MONDAY 21 Mr Yulee was in my room today and asked me if I thought it best to “coerce” the seceding states. I told him that I thought it best to protect the public property. But says he that is coercion in the opinion of the seceding States. I told him that it mattered little [...]
SUNDAY 20 Cooler today, and quite windy, but did not freeze till night. Did not go to church today. Took care of the house while the rest of the family went. Read the “Times” “Herald” and Partons last Vol of Jackson. There are so many villinous looking fellows roaming about the City, that that [sic] [...]
SATURDAY, JANUARY 19, 1861. This has been a warm and pleasant day, but the streets and crossings very muddy. No particular news is afloat but all classes are looking towards Charleston with much anxiety, as an attack is expected on Ft Sumpter. I went with the boys after office hours to the Navy Yard to [...]
FRIDAY 18 The discussions in Congress are now very pointed and interesting. An attack upon Fort Sumpter is expected since the Prest flatly refuses to Treat with Col Hayne the last Comr from S.C. for its peacable surrender. If the attack is made it will be no holiday job for the “fireeaters.” The weather today [...]
THURSDAY 17 There has been no startling News today, but the right of Secession is contested by all northern men who with the president consider it Revolution. I have not hesitated to call it Treason. I was at Willards this evening. People generaly are less excited than they were a week ago, and since the [...]
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 16, 1861. Another wet misty day. Splashy sidewalks and mudy crossings. Letter from Frank today through Chas dated Fort Kearney, N.T., attached to the U.S. Army acting as comdt clerk, well & healthy. The “Secession fever” seems to me to be rather subsiding. The “Secession” Clerks in the Census Bureau were notified today [...]
TUESDAY 15 Slippery, misty, foggy day. Good skating for the boys this morning in the street. A general impression seems to prevail that that [sic] the troubles of the Country are going to be healed some way, nobody can tell how. But there is a determination manifestly abroad that this Government shall not be broken [...]
MONDAY 14 Something of a snowstorm today. Tonight is more like rain freezing as it falls. The walks are a glade of ice. There appears to be a more hopeful feeling abroad today in reference to the affairs of the country. The Govt is geting into the hands of Union men. The Cabinet is now [...]
SUNDAY, JANUARY 13, 1861. It has been a fine winter day. M. this morning stood at 12. Went to church with wife and boys. Heard a Mr Black of Covington K.Y. a near relative of Mr Sec’y Black. He has evidently mistaken his occupation. Wrote a letter this evening to Col. Paine and took it [...]
SATURDAY 12 Mr Sewards Speech is the great event of the day. Did not hear it. The Senate Chamber was crowded by 9 o’clock. Got letter from Julia through Chas. Wrote her today. Hardly know how to get her Home, or (in fact) whether it is best for her to come here to Washington at [...]
FRIDAY 11 Yesterdays Telegraphic news was incorrect as to Maj Anderson. The “Inteligencer” this morning publishes a letter from an ex-Congressman from the south exposing the treasonable proceedings at their Secret meetings of the Senators from the Cotton States now here. Yulee (brother of the Senator from Fla) in my room today said they were [...]
THURSDAY, JANUARY 10, 1861. The weather is a little colder tonight, just freezing. Exciting news from Charleston. The Steamer “Star of the West” with troops to reinforce Maj Anderson was fired into yesterday and she turned off to Sea. Maj Anderson threatened the City with Bombs if she was again molested. We hear that she [...]
WEDNESDAY 9 Mr Thompson has resigned and another day has passed in the greatest anxiety of all classes to hear from Charleston, but there is no news from there today. The City is arming for self-protection and some Companys of U S troops are expected tomorrow. Fires and Burglaries occur every night. I sleep with [...]
TUESDAY 8 The weather has been moderate today M[ercury]. 44—Streets muddy, and the crossings bad. Statements that troops have been sent to reinforce Maj Anderson at Fort Sumpter created much excitement, a collision is expected. It is reported tonight that the Sec’y of Interior Mr Thompson has resigned, and also that a collision has occured [...]
MONDAY, JANUARY 7, 1861. The weather is soft and rather foggy and some rain. I went to the Bank of the Metropolis today and bot a Draft on N.Y. for $40 and sent to Prest of Elmira College on Julias account. Called upon Doct Fife Dentist with the Note from D Chapman & Co got [...]
SUNDAY 6 It has been said that “there are no Sundays in revolutionary times” and this has been a dark and anxious day. The Members of Congress have been together in small companies trying to agree upon some plan that will satisfy all sides. The news from the South is bad as it can well [...]
SATURDAY 5 People were startled today to hear that the U.S. Forts and Arsenals at Savannah & Mobile had been taken possession of by the Revolutionists. Where this is all to end God only knows. It looks dark for our Country at present. But there is still a strong feeling that the Government will be [...]
FRIDAY, JANUARY 4, 1861. A Mild and pleasant day but I think people feel much like wearing sackcloth and observing the day as recommended. There has been services at most of the churches which were crowded. Myself and wife went to the Capitol to hear Doct Stockton the Chaplin at the “House.” The Hall of [...]
THURSDAY 3 The affairs of the Country appear so desperate that the subject engrosses the attention of all men in all places. Public questions are discussed in my room at the patent office full as much as applications for Patents. It is frequently asked what patents will be worth if the Union is dissolved. But [...]
WEDNESDAY 2 Matters look more hopeful for the Country today. It is now known that the President refused to acknowledge the Commissioners as being anything more than distinguished citizens from the State of S.C. Their last communication to him yesterday was returned to them unanswered. It struck them like a bomshell it was so unexpected. [...]
Washington D.C. TUESDAY, JANUARY 1, 1861. The old year passed away in gloom and sadness and the new one opens today without affording one hopeful ray of light in regard to the future. There seems to be a determination on the part of nearly the whole south to break up the Government. The Comrs from [...]
The first two images are imaginings by artists of actual events after they have occurred. Spiking the Guns in Fort Moultrie, Charleston, S. C., Previous to the Evacuation of the Fort by Col. Anderson and the U. S. Troops Evacuation of Fort Moultrie, and Burning of the Gun Carriages, On Sullivan’s Island, Charleston Harbor, S. [...]
Harper’s Weekly, November 10, 1860 The telegraph has announced the mere fact that James C. Adams, better known as “Old Adams,” or “Grizzly Adams,” is dead. Born in the very eastern woods of Blaine, brought forth in a forest where not even a hut was ready to shelter him, he passed naturally through a rough [...]