USA > Delaware > History of the state of Delaware, Volume I > Part 19
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Under the calls made from time to time by the President for soldiers, drafts were ordered to procure from this state its quota of the men required. These drafts were unpopular, particularly in Kent and Sussex Counties, and at times it was feared that great disorder and possibly bloodshed might ensue. Nothing serious of this nature occurred, however, and comparatively few men were drafted from Delaware owing to the fact that the State had responded most generously with volunteers. The official report furnished to Congress by the Secretary of War some months after the close of the war showed that the aggregate number of troops furnished by Delaware during the war was 13,651. Out of this number 10,303 were known as three years' men, either serving that length of time or entering the service pledged to a term of that length.
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William Cannon, after a service, as Governor, of two years and three months, died at nis residence in Bridgeville on March 1st, 1865, after a brief illness of typhoid fever. The Speaker of the Senate, Dr. Gove Saulsbury, became his suc- cessor. This gave to the Democrats control of the executive department as well as the legislative, and this control of all departments in the State remained with the Democrats for thirty years.
The thirteenth amendment to the Constitution of the United States providing for the abolition of slavery throughout the country was submitted to the General Assembly of Delaware and by it rejected on February 8th, 1865, by the following vote.
In the Senate-Yeas, Messrs. John P. Belville, John F. Williamson, Isaac S. Elliott-3. Nays, John H. Bewley, Thomas Cahill, Henry Hickman, William Hitch, James Ponder, Gove Saulsbury-6.
In the House-Yeas, John A. Alderdice, John A. Duncan, Andrew Eliason, James H. Hoffecker, John G. Jackson, Elias N. Moore, Merritt H. Paxson-7. Nays, Charles M. Adams, Wm. F. Carney, Henry C. Douglas, Wm. Dyer, Wm. D. Fowler, Abner Harrington, John Hickman, Benjamin Hitch, Shepard P. Houston, John Jones, Miles Messick, James Stuart, Henry Todd, John S. Wilson-12.
The War of the Rebellion formally came to a close on April 2d, 1866, the announcement being made by proclamation of the President of the United States. The loyal people of Dela- ware upheld the war in a generous way; they gave most liberally of their means and labored with a fidelity worthy of all praise. The Tilton Hospital, named after Dr. James Tilton, was erected on the plot or square of ground bounded by Ninth and Tenth, Tatnall and West Streets in the city of Wilmington and was ready for the reception of sick and dis- abled soldiers in the early days of the war. Relief associations were formed and maintained at various points throughout the State, and the women of Delaware rendered inestimable ser- vice in caring for the sick and wounded.
Delaware co-operated with enthusiasm in the holding of the Great Central Fair of the Sanitary Commission which was
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opened in Philadelphia in 1864. This Fair attracted great at- tention and realized for the commission over a million dollars. Samuel M. Harrington, Jr., who, at that time, was Secretary of State under Governor Cannon, was untiring in his efforts in assisting the enterprise and rendered invaluable services to it. He was the leading spirit from Delaware, although he was seconded in a hearty way by the loyal citizens throughout the State.
During the war Fort Delaware was fully garrisoned, it be- ing thought possible that the seat of war might shift to the Delaware River, the fort being one of the main defences for Philadelphia if a fleet should attempt to reach that city by the river. Early in the war the fort was selected as a place of confinement for Confederate prisoners, and many of the short term soldiers enlisted from Delaware served their periods of enlistment at the fort. It is estimated that over 15,000 pris- oners were held at Fort Delaware during the war.
In the Civil War Delaware contributed its full quota to the army and navy, and from those who enlisted not a few won distinguished official position. Henry Hall Lockwood, who commanded the First Regiment of Delaware Volunteer In- fantry, was born in Kent County, Delaware, August 17, 1814. He entered West Point Academy in 1832, and graduating in 1836, was attached to the Second Artillery as second lieuten- ant. He served in the Seminole War, and resigned his com- mission in 1837. In 1841 he was appointed Professor of Mathematics in the United States Naval Academy, and served until 1861 in that capacity. During this period, while at- tached to the frigate " United States," he was engaged at the capture of Monterey in 1847, serving as adjutant of a land de- tachment from his vessel. At the breaking out of the late Civil War he left his chair as instructor and attached himself to the First Delaware Volunteers as colonel on May 25, 1861. On August 8th of the same year he was commissioned briga- dier-general of volunteers, and in November commanded the expedition to the eastern shore of Virginia, and from January
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to June, 1863, was in command of the defenses of the lower Potomac. General Lockwood participated in the Battle of Gettysburg July 1-3, 1863, and subsequently was placed in command of Harper's Ferry, afterward succeeding General Schenck, at Baltimore, as commander of the Middle Depart- ment. In 1864 he participated in the campaign before Rich- mond, and was also in the engagement near Hanover Court- House. He commanded the provincial troops at Baltimore in 1864, when that city was threatened with a raid by Gen- eral Early. On being mustered out of the volunteer service in August, 1865, General Lockwood returned to the Naval Academy, and continued there until 1871 as Professor of Natural and Experimental Philosophy. In 1871 he was transferred to the Naval Observatory at Washington, and re- mained until August 14, 1876, when he was placed on the re- tired list. After his retirement General Lockwood lived in Georgetown. His wife was a daughter of Chief Justice Booth, of Delaware.
Thomas A. Smyth was captain of Company C, Delaware Blues, at the beginning of the Civil War, which company, leaving Wilmington on April 30, 1861, was the first to be mustered into the service from Delaware. He was born De- cember 25, 1832, in Ballyhooly, county of Cork, Ireland. His parents were Thomas and Margaret Smyth. His father being a farmer, young Thomas was raised on the farm and was afforded a limited opportunity only for the acquiring of an education. He came to America in 1854 and settled in Philadelphia, and four years later took up his residence in Wilmington where he was married to Amanda M. Ponder. He early showed a tendency toward military life and on the breaking out of the Civil War, having previously been an offi- cer in a militia company in Wilmington, was among the first to raise a company for active service in the field. Becoming impatient of the delays encountered, he took his company to Philadelphia where it was accepted as Company H, in the Twenty-fourth Pennsylvania Volunteers, commanded by Colonel Joshua T. Owen.
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His superior officer bore testimony to the fact that Smyth was a man of remarkable judgment, tact and penetration, and that his bravery and prudence frequently prompted him to send Captain Smyth on expeditions where dangers were likely to be encountered. At the end of the three months' service Smyth was chosen Major of the First Delaware Regiment in October, 1861. At the battle of Antietam he displayed great personal bravery and attracted much attention by his coolness and ability. Both in this fight and in the battle of Fred- ericksburg he was commended by his superior officers. In a short while he was promoted to be Lieutenant Colonel and a month or so afterward was commissioned Colonel of the regi- ment in place of Colonel John W. Andrews who had resigned.
His distinguished bravery at the battle of Chancellorsville led to his further promotion as Brigadier General. It was evident to his commanding officers, by the record he had made that Smyth had in him the kind of material out of which the best soldiers were made and that he was destined to become an officer of mark. Shortly afterwards Colonel Smyth was assigned to the command of a brigade which afforded him a better field for the display of his military tact and ability. Gettysburg was the first engagement in which Smyth commanded a Brigade; here he was conspicuous for bravery in exposing himself at all points where he thought his duty called him. In that engagement his brigade cap- tured nine stands of colors and many prisoners. In the after- noon of the last day of the Gettysburg fight he was wounded in the head by fragments of a bursting shell but he remained on the field until General Hayes, in command of the Division, ordered him to the hospital for surgical attendance.
Both Generals Hancock and Hayes complimented him highly, and recommended him for promotion at once. Later in the summer, he was sent home on sick leave, having con- tracted the remittent, fever, but was back in the field before his Brigade was in another engagement. For a short time he was in command of the famous Irish Brigade but afterwards
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was re-assigned to his old command. On October 1, 1864 he was commissioned Brigadier General. At the time of this promotion his Division was in the trenches in front of Peters- burg and the officers and soldiers in his command were en- thusiastic over the event.
On the 7th of April, 1865, less than two weeks before the close of the war, while in command of his Brigade, at Farm- ville, Va., he was shot by a rebel sharpshooter, and two days later he died. His body was taken to Wilmington for inter- ment. "He was the last General officer on the Union side killed in the war, was the last man wounded in the old Divi- sion which he so ably commanded. He had had three staff officers killed and three horses shot under him" says his biographer, Dr. D. W. Maull. He was buried in the Wil- mington and Brandywine cemetery at Wilmington with mili- tary honors, and his death was mourned by the people at large. A handsome sword presented to General Smyth by some of his Wilmington friends and admirers in January, 1864, is now in the possession of the Historical Society of Delaware.
In the naval service, the Delawarean who attained the highest rank in the Civil War was Samuel Francis DuPont. He was a son of Victor Marie DuPont de Nemours. He was appointed a midshipman in the navy from the state of Dela- ware on December 19, 1815. With a continual service in the navy, and meritorious services during the war with Mexico he became captain in 1855 and at the breaking out of the Civil War was in command of the Philadelphia Navy Yard. He took prompt and energetic measures when communications were cut off at Washington, to send a naval force to the Chesapeake, to protect the landing of troops at Annapolis. He served as President of the Naval Board which convened at Washington in June, 1861, to elaborate a general plan of naval operations against the Confederate states. A month later he headed the expedition which sailed from Norfolk, the fleet under him being the largest that had ever been com- manded by an American officer.
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In the November following he successfully attacked the strong fortifications at Port Royal, South Carolina. His victory at this place is justly regarded as one of the most bril- liant achievements of our navy, and it had a wonderful moral and political effect on the Union cause at the time.
DuPont followed up this victory by reducing other Con- federate fortifications along the coast to the southward. In the year following, in recognition of his services, DuPont re- ceived the thanks of Congress and was appointed rear admiral. His service at sea was most distinguished, and in addition thereto he was almost constantly employed on duties of im- portance looking to the improvement and development of the navy. He was the author of several papers on professional subjects. In 1833 Admiral DuPont was married to his cousin Sophie Madeline DuPont. He died at Philadelphia, June 23, 1865.
Another Delawarean who reached high rank in the naval service was Commodore John Pritchet Gillis. He was born in Wilmington, September 6, 1803. His father having died in his boyhood, his mother removed to the state of Illinois from which state young Gillis was appointed a midshipman in 1825. He was commissioned as lieutenant in 1837. During the Mexican War he was with the " Decatur" at the capture of Tuspan, and afterwards acted as Governor of Alvarado and Tlacotalpan. In 1851 he served as first lieutenant on the " Plymouth " while on a voyage to China, and two years later took part in the Japan expedition under Commodore Perry. He was made commander in 1855, and at the beginning of the Civil War in 1861 he commanded the steam sloop "Po- cahontas " on which he brought away the garrison of Fort Sumter, having arrived at the fort an hour before the sur- render. He afterwards commanded the "Monticello" and "Seminole " and for some time was employed in the blockading service. He was commissioned captain in 1862 and about that time commanded a division in the Gulf blockading squadron off Mobile. He was made a commodore on the retired list on
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the 28th of September, 1866, and died at Wilmington, Febru- ary 25, 1873.
Colonel James Hemphill Jones of the U. S. Marine Corps was another distinguished officer in the Civil War. He was a son of Morgan and Mary (Hemphill) Jones, and was born in Wilmington, May 6, 1821.
He was commissioned a second lieutenant in the United States Marine Corps on March 2, 1847, and served with the army in the Mexican War. He was promoted to a first lieu- tenancy in 1853 and accompanied Commodore Perry's expedi- tion to Japan. He was made captain in 1861 and took part in the battle of Bull Run. He served in the Pacific Squadron from 1861 to 1867. In 1864 he was made major and in the same year rose to be lieutenant colonel.
For three years or more he was on duty on the Pacific coast. Later he was stationed at the Boston Navy Yard, and from there went to League Island, Pa., where he had command of the marine barracks. He died in 1879 and was buried in Wilmington. Those who knew him best bore testimony to the fact that he was a true soldier, an honorable man and a most devoted friend. His brother, William Hemphill Jones, was for many years a prominent citizen of Wilmington and afterwards was connected with the Treasury Department at Washington.
DELAWARE SINCE THE CIVIL WAR
1865-1907.
After the close of the civil war there existed for many years a feeling of great bitterness between the political parties in the state. The war had created fierce antagonisms, and the feeling thus engendered could only be allayed by the lapse of time. At the State election held in November, 1865 a bitter struggle ensued between the two parties for control of the State. The Democratic nominee was Gove Saulsbury, who had succeeded as Speaker of the Senate to the governorship
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by reason of the death of Governor Cannon. The Republicans nominated James Riddle, & New Castle County man, and a manufacturer on the Brandywine near Wilmington. For Congress, John A. Nicholson was renominated by the Demo- crats, and John L. McKim of Sussex County was the Republi- can nominee.
The State was thoroughly canvassed and a most energetic campaign ensued. It resulted in the complete success of the Democratic party, the majority for Saulsbury for Governor being 1312, and for Nicholson for Congress, 1380. The Demo- crats had a majority of three in the Senate, and a majority of nine in the House of Representatives. No legislation of im- portance was passed by the General Assembly at its meeting the following January. The Democratic majority in the General Assembly, by a strict party vote, placed itself on record as being opposed to negro suffrage, the question coming before the body on a series of resolutions which were introduced touching the matter of the recent passage by Congress of a bill granting suffrage to negroes in the District of Columbia. The following extract from the resolutions will show how deep- seated was the objection on the part of the Democrats to such an innovation.
" Resolved further, That the immutable laws of God have affixed upon the brow of the white races the ineffaceble stamp of superiority, and that all attempts to elevate the negro to a social and political equality of the white man is futile and subversive of the ends and aims for which the American Government was es- tablished, and contrary to the doctrines and teachings of the Fathers of the Republic."
While the State had been free from debt at the beginning of the war, at its close there was a State debt of over a million dollars arising through the bonds that had been issued to meet the calls of the federal government for soldiers.
Gove Saulsbury, in his message submitted to the session of the General Assembly, which convened on January 3, 1867, expressed himself in strong language against the adoption of the Fourteenth Amendment to the Constitution of the United
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States. This amendment was a month later submitted to the General Assembly for approval or disapproval and was rejected by a vote of 15 to 6. George Read Riddle, while filling the office of United States Senator, died at Washington, March 29, 1867. The vacancy thus created was filled by Governor Saulsbury appointing James A. Bayard. Under this appoint- ment James A. Bayard acted as Senator until the next session of the Legislature. On January 19, 1869, the Legislature elected Thomas F. Bayard to the United States Senate for the full term beginning March 4 following, and on the same day James A. Bayard, father of Thomas F. Bayard, was elected to serve from that date until the 4th of March follow- ing, being the unexpired term of George Read Riddle, de- ceased. This is the only instance in the history of the country where father and son were elected on the same day to the same office ; and on March 4th following, the father, James A. Bayard, was United States Senator up to noon, and Thomas F. Bayard, the son, was sworn in at noon and was the United States Senator for the remainder of that day. This was the beginning of the public life of Thomas F. Bayard.
The adoption of the Fifteenth Amendment by Congress, and its submission to the respective States for ratification, caused much discussion in Delaware, and had the effect of alienating a large number of voters from the Republican party. The conservative class in the community, who had been loyal during the civil war, and who had inclined to give their allegiance to the Republican party, were not prepared to go the length of conferring the right of suffrage upon negroes.
This inclination was shown in the presidential election of 1868, when the Democratic electors received a majority in the State of over 3300, and the Democratic party elected its legis- lative ticket in all three of the counties of the State. The General Assembly which met in January, 1869, contained only two Republican members, Curtis B. Ellison and John G. Jackson, two holding over members of the State Senate from New Castle County. At this session, the Fifteenth Amend-
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ment being submitted to the General Assembly, it was re- jected by a vote of 19 to 2, the Democratic members voting solidly against the Amendment.
About this time much activity was shown in the extension of railroad facilities in the State. The main line of the Delaware Railroad which had been in operation for several years was supplemented by several branches connected there- with. One branch extended from Clayton to Easton, Md., and was known as the Maryland & Delaware Railroad ; another from Seaford to Cambridge called the Dorchester & Delaware Railroad ; a third from Townsend to Centreville and a fourth branch from Harrington by way of Milford and Georgetown, to Lewes, and called the Junction & Breakwater Railroad. A new line of railroad called the Wilmington & Reading was completed in 1869 connecting the City of Wil- mington with Coatesville in Chester County, Pennsylvania.
The Fifteenth Amendment to the Constitution having been duly ratified by the required number of States, the colored people of Delaware joined in a celebration of the event in Wilmington, on April 14th, 1870, and gave expression to their feeling of gratification in the following resolutions, which were adopted at the meeting.
"WHEREAS, The nation has restored political rights to the colored citizens deprived of these rights heretofore simply on the ground of the color of the skin, and
" Whereas, The nation has thus planted itself anew upon the imperishable doc- trines of the Declaration of American Independence,
" Resolved, That our grateful thanks are first due to that God who is Lord of lords and King of kings; who controls the destinies of nations, and who maketh even the wrath of man to praise Him.
" Resolved, That the President, Cabinet, Congresses, Legislatures and loyal people, who proposed and sustained this restoration to us of political rights and privileges, have won our lasting gratitude.
" Resolved, That we hereby pledge to them to prove the fitness of the trust by the worthiness of our conduct. That realizing the responsibilities resting on us, we mean to use the ballot for no merely narrow or selfish ends, but for the best good of the State and nation, thereby aiding to perpetuate a Union which our fathers and their fathers, their and our brothers, together helped to save."
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The meeting was an enthusiastic affair and participated in by the leading colored people of the State.
The political campaign of 1870 proved unusually interest- ing. The Republicans were sanguine that their strength would be so increased by the addition of the colored vote that they could overcome the Democratic majority in the State. It was estimated that at least 4500 negroes in the State could be qualified as voters, admitting on the other hand that some disaffection would result in their own ranks by reason of the colored men voting. The Democrats raised the cry of White Man's Party and a convention was held at Dover pledged to such a party, and a general invitation extended to all white men to unite with the Democratic Party as a white man's party.
The Republicans nominated Thomas B. Coursey, of Kent County, for Governor, and Joshua T. Heald, a Wilinington business man, for Congress. The Democrats nominated James Ponder, of Sussex County, for Governor, and Benjamin T. Biggs, of New Castle County. for Congress ; their platform de- clared that the Federal and State governments were formed for the benefit of white men and denounced the Fifteenth Amendment. At the election the hopes of the Republicans were blighted as but few colored men voted, as compared with the number that were expected to do so; and, as had been predicted, negro suffrage proved very unpopular with many who for years had trained with the Republican party. While the majority was somewhat reduced, the election re- sulted in the triumph of the Democratic party, James Ponder having a majority for Governor of 2324 and Biggs for Con- gress a majority of 2296. The Legislature was unanimously Democratic in both branches.
The federal census of 1870 showed a total population in the state of 125,015, divided as follows among the counties : New Castle, 63,515 ; Kent, 29,804 ; Sussex, 31,696, a total increase over 1860 of 12,799. Governor Ponder in his first message submitted to the Legislature in January, 1871, denounced the extension of suffrage to uneducated negroes and expressed
ELI SAULSBURY. 1817-1893.
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himself as considering such action " unwise in policy, unsound in principle and it would be found to be in practice greatly detrimental to the public interest."
The General Assembly at the session of 1871 was called upon to elect a United States Senator, the term of Willard Saulsbury expiring on the fourth of March following. The nominating caucus held the night preceding the election pre- sented the unique and unusual spectacle of having named in it three brothers for the Senatorship. Willard Saulsbury had been in the Senate for twelve years and was a candidate for re-election. His brother, Gove Saulsbury, had occupied the position of Governor, and for many years had been influential in his party. Eli Saulsbury, a third brother, was a practicing attorney at Dover, and while a pronounced Democrat in poli- tics, had not been in the public eye to the same extent as either of his brothers. The first two ballots showed fourteen votes for Gove, thirteen for Willard, and three for Eli; the third ballot showed fifteen for Gove, fourteen for Willard and but one for Eli, but on the fourth ballot the fourteen votes that had been given to Willard were swung over to Eli, and the two votes which he had at the beginning, joined with the fourteen, made a total of sixteen and gave him the nomina- tion. On this ballot Gove Saulsbury received fourteen votes. The next day, January 17th, Eli Saulsbury was formally elected United States Senator for six years from the fourth of March following.
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