This is the second of a series of posts, generally daily, on the events and milestones related to the Civil War from 160 years before the date posted. This post is a “catch up” post to bring the blog up to date.
- 12/01/1860—Robert Anderson makes his third request for reinforcements at Fort Moultrie
- 12/04/1860—Outgoing President James Buchanan sends a distressed State of the Union message to Congress. In it he states that secession is unconstitutional, says the federal government lacks the authority to prevent it and calls for a constitutional amendment allowing Southern states to retain slaves as property. The message attempts to appease both northerners and southerners. Buchanan views secession as a consequence of the “intemperate interference of the Northern people with the question of slavery” and urges the North to respect the sovereignty and rights of the southern states. At the same time, Buchanan condemns secession and signals his intent to defend any federal forts in the South that come under attack. Both sides are displeased with the speech. The House of Representatives creates a Committee of Thirty-three (one member per state) to study the country’s crisis and issue recommendations.
- 12/08/1860—The first rupture in Buchanan’s cabinet occurs when Secretary of the Treasury Howell Cobb (GA) resigns his post. A former unionist, Cobb has come to believe that the “evil” of Black Republicanism is “beyond control” and must be met with resistance. The same day, a group of South Carolina congressmen visits the White House and encourages Buchanan to relinquish federal property to their state.
- 12/08/1860—Governor Isham Harris calls for a special session of the Tennessee legislature to consider secession.
- 12/10/1860—South Carolina congressmen meet with Buchanan and promise that their forces will not attack U.S. forts before the issue of secession is debated, or the two governments reach an agreement, as long as the military status quo is maintained.
- 12/11/1860—Under orders from Secretary of War John Floyd, General Don Carlos Buell visits Robert Anderson at Fort Sumter. Buell tells Anderson he may occupy any fort that he wants to if he is attacked or feels he is about to be attacked.
- 12/12/1860—Lewis Cass tenders his resignation as Secretary of State over President Buchanan’s refusal to reinforce federal troops in Charleston.
America’s Civil War, Events by Date. Retrieved December 13, 2020, from http://blueandgraytrail.com/; Presented by Georgia’s Historic High Country Travel Association