Before Lincoln took office, seven states had declared their secession from the Union. They established a Southern government, the Confederate States of America on February 4, 1861.[98] They took control of federal forts and other properties within their boundaries with little resistance from outgoing President James Buchanan, whose term ended on March 4, 1861.
- January 2: South Carolina troops take control of dormant Fort Jackson in Charleston harbor.
- January 3, 24, 26: Georgia state troops take Fort Pulaski at the mouth of the Savannah River on January 3, the United States Arsenal at Augusta, Georgia on January 24, and Oglethorpe Barracks and Fort Jackson at Savannah, Georgia on January 26.
- January 4, 5, 30: Alabama seizes the Mount Vernon, Alabama United States Arsenal on January 4, Fort Morgan and Fort Gaines at the entrance to Mobile Bay on January 5 and the U.S. Revenue Cutter Lewis Cass at Mobile, Alabama on January 30.
- January 6–12: Florida troops seize Apalachicola, Florida Arsenal on January 6 and Fort Marion at Saint Augustine on January 7. On January 8, Federal troops at Fort Barrancas or Barrancas Barracks at Pensacola, Florida fire on about 20 men who approach the fort at night. The men flee. After the Federal troops move from Fort Barrancas to Fort Pickens on Santa Rosa Island, Florida in Pensacola Harbor on January 10, Florida forces seize Barrancas Barracks, Fort McRae and the Pensacola Navy Yard on January 12.
- January 9: South Carolina state troops at Charleston fire upon the [unarmed] merchant ship Star of the West and prevent it from landing reinforcements and relief supplies for [union controlled] Fort Sumter. After being struck twice, the ship heads back to New York.
- January–February: Louisiana state troops seize the United States Arsenal and Barracks at Baton Rouge and Fort Jackson and Fort St. Philip near the mouth of the Mississippi River on January 10,the United States Marine Hospital south of New Orleans on January 11, Fort Pike, near New Orleans, on January 14, Fort Macomb, near New Orleans, on January 28, the U. S. Revenue Cutter Robert McClelland at New Orleans on January 29, the United States Branch Mint and Customs House at New Orleans and the U.S. Revenue Schooner Washington on January 31 and the U.S. Paymaster's office at New Orleans on February 19.
And thus begins Lincoln's struggle to end southern secession at the cost of 360,000 Union and 260,000 Confederate war dead.
ReplyDeletejr: Thanks for the comment. Given that the CSA was the initial aggressor, one might better write that "And thus begins Davis' struggle . . ." But for these initial attacks and Fort Sumter, perhaps something peaceful could have been worked out. However, it was obvious that some people were not interested in a peaceful solution. If Congressmen from the seceding states had stayed in Congress, perhaps the Corwin Amendment could have at least been a starting point for a peaceful settlement. Obviously on May 6, 1861 the CSA was not interested in a peaceful settlement.
ReplyDeletehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corwin_Amendment
Of course, it takes two to make a war, but only one to start it.