Letter from William B. Darst, 21st Virginia Volunteer Infantry, to his mother.
Escaping the Fury of the Dutch
OTD 165 YEARS AGO: A riot breaks out in St. Louis as Federal forces struggle to maintain order as Missourians flee their state.
Extraordinary and Unscrupulous Conduct
OTD 165 YEARS AGO: Nathaniel Lyon and his Federal Home Guard cause controversy in Missouri by preemptively forcing the surrender of an allegedly pro-Confederate state militia force in western St. Louis.
Bitter Feuds of Long Standing
165 YEARS AGO: By this month, most Federal troops had evacuated the Indian Territory due to inadequate troops. This emboldened the Confederacy to form a tentative alliance with the Natives.
Now Let the Sword Do the Work
165 YEARS AGO: The Confederacy issues a declaration of war against the U.S. The new government authorizes military enlistments and limits trade with the North. Leaders also take steps to prepare for conflict, while pundits weigh the chances for Confederate independence.
Vigorous Measures are Anticipated
165 YEARS AGO: President Abraham Lincoln calls for increased military enrollment, which results in Federal troops pouring into Washington, D.C. By mid-May, talk turns from defense to offensive operations including an invasion of the South.
The Tennessee Secession
OTD 165 YEARS AGO: The Tennessee legislature votes to secede from the Union and joins the Confederacy before the popular vote on the matter takes place.