OTD 165 YEARS AGO: The fall of Fort Sumter and Abraham Lincoln’s militia proclamation sparks a surge of patriotism and mass mobilizations in both North and South.
Tag: Jefferson Davis
The War Policy Prevails
OTD 165 YEARS AGO: The South Carolinians receive word that President Abraham Lincoln will attempt to resupply Fort Sumter, which prompts President Jefferson Davis to make a fateful decision.
Fort Sumter: Evacuation or Reinforcement
OTD 165 YEARS AGO: President Abraham Lincoln convenes his cabinet to discuss what to do about Fort Sumter amidst differing opinions. Lincoln weighs the costs of abandonment versus holding the fort, and then decides to send someone there to assess the garrison’s condition.
Seeking Friendship, Commerce and Navigation
OTD 165 YEARS AGO: Jefferson Davis prioritizes securing foreign recognition for the new Confederacy by appointing three commissioners for diplomatic missions to three influential European nations. Meanwhile, Federal military officers continue to resign to go South, and Confederate officials approach Robert E. Lee to do the same.
Fort Sumter Should be in Our Possession
Major Robert Anderson’s Federal garrison at Fort Sumter faces isolation while South Carolina officials seek its surrender. But the South Carolinians will need the new Confederate government to back them up.
In the Name of the Confederate States
New Confederate President Jefferson Davis works to build the executive department from scratch, emphasizing moderation by selecting some appointees who actually opposed secession. Davis also initiates efforts for national defense, diplomacy, and securing foreign recognition for the Confederacy.