHEELER
AT THIS INSTITUTION
The boys at tho school were largely
from the South, among them being Jo-
seph Wheeler. Jr.. from Georgia, aftcr-
wards the great cavalry leader in the
/ Confederate army. j. Pierpont Morgan
was also an alumnus of this institu-
ton.
. North were very active in promulgat-
ing their antislavery doctrines, and, OF
course. the school boys took it up and
lined up-South against North-and at
times the feeling grew very bitter.
You can imagine that this discussion,
having been started among the youth
Of the country. convictions would
strengthen in them as they grew older
and cventuate in very hard feelings
| between the two sections.
About this time-1s52-Mrs. Harriet
Beechcr Stowe published her book,
Uncle Toms Cabin" which wa eager
~ devoured by the people of the North,
and thought to be by them an expos-
ton Of life In the South. This book
had really more to do with the antaE-
onism between the two sections than
any other one thing.
Later when the nomination OF Lin
coin on platform repudiating States
rights came about the feeling in the
South became very strong against the
Northern abolitionists. At this time T
had correspondent in NV York State
who wrote me that he expected to vote
for Lincoln. l replied to him that
should Lincoln be elected there would
be n rupture between the States which
would likely result in war. He replied
that if he thought SO he would not
vote for him. After the war ended
reminded the gentleman referred to OF
my prediction.
About this time Virginia. apparently
ieeilhs somewhat uneasy. began reor-
sanizng her militia and arranged for
regular ori!iing. officers were appoint
ed and uniformed. AT that time the
intt al
Tyler, having military department at
tached TO their business, in which was
employed. were kept busy supplying the
demand for military equipment. such rs
swords, sashes. cpaulets and gold
braids. Later this concern oraerod
rifles TO arm some of our militia COM
panies. and when the ordinance OF Sc
cession was passed. they had in New
York harbor. en- route to Richmond. a
vessel loaded with several thousand
Enfield rifles. which was stopped there
by the authorities. and not allowed TO
sail.
FROM NEW YORK TO
RICHMOND VIA NEW ORLEANS
My father. Mr.. Tyler. Of the firm of
Mitchell & Tyler, was in New York
/ when the news of the secession of
|
difficulty in getting home. He finally
succeeded by making long western
detour, getting through by way OF New
| Orleans. with his trunk fun of Colts
army revolvers. which he secured be-
fore leaving New York.
| The purchase Of arms was made
/ through the firm OF Schuyler, Hartley
e Graham, Of New York. who were
d in fan
place Of business was on Maiden Lane,
New York City. Large purchases Of
military goods were made also Of Hart
man Brothers, or Philadelphia
The firm OF Mitchell & Tyler during
the war employed secret agent TO
run the blockade for them, a Mr.. White.
of Baltimore, who was most success
full in keeping them supplied with mill
tary and other goods. Payments for
these goods had to be made in goods
! or Northern exchange. The latter was
principally gotten from checks on
Northern banks. sent by relatives or
friends In the North to those in the
South and cashed by Mitchell e. Tyler
! one or these checks was held by This
iirm after the war was ended IL was
check for $500. drawn by Mrs. Julia
Gardiner on New York bank i'm favor
OF Julia Gardiner Tyler. the wife Of ex-
president John Tyler. This check was
taken to New YORK after the war by
my father. and left in the hands OF q
lawyer to collect. subsequently. Mt tho
request of my father, Z saw this LAWYER
who advised. es Mrs. Gardiner had died
ana her estate had been settled up. TO
see the executor OF her estate, Judge
Roosevelt, OF New York
found this gentleman most agree
able man, who. on learning that had
been an officer in the Confederate army
piled ME with questions rs to condi-
tons in the South during the war. and
seemed very much Interested AS TO
Mrs. Gardeners check. he said that the
estate having been settled UP, he
did not sec how 1: could BIO collected
unless some Of the family who were in
! terested as lcgatccs chose to assume its