USA > New Hampshire > Merrimack County > Concord > History of Concord, New Hampshire, from the original grant in seventeen hundred and twenty-five to the opening of the twentieth century, Volume I > Part 51
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President Pierce visited Concord on the second day of October, 1856. But the warmth, spontaneity, and unanimity of welcome which had characterized former presidential visits were somewhat lacking. Those visits, however, were not made at the heated climax of hot political contests, in which the policy of their respective administrations was the burning question at issue. The special features of this reception find minute delineation in another chapter.
In November occurred the presidential election, the national result of which was a Republican defeat ; James Buchanan having received one hundred seventy-four electoral votes, and John C. Fremont one hundred fourteen. But in support of the Republican candidate New Hampshire, on a total vote of more than seventy-one thousand, in- eluding four hundred for Fillmore, chose the Republican electoral ticket by a majority of more than five thousand. To this majority, Concord contributed four hundred fifty-two-being two hundred twelve more than Pierce's majority in 1852. These results in state and town verify the assertion, that nowhere during the great polit- ical campaign had enthusiasm run higher for the "Pathfinder " and his cause ; and that nowhere had the magnetic alliteration, "Fremont and Freedom," signified more than in New Hampshire and its capital.
Four months after the presidential campaign of 1856 New Hamp- shire had to fight another battle, the opening one in the great strug- gle which was to reach decision in November, 1860. Each party did its best : the Democratic, with the sanguine hope of at least dividing the field with the enemy ; the Republican, with confident determina- tion that would accept nothing but complete victory. The result, as the New Hampshire Patriot testified, on the morning after the second Tuesday of March, 1857, was "a complete, sweeping Black Repub- lican triumph." The governor vote showed twenty-four hundred majority, while the majorities for the three members of congress ag- gregated four thousand. Such figures carried with them Republican predominance in the various departments of government, state, coun- ty, and town, where elections turned upon general political issues. It may here be summarily stated that, at the elections of 1858-'60, the average Republican majority on the governor vote was four thou- sand. The figures, however, rose five hundred higher in the re-elce- tion of William Haile in 1858, and in that of Ichabod Goodwin in 1860. Concord, during these four years, never gave less than four hundred Republican majority for the general tieket, and, in 1858, gave five
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hundred lacking six, outdoing any other town or city in the state. From the nine of its ten members of the general court, whom it steadily contributed to the sixty or seventy Republican majority in the house of representatives, Napoleon B. Bryant was chosen speaker in 1858-'59, directly succeeding Edward H. Rollins, who had occu- pied the chair for two terms.
A few days before the March election of 1860, Abraham Lincoln, of Illinois, already recognized as one of the great leaders of Republi- can thought and action in the land, appeared in Concord and ad- dressed the people. His speech was a marvelous effort, of matchless grasp, of cogent logic, and of captivating eloquence, that, from begin- ing to end, held entranced his large audience, convened at short no- tice in Phenix hall, on that rainy afternoon of carly March. The New Hampshire Statesman characterized it as "an argument against the system of Slavery, and in defense of the position of the Republi- can party, from the deductions of which no reasonable man could possibly escape." The Independent Democrat described it as " mas- terly and massive, sweeping away every refuge of modern Democ- racy as smoke is swept before the wind; and producing an effect which cannot but tell on the understanding and conscience of many Democrats who heard."
That masterpiece of political oratory was also a revelation of the clear moral insight and keen political sagacity of the really great and good statesman. Hence, when the orator had closed amid enthusiastic applause that had a heart in every cheer, more than one listener instinctively prophesied to his neighbor, "That man will be the next president of the United States."
Abraham Lincoln had just made his memorable appearance in Con- cord, when the first state election in the year of the nineteenth pres- idential campaign occurred. The result of that election has already been indicated, and was of a character to encourage Republican hopes everywhere, that as New Hampshire had gone in March so the coun- try would go in November. Early subsequent events intensified those hopes to almost absolute assurance. The Republican National Convention met at Chicago on the 16th of May and organized ; unanimously adopted on the 17th a platform unqualifiedly declar- ing opposition to the extension of slavery into territory then free ; and on the 18th nominated Abraham Lincoln of Illinois for pres- ยท ident, and Hannibal Hamlin of Maine for vice-president. The three days' work was received with joyful Republican satisfaction all over the North, nowhere with more than in New Hampshire. In Con- cord,-two of whose citizens, Edward H. Rollins, as a delegate at large, and George G. Fogg, as a member of the National Committee,
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had been upon the ground, and active participants in the proceed- ings,-the news of the nomination of Abraham Lincoln, arriving on the 18th of May, rekindled the enthusiasm of the Fremont cam- paign, and " at sundown," as jubilantly expressed by one newspaper, "The big gun was brought out, and its hundred rousing utterances told the enthusiastic joy of the Republicans, and that their cartridges had not been damaged by long keeping, as not unlikely may be those prepared some time ago by our Democratic friends to be fired in honor of the nomination of Douglas at Charleston."
This playful allusion to damaged ammunition related to the sus- pended result of the Democratic National Convention, which, having met at Charleston, South Carolina, on the 23d of April, had failed, contrary to Northern expectations, of nominating Stephen A. Douglas of Illinois to the presidency. For that convention had split, the friends of Douglas insisting upon a platform favoring congressional non-intervention as to slavery in the territories, coupled with popular sovereignty, while his opponents stiffly insisted upon a platform of non-intervention without the principle of popular sovereignty, but with a worse-that of the Dred Scott Decision which involved the possible practical effect of making the whole country slave territory. At adjourned conventions held at Baltimore in June, the friends of Douglas nominated him for the presidency, while his opponents set up John C. Breckinridge for the same office. Of course, this party disruption, virtually ensuring Republican victory in the coming con- test, could not but dampen Democratic enthusiasm. Yet in Concord, ou the evening of the 27th of June, was held a plucky Douglas demonstration for the purpose of receiving the reports of the New Hampshire delegation in the Charleston and Baltimore conventions. A well-attended meeting convened in Rumford hall, at which Thomas l'. Treadwell presided and made an opening speech. The assemblage then repaired to the stand outside the state house yard and in front of the Eagle hotel, to listen to other speaking. Guns and rockets were discharged, bonfires were lighted in Main street, and the Con- cord Band discoursed patriotic music. The delegation, of which Josiah Minot, of Concord, was one, related their convention experi- ence to a large gathering of citizens of all parties. The speeches of Walter Harriman, of Warner, John H. George, of Concord, and George W. Stevens, of Laconia, were the other contributions to the eloquence of the occasion.
The next evening the city was again astir with a Republican den- onstration, in which the Wide Awake clubs took the leading part. These had been organized in Wards 1, 3, 4, 5, and 6, within one month after Lincoln's nomination, and now, two hundred strong, uni-
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formed and completely equipped for campaign service, they mustered, at central headquarters, in their first grand rally. Here, rallied with them another organization, bearing the suggestive name of "Rail- splitters," and already numbering more than a hundred men, who carried axes, mallets, and rails ; while, also, appeared upon the scene, a delegation of sturdy Norcross log-drivers with huge pikes in hand. This literally wide-awake demonstration had as its prominent feature the torch-light procession,-a feature which had proved to be an inspir- ing attraction in the Fremont campaign. This earliest procession of the present campaign, having in its ranks more than five hundred men bearing torches, banners, and transparencies, and headed by the Concord and Fisherville Cornet bands, passed in a long march through the streets, amid cheering crowds of spectators, and between lines of residences and other buildings brilliantly illuminated. Its final halt was made at the Main street front of the state house yard, where, meanwhile, speaking had been going on, and was to be continued to a late hour, with Edward H. Rollins and Napoleon B. Bryant among the principal speakers.
This early and exclusively Concord demonstration was a fit harbin- ger of the grand New Hampshire rally that, four months later, would and did come off at the capital, when October the twenty-seventh fore- told with absolute assurance the Republican triumph, which Novem- ber the sixth would record. This final state demonstration in the presidential campaign had its attendance of six thousand, day and evening, including the Wide Awakes of Concord, Manchester, Ports- mouth, Nashua, Lakeport, and Derry ; the Railsplitters of Fisherville; and the mounted Lincoln Guard of Concord, uniformed and number- ing two hundred. Among its speakers were Governor Goodwin of New Hampshire, Governor Andrew G. Curtin of Pennsylvania, and Anson Burlingame of Massachusetts. Its torch-light procession of fourteen hundred men marched to the music of eight well-trained bands, along a route brilliant with special illumination and elaborate decoration.
Among other clectioneering demonstrations witnessed in Concord during the lively campaign was the visit of Stephen A. Douglas, one of the four presidential candidates. This occurred on the last day of July, and was an occasion for which his supporters had made due preparation, and from which they counted that considerable advan- tage might be gained. It proved to be a very creditable and enthu- siastic reception of the distinguished visitor, though mostly local in character. Gala decorations, symbolic of welcome and respect, were not lacking. Unpartisan hospitality was also manifested in the pro- fusion of flags that graced the scene. The candidate, as on that
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POLITICAL DEMONSTRATIONS.
bright afternoon he rode in cheerful procession from the station through Main, Washington, State, and School streets, passed beneath banners in goodly numbers, bearing his own name, as well as four- teen others inscribed with that of Lincoln, and two with that of Breckinridge. An attentive audience of two thousand, gathered in state house park, listened to his speech, the main feature of the day- a speech characteristically able and brilliant. Noteworthy and sig- nificant, in the light of early future events, was the speaker's gener- ous reference to his Republican antagonist for the presidency, wherein he pronounced him both honest and able, and advised the Democratic party neither to berate nor underrate Abraham Lincoln, either as a man or a candidate. Was this in forecast of early results, in conse- quence of which Douglas defeated and Lincoln elected would stand together in defense of the Union? For the speaker was within a year of the end of life-a year which, before that end should come, would find him giving the new administration full support in sup- pressing rebellion. The occasion, though especially an incident of political history, had, withal, its pleasant significance as a social event, in the reception accorded, without party distinction, to the visitor and to his wife, the companion of his journey. In the evening, Mr. Douglas exchanged handshakes with citizens in the city hall, while Mrs. Doug- las received the civilities of the ladies of Concord at the residence1 of Oliver Sanborn, where the visitors were entertained during the night.
Concord had its four parties, the platforms of three of which- the Republican, the Douglas-Democratic, and the Breckinridge-Dem- ocratic-have already been described. The fourth, styled the Consti- tutional Union, but sometimes designated the Bell-Everett, from the names of its candidates, John Bell and Edward Everett, "recog- nized no political principle other than the constitution of the coun- try, the union of the states, and the enforcement of the laws." Its followers were few. The Breckinridge-Democratic organization was also an unimportant political factor in New Hampshire. The tug of war had been between the Republicans and the Douglas-Democrats during the great contest that came to its decision at the polls on the 6th of November. New Hampshire chose five Lincoln electors by a majority of nearly nine thousand one hundred votes-or exactly nine thousand eighty-five. Her vote distributed among the four candi- dates stood : for Lincoln, 37,519; for Douglas, 25,881; for Breckin- ridge, 2,112; for Bell, 441. Concord gave Lincoln 1,408 votes ; Douglas, 772; Breckinridge, 33; Bell, 13. The Republican majori- ties in state and city were respectively the largest ever hitherto won by any party.
1 That of Henry Robinson in 1900.
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HISTORY OF CONCORD.
This was the last presidential election in which the extension of slavery into free territory-including its nationalization-would be an issue for fair and peaceful decision at the ballot-box. Secession was now the method tried; and, during the last four months of Buchanan's administration, seven cotton states declared themselves out of the Union, and set up a new Confederacy with slavery for its corner-stone, and Jefferson Davis 1 for its president. During these months of suspense New Hampshire was engaged in the campaign of a state election to be decided on the 12th of March, 1861-a week after the inauguration of Abraham Lincoln. The state convention of the Republican and Democratic parties had met in Concord on the same day-the 8th of January-and respectively nominated their gubernatorial candidates-Nathaniel S. Berry and George Stark. At noon, by resolution of the Republican convention, the bells in the city were rung, and a national salute was fired, especially in honor of the gallant and patriotic action of Major Robert Anderson, who, in view of the mischievous projects of the South, had, on the 26th of December, 1860, transferred his command from Fort Moultrie to Fort Sumter, in the harbor of Charleston, South Carolina. Later in the day a similar salute was fired under resolution adopted by the Democratic convention.
The election resulted in retaining complete Republican ascendancy in the state. Three members of congress-one of whom was Edward H. Rollins, the second citizen of Concord thus honored-were elected to support the newly inaugurated administration of Abraham Lincoln. Concord contributed to the state majority four hundred seventy-two. Indeed, the strong Union sentiment in Concord had not been mis- represented by the pastor of the North church in his sermon preached on Sabbath afternoon (January 6), and soon printed and circulated, whercin he urged obedience to the constitution and the laws, and cogently argued that coercion was the only effective remedy for dis- obedience and attempted secession.2
NOTES.
Wards Defined. Under the charter and its amendments (exclusive of those constituting Wards Eight and Nine) Ward One embraced the territory comprised within School Districts numbered One, Two, and Twenty, except the farm of Jonathan B. Ferrin; Ward Two, the .territory situate on the east side of Merrimack River, northerly of the centre of the highway leading from Free Bridge to North Pem- broke; Ward Three, the territory comprised within School Districts
1 See note, Jefferson Davis in Concord, at close of chapter.
2 See Peace Commission in note at close of chapter.
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WARDS DEFINED.
numbered Three, Four, and Five, together with the John Alexander, Andrew Buswell, and Jonathan B. Ferrin farms; Ward Four, the ter- ritory comprised within School Districts numbered Six and Eleven, together with that portion of School District numbered Ten situate northerly of a line passing through the centre of Free Bridge Road to the centre of Main Street, thence northerly on the centre line of Main Street to a point opposite the centre of Centre Street, thence through the centre of Centre Street to the centre of Fruit Street, thence to the west line of School District numbered Six, and the homestead farm of Charles Fisk, in School District numbered Eight ; Ward Five, the territory beginning at a point on the westerly bank of the Merrimack River, in the centre of Free Bridge Road, thence on the centre line of said road to the centre of Main street, thence northerly on the centre line of Main Street to a point opposite the centre of Centre Street, thence on the centre line of Centre Street to the centre of Fruit Street, thence on the centre line of Fruit Street to the centre of Pleasant Street, thence through the centre of Pleasant Street and across Main Street, and thence in a line at right angles to said Main Street at that point to Merrimack River, thence up said river to the centre of Free Bridge Road; Ward Six, the territory comprised between the south line of Ward Five and a line drawn from the centre of Washington street, at its intersection with Pleas- ant Street, through the centre of the road leading from Washington Street to the Bog Road, to its intersection with the Bog Road, thence through the centre of the Bog Road, and across South Street, through the centre of Downing Street, across Main Street, thence in a line due east to Merrimack River, thence up said river to the south line of Ward Five; Ward Seven, all the remaining territory of said city, not included in the other Wards.
The "County Building" and the Old Town and Court House. Near the old town house, at its southeasterly corner, had been erected, in 1844, by the county of Merrimack, a two-storied structure of brick with rough granite trimmings, and of dimensions forty-two by thirty- three feet. In materials and finish this "County Building," as it was named, was intended to be fire-proof. There the county records were kept in the offices of the clerk of the courts and the registers of decds and probate. It disappeared in the early fifties, when the new city and county building was erected, having contributed its brick and stone to that edifice. The old town and court house, having given place to the new building, found location at a short distance south of Bridge street, near the track of the Northern Railroad, where it stood for more than thirty years, and until its destruction by fire in 1883. It may here be added that thirteen years earlier the same fate befell
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the Old North church, the elder town house, at midnight of Novem- ber 28, 1870.
Jefferson Davis in Concord. Jefferson Davis, secretary of war, accompanied by Professor Alexander Bache, of the coast survey, arrived in town on Saturday, August 20, 1853. Having dined at the Phenix, and taken a ride about town, Mr. Davis received calls from citizens at the Eagle. He afterwards left for the lakes and mountains on a brief tour. Those who had shaken hands and con- versed with him at the informal reception, little thought then what a decade would bring forth, and that President Pierce's cabinet officer would be the president of a Confederacy arrayed in rebellion against the Union.
A Peace Commission. The state of Virginia recommended a con- ference of commissioners from the several states to meet in Wash- ington on the 4th of February, 1861, to consider the condition of the country. Governor Goodwin requested Amos Tuck, Levi Chamber- lain, and Asa Fowler to attend the proposed peace conference as com- missioners for New Hampshire. Twenty states were represented- thirteen free and seven slave. Ex-President John Tyler presided. The conference was in session twenty-one days, but could agree upon no practicable plan for a peaceful settlement of the slavery question.
CHAPTER XIV.
THE CITY OF CONCORD .- THE PERIOD OF THE CIVIL WAR.
1861-1865.1
Definite intelligence of the attack on Fort Sumter was received in Concord on the morning of Saturday, April 13, 1861. It was a morning of leaden sky and drizzling rain-atmospheric conditions quite suited to the gloomy tidings borne by the telegraph from the South. Soon neighbors, wherever they met, were exchanging anx- ious views upon the new and alarming situation. In newspaper offices, as special centers of gathering for citizens seeking and dis- cussing information; in hotels ; in establishments, mechanical or mercantile ; in places of business ; and even in the homes of the people, excitement reigned, and "Sumter " was upon every tongue. To some in Concord, as elsewhere, this overt act of rebellion seemed but a rash outbreak of Southern passion that would soon subside; to others it seemed the beginning of a war which was more likely to be long than short. In fact, the gloomy cloud of uncertainty was too dense to permit of prophecy. But on that day many Concord young men manifested a readiness to engage in the military service of their country ; and it is believed that all who evinced such a spirit did actu- ally enlist-many of them to lay down their lives in that service. " The storm has burst," said a friend that day to Edward E. Sturte- vant, Concord's faithful, bold-hearted, iron-nerved policeman : "Yes, and I shall be in the thickest of it," was the quick, prophetic response.
In the forenoon of Sunday, the 14th, came the news of the sur- render of the fort. It met the people returning from morning ser- vices in the churches. The telegraph office was opened at noon to the crowd gathered to learn particulars. Groups of earnest citizens were collected at various places repeating and discussing what they had heard, with the anxiety of yesterday intensified. Those who attended the afternoon and evening services of public worship were burdened with thoughts of the evil and portentous event. It was remarked by aged and lifelong residents of Concord that, though they had witnessed many exciting occurrences here, no such intense feel- ing was ever before manifested.
' The narration of events-excepting those political, and those exclusively belonging to the Civil War-has run, in the preceding chapter, to 1865; while that of events of the war period proper also extends, in the present chapter, to the same date.
32
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HISTORY OF CONCORD.
On Monday, the 15th of April, was issued the proclamation of President Lincoln calling for seventy-five thousand troops for three months. The telegraphic announcement of the proclamation reached Concord about eight o'clock in the morning. Some friends . of Ed- ward E. Sturtevant-whose prophetic declaration two days before has been noted, and who was anticipating an early call for troops- went, by previous appointment, to his boarding-place, aroused the tired night-watchman from his short nap, and told him the news. Without delay he was up, and forthwith was away to the adjutant- general's office, in the state house, to offer his services. Coming thence upon Main street, New Hampshire's first volunteer in the War for the Union met Concord's newly-elected mayor, Moses Hum- phrey, and found him ready at once to adopt the plan of temporary, or provisional, enlistment, by taking the names of such as would regularly enlist when the state authorities should have issued the regular call for volunteers.
While the mayor went to obtain a recruiting office, the active policeman, with characteristic promptness,-somewhat tinctured, in this case, with playfulness,-hastily pitched a small tent, outside and east of the state house yard, for the purpose, as he pleasantly said to friends who called upon him under canvas, of showing what volun- teers were coming to. This carly tent pitching-probably the earliest in the war-provided a temporary recruiting station, at which, though not long occupied, New Hampshire's quota of volunteers virtually began to be filled. Within a few hours the impromptu station- Sturtevant's Canvas, it might be called-was left for the perma- nent recruiting office secured by Mayor Humphrey in Phenix block. Here the work of provisional enlistment was continued, and how in charge of two earnest men of kindred spirit ; for Leonard Drown, of Fisherville, having early in the forenoon expressed to the mayor the desire to enlist and recruit, had gone to work with Sturtevant. By the close of that 15th of April, and before the issuance of any orders by the state authorities, some fifty volunteers had been enrolled.
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