USA > Delaware > History of Delaware : 1609-1888 > Part 85
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Delaware Regiment early in 1862. The patriotic citizens of Sonth Mil- ford raised a large pole and fag in Meit, 1862. Speeches were made by Dr. W. C. Davidson and Charles P. Masten. The Lidie's of Delaware City aiso forwarded many comforts and dunties to the sick and wounded soldiers in May, 1st !. The Union men of Ofletown raised a large flag the 21st of June, 1x62. The meeting was addressed by S. M. Harring- tou, Jr.
A large and enthusiastic Union meeting was held at Dover, June 24, 1862, which was aldressel by Mesers. N. B Sunthers, Edwin Wilmer, Win. P. Lord, N. B. Knight, James R. Lotland and e. H. B. Diy.
On July 24, lah2, the citizens of Saves County had a grand Union demonstration at Georgetown, where addresses were delivered by Hon. George P. Fisher, N. B smithers, J.wob Moore and Hon. C. s. Layton.
A large and successful festival was held at spinnt Bridge on October 1, 1×62. The object was to procure fonds lor the reliet of the sick au-l wounded soldiers. Addresses were made by N. B. Smithers, E. G. Bradford and Rev. E. J. Way.
One of the largest and most enthusiastic meetings ever held at Mid- dletown came off on the 250 of October, 1994. speeches were delivered by Hon. George P. Fisher, Phihp & White, of Philadelphia, N. B. Southers, Edward G. Bradford and Elward Wilmer. Resolutions strongly in favor of the C'mon were adopted.
There was a great Umion meeting at Dover, June 9, 1863, at which Speeches were made by James M. Monet, of New Jersey ; Hou. David Dudley Field, of New York ; Hon, Henry Wister Davis, of Maryland ; Hon. Judge Bond, of Baltimore ; and Major-General Schenck, com- mander of the Middle Department, I mited states Army.
3on the first Monday in November. Isul, llon. George P. Fisher, then a mouther of Congress from Delaware, received a dispatch from Mont- pinnery Bhur, stating that President Lincoln desired his immediate provence in Washington. Judge Fisher did not know what was desired of Ini, but after some thought coneluded it was in relation to the slaves in the State. He replied that he would be in Washington ina few days The Legislature was to meet the next day, and upon its adjournment on Wednesday Judge Fisher went to Washington, and called on the Presi- deut. lle felt certain of the ulyect of the summons by this time, and opened the conference by saying: " I siquer you want to see me about the slovesin Delaware?" The following thalogue then ensued :
President Lincoln-" That is it exactly.'
Judge Fisher-" How much are jan willing to give if I could procure the passage of a law by our Legislature to emancipate the slaves, and what proposition have you to make ."
Postlent Lop ola -" How many shwe, have you ?"
Judye Poker -- " Seventeen hundred and minety-eight, or say an even eighteen hundred."
President Lincoln-" For mancipate your clases I will give, by instal- ments for ten years, three hamlied dollars per hea I for the men, women and children, young, off and decrepit."
Julge Fisher desired more than this, and replied : " We must have five hitudrel dollars for each one."
The Prespleut, after a while, agreed to give this. Indze Fisher's ob- jeit in striking the best barzam he conld, was to procure to each -lave- bol let lor lus slave the compensation a cording to his value in this State, and the surplus between the real value and the five-hundred-dollir py- mient to be made by the United states to be appropriated to public im-
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346
HISTORY OF DELAWARE.
The second session of the Thirty-seventh Congress convened at Washington on the 2d of December, 1861. The State was represented in the Senate by Hon. James A. Bayard and Willard Faulsbury, in the House by Hon. George F. Fi-her. In the Fenate, on the 4th of December. Mr. Saulsbury offered the following joint resolution proposing a conference for the settlement of the existing national difficulties. This was the only proposition made at this session which contemplated a peaceful adjustment of the difficulties between the North and south. It was publicly declared in South Carolina that " more was to be feared from this proposition than from all the armies of the North :"
" WHEREAS, the peuple of the States of Virginia, North Carolina, Sonth Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Mabama, Mississipga, Louisiana, Tex- as, Arkansas and Tentes-re are in revet agaulist the constitutional fi- ernment and antlimity of the United states and have assumed to serele from the Federal & mon, and to form an independent government under the name of the Confederate States of Amarina ; AND WHEREAS the Coll- gress of the United States, approving the sentiment expressed by the President in huis autmal on-sage, that the L'union must be preserved, and bence all indispensalde means must be englived, and iwheving that kind and fraternal feeling between the people of all the states is indis- pensable to the maintenance of a baggy atul prosper us l'uion, and being willing to manifest stich fu lings on their par, to the end that peace may be restored to a distracted country, and the Union and Consti- tution be preserved and maintained , and inviting the co-operation of the people of the aforesind states in the accomplishment of objects so beneficial to each and all, do resulve as follows:
" Resolved, by the Sennte und House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled. That Millard Fillmore, Frank- lip Pierce, Roger B. Taney, Elword Everett, George JI. Dallas, Thomas Ewing, Horace Binney, Reverdy Johnson, John J. Crittenden, George E. Pugh and Richard W. Thompson be, and they are hereby appointedI commissioners on the part of Congress, to confer with a like number of commissioners to be appointed by the states atoresand, for the preserva- tiun of the U'nion and the maintenance of the Constitution, and that they report the result of their said conference to Congress for approval or rejection.
" Resolved, That upon the appointment of commissioners, as hereby invited, by said States, and upon the meeting of the joint commission for the purpose of conference as aforesaid, active hostilities shall crase
provenients and education. A long conversation ensued, in which the President assured Judge Fisher that a bill could be passed through Con- gress tipon the basis indicatol, and that Owen Lovemy, of Illinois, in the House, and Charles Puniner, in the Senate, would be its champions, and all that Judge Fisher woubl have to do would be to attend to the matter at the Delaware end of the line, as he would attend to it at Washington. He then put Judge Fisher in communication with Thom- as A. Scott, who was at that time Assistant Serverary of War, they have ing previously agreed upon the provisions to be incorporated in the bill, and it was prepared by Judge Fisher and the Hon, N. B. smathers. They were that the emancipation of the slaves was to be accomplished in ten years, for which the government of the l'inter states was to pay to the State of Delaware nine hundred thin and dollars, -ninety thou-and dol- lars each year. After seeing General S ott, Judge Fisher came directly home, at the instance of the President, to feel the pulse of the State in regard to the matter, and almost everybody to whom he metitioned the subject was in favor of it. A caucus of the friends of the measure was held, including a nutuler of the members of the Legislature, N. B. Smithers, Bengamin Burton, William Ellegood, Jauch Moore, Harami W. Short and James R. Lofand. Thr conferetur was ). Id in Mr. sunthers' house, and the object was to ascertain whether it womb the possible to make arrangements for the passing of the nomisure, their intention being not to intro Intr it until they were assured of its pui-sage through both Houses. The Dome rats had a nagonty in the House of Represen- tatives and in the Senate. Agents were randoved to ascertain whether the hill could be passed, and to make proper efforts to pass it. Two men- bers of the Democratic party in the House det lared themselves in favor of the bill, and two members of the same party in the Senate. The Senate was secured and ten in the House, but it was not offered for the reason that our man, and theonly man in the enthe lady who had been elected as a distinctively Lincoln man, could not be induced to say he would support the ball
President Lincoln's bles in having the ball passed was to carry out one of his favorite ideas- to bring the Rebellion to a peaceful close. If the scheme had succeeded in Delaware, Maryland was to be tried next, and each of the border states, until slavery was abolished in them, and then It was thought the slave States would lali in line and agree to simular bills.
and be sit-fended, and shall not be renewed 000000 - - in riointe-sen be madde tongue, or in case of an agreement by thum, saula_ shall be rejected either by Congress or by the afuir-and states."
Mr. Sumner, of Massachusetts, objected to the re- ception of the resolutions, but they were, however, received and laid on the table.
The first proclamation of the President, orderir : seventy-five thousand men into the field on April 14. 1861, for three months, was followed by another on May 3d, calling into service forty-two thousand and thirty-four volunteers for three years. By an act of Congress of July 22d the States were asked to furnish five hundred thousand volunteers, to serve for three years or during the war.
The enlistment and organization of troops were en- tered upon with great activity and warm popular ap- probation during the ensuing three months, when it was restricted. Many circumstances aided the enlist- ment. The cause of the Union was approved, a general stagnation or inactivity pervaded all indus- trial pursuits, and multitudes were partially or wholly unemployed, and the wages offered to the soldier were extremely liberal. The pay offered pri- vates by the United States was thirteen dollars per month, and a bounty of one hundred acres of land at the close of the war. In addition, many of the States gave to each married citizen volunteer about one dol- lar per week for his wife, and in proportion for each child of his family between certain ages. Where such a sum was not given to the family of the private by the State, it was in numerous instances bestowed by the city or town in which he lived. The pay of officers was on an equally liberal scale, and civilian> in profitable social positions, as well as those in no position, aspired in the rawest state to obtain the rank of officers. Too many unworthy persons were successful. It cost the government millions, and re- quired the efforts of all the military skill in the country to bring the accumulated mass up to the dis- cipline and order of an approved army. On the 1st of December, 1861, the number of soldier> Delaware had in the field was estimated by the War Depart- ment at two thousand.
On the 5th of August, 1862, Governor Burton was notified that a draft of three hundred thousand men would immediately be called into the service of the United States, to serve for nine months, unless sooner discharged, and that a special draft would also he made to fill the quota for the three hundred thousand volunteers, which had not yet been supplied. The State having no provision for calling out the militia, the Governor was instructed to appoint othcer, to make out the rolls of men subject to the draft at the expense of the general government. Under the first call the quota of Delaware was one thousand seven hundred and twenty men, and a like number under the second, making a total of three thousand four hundred and forty men. Deducting the enrollment of Colonel Grimshaw's Fourth Regiment, and of Cap- tain Nield's batters, at that time forming, the State
347
THE CIVIL WAR.
was called on to supply two thousand two hundred in Wilmington of two Confederate spies, and a close and ninety men. Under the existing state of affairs, watch was kept upon theit movements. They, how- ever, iett the chy, and repaired to the powder works of the Mes-rs. l'a Point. os the Brandywine, for the Ostensible purpose of obtaining a plan of the works and its approaches. Av 10,80 P.M., on the same right, Colone! Grimshaw. Lieutenant-Colonel Tevis, Capt.un Gist and Lieutenant Toner started in pur- suit and overtook thets at a house near the Rising Ene tavern, and made the arrest. The parties proved to be Captain \'Kvofe, of the Confe.lerate army, and luis friend named Ryan. They at first .stontly demed the charge against them, but subsequently made a full confession and stated they were direct from Memphis, Tennessee, via Cincinnati, Ohio. They were immediately searched and large sums of money were found upon them. They were then conveyed to Camp Da Pont and kept closely guarded until the 19th of September, when they were, by order of the Secretary of War, to whom the facts were reported, sent to Fort Delaware. this was a large number to place in the field within the allotted time, the draft having been ordered for September 1, 1862. The Governor succeeded in se- curing an extension of time until the 25th of Septem- ber, and the enrollment of men was pushed with all possible dispatch. The bounty fund of these volen- terry was increased by the act of the Philadelphia, Wilmington and Baltimore Railroad Company, which appropriated three thousand dollars in August, 1602. the States of Pennsylvania and Maryland receiving equal amounts. The Levy Court of New Castle County was urged to appropriate fitty thousand dul- lars for such a fund by one of the largest war meet- ings ever held in the county.1 In Wilmington one hundred property-holders also agreed to sign bonds to indemnify the City Council for such appropria- tions as it might make, not exceeding fifty thousand dollars, and that body did appropriate twenty-five thousand dollars on the 12th of August, 1802, to en- conrage enlistments. Other municipalities in the The fund for the relief of the families of enlisted men was liberally maintained, amounting to $10,051 in August, 1863 ; and from November of that year until February, 1863, relief was afforded to five hun- dred and forty-six families. This generous support was continued until the close of the war. State took similar action, and with a prospect that the State would pass a bill, equalizing the counties, volunteering was hurried forward.2 Having a pros- peet of filling the quota with enlisted men, the Secre- tary of War granted the Governor a further exten- sion from the draft until October 15, 1862, and before the expiration of that time the quota of militia had been supplied, and the draft from the State of Dela- ware was annulled by order of the President.
The incursions of the Confederates into Maryland caused great anxiety at Wilmington for the safety of the city, and on the 6th of September, 1862, Mayor Gilpin issued a proclamation recommending all loyal citizens to unite in forming companies for the purpose of defending the city against attacks, and that they should devote two hours each day to military duty. Arms were to be furnished, upon proper applica- tion to the authorities having them in charge.1 Under this recommendation, the "Reno Guards" were at once formed at Pusey & Scott's morocco factory. P. R. Cummins was appointed captain.
The proximity of the Du Pont Powder Works and their threatened destruction by the enemies of the Union, were matters of much concern to the people of Wilmington. A sharp lookout for suspicions characters was constantly kept, and on the evening of September 17, 1862, information was privately received by Colonel A. 11. Grimshaw, of the arrival
1 The meeting was held at the City Hall, Wilmington, on August 6, 1502. Hon, John Wales presided, and he and Hlou. Win. O. Kelley, of Philadelphia, N. B. Smithers, Edward 1, Bradford, Havs. James S. Dickerson and George Quigley addressed the meeting.
2 Several of the Confederate soldiers, who were prisoners at Fort Dela- ware and expected to be sent South, took the oath of allegiance and joined the Fourth Delaware Regine nt.
3 In pursuance of the proclamition of the mayor, an immense meet- ing of the citizens of Wilmington was bell ut the City Hill for the purpose of organizing into military companies, "to defend the city and State hom rebellion aml mva-ion." The meeting was addressed hy Hon. John Wales, Captain H. C. Biddle, Joshua T. Heald. Birv. Mr. Freas, Thomas Roberts and Dr. Harlan. Resolutions were pasard in favor of forming THE NATIONAL GUARD OF DELAWARE.
The First, Second and Third Delaware Regiments were engaged in the battles in Western Maryland in the campaign of 1862, and their gallant conduct re- flected the highest credit on their State. The battle of Antietam was the first engagement in which some of the troops fought, and they displayed the gallantry of veterans, suffering severe loss. The Second Dela- ware Regiment in the battle of Antietam acted with the greatest bravery and daring. In their charge they captured the colors of the Sixteenth Mississippi Confederate Regiment. The loss of the Second Del- aware was seventy killed and wounded out of three hundred and fifty men taken into action. The bodies of Captains Watson and Rickards, who were killed at Antietam, reached Wilmington September 27, 1862, and were laid in state in the City Hall until they were borne to their final resting-place in the Wil- mington and Brandywine Cemetery. The procession was one of the most imposing that ever took place in the city, the stores and business places along the route of march being closed.
The First and Second Delaware Regiments took a conspicuous part in the battle of Fredericksburg. The Fourth Regiment of Delaware Volunteers left Wilmington for the seat of war on November 10, 1562. After the battle of Antietam the First Regi- ment was stationed at Bolivar Heights, Harper's Ferry, and then marched to Falmouth, opposite Fredericksburg. Va. Captain Neild's battery of ar- tillery lett Wilmington for Washington on December 20, 1862. As a testimonial of the appreciation of his gallant services at the battle of Antietam, Colonel J. W. Andrews, of the l'irst Regiment Delaware Volun-
343
HISTORY OF DELAWARE.
teers, was presented with a handsome sword. In June, 1863, a beautiful sword was also presented to Lieutenant Colonel Stricker, of the Second Delaware Regiment, by his officers. In the engagements at Chancellorsville, on the Rappahannock, the First and Second Regiments lost heavily.
At the election. November 2, 1562, William Cannon, the Republican Union candidate from Bridgeville, was elected by a small majority Governor for four years. The Secretary of State, appointed by the Governor, was Nathaniel B. Smithers, of Dover. Governor Cannon received 8155 votes, and Samuel J. Jefferson. the Democratic candidate, 8044 votes. For Congress, William Temple, the Democratic candidate, had 8051 votes, and was elected ; the Republican Union candidate, George P. Fisher, having only $014. The Senate, composed of nine members, had five Demo- crats and four Republican Union members, and the House, which had twenty-one members, had fourteen Democrats to seven Republican Union.
The receipts into the State Treasury for the year ending January 1, 1862, were 897,810.50, and the ex- penditures for the same period were $76,414.04, of which $38,989.05 were for general purposes, and $37,428.99 for education. The State had no debt, but possessed a general fund of $771,750, and a school fund of $431,392. The census valuation of the State in 1860 was 846,242,181. The assessors' valuation in 1862, which omitted all property exempt from taxa- tion, was 841,521,498. The total taxes of the State were 8121,121.36. There were fourteen banks in the State, which in May, 1862, had an aggregate capital of $1,915,010, a circulation of about $1,000,000, and $250,000 in specie. Small as is the territory of the State, it then had 137 miles of railroad, which cost, for road and equipment 84,312,129, and one canal, the Chesapeake and Delaware, 12.63 miles in length. There were 296 publie schools in the State. In 1861, 15,036 children attended the schools, which were maintained at an average period of 6.97 months. The whole amount expended for school purposes was $85,333,03. Of this sum, 833,359.49 was derived from the school fund and $53,485.08 was raised by con- tribution, and of this, $37,731.80 (more than two- thirds) was raised by New Castle County. The income of the general school fund is distributed to the counties according to their population in 1830, and the income of the United States surplu, fund equally to each county. By this arrangement, in 1862, New Castle County, which had 54.736 inhabit- ants, received $12,807.86, and Sussex County, which had only 29,615 inhabitants, received $12,011.22.
The aggregate manufactures of the State in 1962 were 89,920,000, and consisted principally of shipping flour and meal, steam-engines and machinery, railroad cars, carriages, lumber, cotton and woolen goods, and boots and shoes. The cash value of the farms of the State at that time was $31, 426,357, which, taking into account the small amount of territory in the State, was as high as most of the other States.
In 1963 the people of the State were much excite ! over the cou lier between Governor Cannon and tl. "opposition," of Democratic Representatives in t! Legislature, It was brought about by the last min .. sage of Governor Burton to the Legislature before 1 ... retired from office. In it he said :
" The sulgest Eret in ing ortante to which I shall invite your i't tous store vinile affects the interests, sights, puistleges and lit. .. of the people of Delaware ban any other, perhaps, who lever enz .. the attention ausi debbatati te of the tioneral Assembly of this Stat. . . the tourel tri of the government, and the Entire existence of the ernamens steel is not is involved imate jste-a new and novelu- the milrets p ker I the Federal _ sernement, which, at tolerated ciTtrs ont in m ence, will most inevitably result in the pervetsin the principles and power of the government and its ultimate and to Cestruich n
"I allude to the il wartsamble and unconstitutional arrests of .. . peaceful and loyal en zens, whatthey they are deprived of their liter and made somat>> of loathsome fort, and common jails, without any that retired against them in a legal form bring naute known to them . 1 denied the privilege of being heard and of confronting their city even of being on forand who, they are and of the nature and character .. the hargue, if any, against them
"I alo refer to the amas ful and .n.preo lented interference on the mait of the general government, with our peaceful and law-abiding tat .- zese, in the constantimal and righttal exercise of their elective than. chise, by the introduction into the state of a large number of Unit. I States troops on the day mannedhely preceding the day of the late general election, amounting, de nearly as can be acertainel, to al out three thousand, consisting of artillery, infantry and cavalty, accompanied ey Ma or-Gereral John C. Wool, of the , nited states Army, and by Lim distributed and stationed of the day of the election at all the pre Is in Keut nud Sussex Counties, (cept two, and at some of the poils in New Castle County, under the command and control of provost mai -lisis, win, it is said, were appointed for that purpose for each and every hun- dred, en office entirely unknown to the Constitution and law of the land."
The persons who were appointed the Governor goes on to say, were mostly of low character, and unfit for any such purpose. The message also condemned the sending of the troops and says there was no necessity for it, as their presence was to preserve the peace, and he recommended the passage of an act to prevent the occurrence of such things in the future.
The first of these two subjects acted upon by the Senate was the one in relation to troops at the polls. On the 7th of January Dr. Gove Saulsbury intro- duced the following joint resolution in the Senate and moved its adoption :
" Resolved by the Senate ant House of Representatives in General Assim- bly met, That so much of the Governor's Mesenge us refers to the inter ference by troops in the United States with elections in this State on the 4th day of November last, Un referred to a committee of - nichi- bers on the part of the Senate and of - members on the part of the House of Representatives ; and that said Committee have power to sen i for persons and papers, and leave to report by bill or otherwise."
This resolution went over one day under the rules. The resolution came up the next day and the blank for the Senate was filled by "three " and that of the House by five. The House the same day concurred in the Senate resolution, as did the Senate in a similar res- olution passed by the House. Gove Saulsbury, Thoma- Cahall and William HFitch were appointed on the part of the Senate and James Williams, John Slay. William B. Stubbs, William D. Waples and G. W. Horsey on the jArt of the llouse.
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