The Rebellion Record – A Diary of American Events; by Frank Moore
    

Events Diary, May 1, 1861

–The story of an armistice having been requested by Secretary Cameron was denied as follows:

Wilmington, Wednesday, May 1.
Simeon Draper, Esq., Chairman Union Defence Committee:

There is not a word of truth in any of the newspaper reports of the armistice made or proposed. That sort of business ended on the 4th of March.

………F. W. Seward.

N: Y. Times, May 2.

–A large and enthusiastic meeting of the citizens of Wiscasset, Maine, was held, Wilmot Wood, Esq., presiding. Some spirited resolutions were unanimously passed; and it was recommended to the town to raise $5,000 for the support of families of volunteers who, under the command of Edwin M. Smith, Esq., were enrolled in a company for the defence of the Union.–Boston Transcript, May 7.

–The Baptist State Convention of Georgia, submitted a communication to the Congress of the seceded States at Montgomery, endorsing, approving, and avowing support to, the Confederate Government, and requesting the said Government to proclaim a day of fasting and prayer, “that God will deliver us from the power of our enemies, and restore peace to the country.”–(Doc. 124.)

–The governor of Connecticut sent a message to the legislature of that State, containing the following:– “Col Samuel Colt, of Hartford, on the 25th of April last, offered to the executive his services in promoting the enlistment of a regiment of able-bodied men from the State for the war, and to furnish a sufficient number of his revolving breech rifles for their equipment. To this noble proposition I have replied, expressing my high appreciation of the patriotic offer, and assuring him that the tender of ten companies would at once be accepted, the troops organized into a regiment, the field officers appointed in harmony with the wishes of the regiment and the dignity of the State, and their services placed at the disposal of the General Government. These arms, which are the very latest improvements, with the saber bayonets, would sell in market to-day for over $50,000 in cash. Col. Colt is now actively engaged in enlisting a full regiment for the war, and also furnishing officers to drill and perfect the men in the use of the weapons at his own expense.”–The World, May 3.

–General Harney, in a letter to Col. Fallon of St. Louis, gives an account of his arrest and subsequent release by the authorities of Virginia; declares that he will serve under no other banner than the one he has followed for forty years; denies the right of secession, and implores his fellow-citizens of Missouri not to be seduced by designing men to become the instruments of their mad ambition, and plunge the State into revolution.–(Doc. 125.)

–The Albany (N. Y.) Burgesses Corps arrived at New York, and proceed to Washington to-morrow to join the Twenty-fifth regiment, N. Y. S. M.–(Doc. 126.)

–An attempt was made to blow up the State Powder House, on Brarnhall Hill, at Portland, Me., containing 1,000 kegs of powder, by building a fire at an air-hole outside. It was discovered, and extinguished.–N. Y. Tribune, May 2.

–Gov. Black of Nebraska, issued a proclamation, recommending a thorough volunteer organization throughout the Territory. He has supplied companies with arms and equipments, and seems determined to place Nebraska in the best possible condition of defence.–Idem.

–The remains of the three Massachusetts soldiers who were killed in Baltimore, arrived at Boston in charge of private D. S. Wright, of the Sixth regiment, who was detailed by Col. Jones for the duty. The bodies were taken from the receiving tomb in Baltimore, under the supervision of Mayor Brown, and left Tuesday morning last. The fact was not generally known, but a large crowd gathered at the depot.

Gov. Andrew and staff, the executive council, with the divisionary corps of cadets as an escort, were present to receive the bodies. The coffins were covered with national flags, as were the hearses which bore them to Stone Chapel, under which they were deposited to await final and more public obsequies. On the route to the chapel the band played dirges, and the rapidly-gathered crowds uncovered as the procession moved past.–Boston Transcript, May 2.

–The Montgomery (Ala.) Weekly Post of this day, says:– “There is no longer any doubt as to the position of General Scott. His general order of April 19 will satisfy the most skeptical. He will prove false to the mother which gave him birth.”–(See Doc. 68, p. 78.)

–Collier, of the United States marines, attached to the Minnesota, raised the American flag to-day on the steeple of the Old South Church at Boston, Mass.

At noon the star-spangled banner was raised with great demonstration of enthusiasm from the post-office and customhouse at Baltimore, Mel, by order of the newly-appointed officials. A large crowd assembled in front of the custom-house to witness the flag-raising. A new flag-staff was erected over the portico, and at precisely quarter to twelve, Captain Frazier, a veteran sea-captain of Fells Point, who was assigned the honor, drew up the flag, which, as it spread to the breeze, was greeted with tremendous applause, waving of hats, cheers for the Union and the old flag. The crowd then joined in singing the “Star-spangled Banner.”–N. Y. Commercial Advertiser, May 1.

–William Gray, of Boston, Mass., gave ten thousand dollars for the benefit of the volunteers’ families.–N. Y. Times, May 2.

–The South Carolina College Cadets and the Washington Artillery returned to Charleston, S. C., from duty at the forts in the harbor of that place.–(Doc. 127.)

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