The Grey Revolution

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Chapter 2: Mexican American War
Following the occupation of Mexico City by the United States forced under Major General Winfield Scott a New Mexican government was finally forced to the negotiating table. At first Mexican negotiators would only acknowledge the acceptance of Texas annexation by the United States, but not the Rio Grande as the border with Mexico. After months of of foot dragging President Polk sacked the diplomat Nicholas Trist. In his place instructed Mississippi politician turned soldier Major General John Quitman to take over the negotiations.

Quitman a firm believer in Manifest Destiny dreamed of annexing the whole country of Mexico into the United States. He made sure his counterparts from a Mexico knew of his ideals, and forced the diplomats into seclusion into an hacienda on the outskirts of the capital city. With threats of taking the whole country to placing Santa Anna back in control of the government Quitman was able to have a deal agreed upon by New Years Eve 1847. The United States would gain the following:
Alto California
Baja California
Nuevo Mexico
Sonora
Chihuahua
Nuevo Leon
Coahuila
Tamaulipas
Mexico received the following:
$25 million
$3 million in debt owed to United States citizens from Mexico

The treaty would be ratified by the US Senate 36 to 16 on March 10, 1848. With the fight on the battlefield the a United States now turned to another struggle. The political debate to decide the fate of the hard won territories. Both political parties the Democrats and the Whigs would put forth ideas, and the a Presidential Elections of 1848 now took center stage.

 

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Chapter 3: Election of 1848
With the end of the war with Mexico and news filtering into the states of the revolutions developing in Europe the American people would have to elect a new President. The current President James K. Polk vowed to serve only one term, and was determined to keep his promise even though the Democratic Party tried desperately to convince him otherwise.

The man that both major political parties wanted to nominate (Democrat’s &Whigs) was Zachary Taylor. While serving in the Army Taylor never showed any signs as to his political beliefs, nor voted on them. Leading up to the Whig nomination former Whig Presidential candidate Henry Clay became obsessed with defeating Taylor for the nomination. Clay began to blame Taylor for the death of his son Henry Clay Jr who had served under Taylor during the recent war with Mexico. In the end Taylor’s own words and actions would defeat him. Taylor let it be know that he was neither Whig or Democrat and was above party affiliation. In the end the Whigs selected Thomas Corwin of Ohio for President and John J Crittenden of Kentucky for Vice President.
The Democrats for their part had no front runner. Going into their convention their main candidates were: Senator Lewis Cass of Michigan, Associate Justice Levi Woodbury of New Hampshire, and former Major General John Quitman of Mississippi. After the first ballot Cass led the balloting. It was during the second balloting that freshman Senator of Mississippi Jefferson Davis nominated Zachary Taylor for president. Davis who had married one Taylor’s daughter but lost her during a yellow fever outbreak early in their marriage, was seen as a secret surrogate for Taylor. By the third ballot Taylor had secured the two-third votes needed for the nomination. To help balance the ticket the Democrats nominated Daniel Dickinson of New York.

The Whigs labeled Taylor vulgar, uneducated, cruel, & greedy doing whatever it took to gain power. They labeled him as a puppet of the slave aristocracy. Taylor and the Democrats repeated, as they had for many years, their opposition to a national bank, high tariffs, and federal subsidies for local improvements. Democrats had prosecuted the war to victory, and deserved another term.
On November 7, 1848 the citizens of the United States went to the polls and elected Zachary Taylor in a landslide. Taylor and the Democrats believed they had a mandate from the people.

 

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Chapter 4: California Compromise
Gold!

With the discovery of gold in California at Sutter’s
Mill in late January 1858 set off a massive dash of settlers heading west. Over night some 300,000 pioneers headed toward the west coast by ship and by wagon train looking to get rich. Few would find riches, but many strikes out and eventually settled in California.

President Taylor first piece of legislation began to deal with the California issue. With help from Speaker of the House Howell Cobb and a Democratic control Senate the President proposed that Texas would cede some of their territory in exchange for the federal government assuming their former nations debt. The Missouri Compromise would be extended to the Pacific with the lands above the 36 30 degree parallel becoming the Free State if North California , and the lands below the line joining with Baja California to become the state of South California.
To deal with the rest of the lands taken from Mexico a commission would be established to set territorial boundaries. Once new territories were established money would be granted to help educate the Hispanic population to learn English and become citizens.
Finally Congress passed the Oregon Homestead Act that paved the way for settlement of the Oregon Territory. President Zachary Taylor preached that equal admittance was the only way to handle the slavery issue.

 

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Chapter 5: Taylor’s Presidency
Following the passage of the California Compromise Democratic Senator Jefferson Davis of Mississippi proposed to divided the Mexican Concessions into the following:
Utah Territory: The follower of Brigham Young we’re allowed to continue their religious belief within the confines of the new territory. This was in thanks for their assistance during the conflict with Mexico.
New Mexico Territory: The land dispute was resolved with Texas in the California Compromise. With a high number of hostile natives additional regiments of US soldiers were needed to help protect the territories citizens.
Sonoma Territory: The former Mexican state would retain its borders. With its slight population few soldiers would be needed.
Chihuahua Territory: The former Mexican state would retain its former boundaries
Coahuila Territory: The former Mexican state would retain its borders, and with its ties to anti- Mexican politicians these inhabitants began to assimilate into American culture faster than others
Rio Grande: Formed from the ashes of the failed nation state the former Mexican states of Nuevo León and Tamaulipas were joined together

On domestic issues Taylor granted government subsidies to help foster railroad development. Southern Democrats pushed through both houses of Congress a Fugitive Slave Law that required that all escaped slaves, upon capture, be returned to their masters and that officials and citizens of free states had to cooperate. Northern Whigs and Abolitionist became enraged and openly flaunted their contempt for the law.

On foreign issues England and the United States held talks about the situation developing on Continental Europe, and hopes of keeping it there.
By far Taylor’s greatest achievement was the purchase of the island of Cuba from Spain. By 1850 with filibusters fighting on the island under Narcio Lopez, and fears of the revolutions wrecking havoc in France and Germany. Spain decided to offer to sell the island to the United States. Taylor and his Secretary of State Lewis Cass jumped upon the offer before any other nation like England could make an offer. After all negotiations were finished Spain sold Cuba for $8 million. Plus an agreement of establishing a military mission to help train the Spanish Army.

After serving four years President Taylor decided to forgo another term in office. In his eyes section discord had been averted, but in the north many saw Taylor as another extension of slavery’s hold on the national government.

 

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Chapter 6: 1852 The Year of Stability
By 1852 Europe becoming stable again thanks to the alliance of the Two Emperors: Frank Joseph of Austria & Czar Nicholas of Russia. Their combined armies crushed Polish & Hungarian Revolutions, and propped up the Catholic Kingdoms of Southern Germany. After fours years of fighting the German Revolutionary Government of Karl Schapper agrees your a peace treaty, much to the annoyance of fellow revolutionary leaders Karl Marx & Friedrich Engels who wanted to spread their form of revolution throughout Europe.
Even though the fighting in Central Europe had subsided the fighting in Western Europe continued. In France the Paris mob desiring more freedoms overthrew King Louis Philippe and in it’s placed declared the Second Republic. Following a shaky interim government where French soldiers were recalled from Algiers Louis Napoléon Bonaparte was elected President. With dreams of bringing former glory to France Bonaparte declares himself emperor in 1852. To help bring stability French troops assist Austrian troops in protecting the Papal States and the Pope himself. The fighting continues for another two years on Italian soil fighting against Italian Nationalists.
In Spain the Army loyal to the Spanish crown was assisted by members of the American Expedition of Advisors. This team of advisors led by Colonel Joseph E. Johnston contained many future participants of the conflict between North & South including: James Longstreet, D.H. Hill, Ulysses Grant, George Meade, Philip Kearny, & Richard Ewell. These officers were hailed in high regard by their Spanish counterparts, and by the Spanish people.
With 1852 coming to an end one more event needed to take place and that was the US Presidential Election of 1852.

 

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Chapter 7: Election of 1852
The Whigs were the first to gather and nominate their candidate, but this would be the first convention where Henry Clay was not in contention. Ailing and nearing his end Clay announced that was giving his full support to former General of the Army Winfield Scott. Scott who had resigned over a dispute with President Taylor over Cuba annexation, moved to New Jersey and planned his presidential run.
Facing off against Scott was Senator Daniel Webster of Massachusetts & Senator James Pearce of Maryland. Many of the heads of the party wanted a military hero, and as having no previous political baggage Scott soon became the logical nomination after a dozen ballots. For his Vice-President former Representative of Missouri Edward Bates was chosen as his running mate.
With the announce of only serving one term there was a scramble to prospects for the presidency. That increased even more once Bice President Daniel Dickinson announced his plans to not seek the nomination and return to his lucrative law practice. By the time of the Democratic convention there were six candidates for the presidency: Secretary of War William Marcy of New York, former Secretary of State James Buchanan of Pennsylvania, Senator Stephen Douglas of Illinois, Secretary of State Lewis Cass of Michigan, Senator Sam Houston of Texas, & Governor John Quitman of Mississippi.
For the first ten ballots Cass was in the lead, but by the eleventh Marcy & Buchanan became tied. Cass was the first to drop out throwing his support to Marcy. By the twentieth ballot Quitman released his supports after seeing no clear path ahead. These supporters went to Buchanan as his support was based mainly in Pennsylvania and the south. Even with that a two-thirds majority was out of reach. Finally Stephen Douglas seeing the writing on the wall threw his support to William Marcy. By the 35th ballot Marcy was named to nominee. In a gesture to Buchanan Alabama Senator William King is nominated for Vice President.

From left to right: Cass, Buchanan, & Marcy

From left to right: Douglas, Houston, & Quitman

The election of 1852 would be the lowest turnout since 1836. Both major political parties campaigned on roughly the same issues. Scott tried to use his military experience to his advantage, but President Taylor went out and supported Marcy. Southern Whigs stopped Northern Whigs from pushing against the expansion of slavery. This in turn forced some Northern Whigs to join the Free-Soil Party under Former President Martin Van Buren.
Scott’s anti-slavery stance would later hurt him in the south as Marcy would continue Taylor’s approach of balance admittance bringing moderates over to his side. Marcy and King would win the popular vote and secure 28 out of the 32 states. Scott could claim Kentucky, Tennessee, Vermont, & Massachusetts. In the aftermath of this colossal defeat the Whig party would begin to unravel.

 

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Chapter 8: Filibusters

Narciso Lopez

Seeing the success of López adventure in Cuba many Southerners look to use the filibuster technique again. With Cuba secured one man in particular began to play around with the idea of forming a secret organization to help spread southern control over Central and South America. In late December 1852 Mississippi Governor John Quitman was elected “General” of the Knights of the Golden Circle. Quitman knew that President Taylor had turned a blind eye to Lopez’s actions, even turning it into a great success for the nation, but incoming President Marcy was lukewarm to the principle of filibustering. Marcy’ position was that the United States contained enough land to keep the country busy for the next 50yrs. There was no need to acquire more.
After assuming office on March 4, 1853 President Marcy instructed his Secretary of War Jefferson Davis to inform his fellow Mississippian to stay out of other nations affairs. Marcy had instructed his a Secretary of State James Buchanan to work out a deal with England in regards To tension in Central America.
In June President Marcy was on his way out of Washington when his train was derailed dozens died in the crash including the President. William King was sworn in as the 14th President of the United States. The new President took a different view of the filibusters. King knew that England faced unrest with German revolutionary agents trotting the globe creating mischief. When President Fruto Perez of the Conservative Party of Nicaragua asked the United States for assistance, Secretary of State James Buchanan who did not want to get involved in internal issues of another government suggested to President King the idea of Quitman organization.

While Quitman was planning to gather a group of some 500 “colonists” to go to Nicaragua President King died of complications of tuberculosis on August 17th, 1853. According to the rules of Presidential Succession of 1792 the Pro Temp of the Senate was next in line. On August 18, 1853 David R. Atchison of Missouri was sworn in the 15th President of the United States.
The nation mourned the loss of another president. Northern politicians feared a Atchison Presidency as he was an avowed Fire-Eater and believed in the quest of Manifest Destiny, and the desire to conquer all of Central and South America to expand slavery.

Quitman was given the green light, and departed from ports of New Orleans, and Mobile. Quitman’s Brigade as it was called brought veterans from the Mexican-American War, Lopez’s Cuban Adventure, and immigrants from Germany, Ireland, and Scandinavia.
The civil war that Quitman was entertaining was a fight against Liberal and Conservative forces. Quitman with the backing of President Pérez campaign against the Liberal forces under Patricio Rivas. Quitman Soon went to work routing Liberal forces at the First Battle of Rivas, and then “liberating” the city of León effectively ending the war for awhile.
Using President Pérez as a puppet Quitman, with the backing of New York businessmen like Cornelius Vanderbilt essentially took over the government. By 1854 Quitman was made Vice-President and with the President’s backing sent a request for Nicaragua to be annex by the United States.

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Chapter 9: John Brown (Part 1)

With the passage of the Fugitive Slave Act many Abolitionist began to raise volunteer groups to combat federal agents looking to reclaim runaway slaves. One such person is John Brown of Springfield, Massachusetts. By the early 1840’s Brown had already declared his vow to battle slavery unto his death.
On March 17, 1855 Massachusetts Senator Charles Sumner began a two day oratory on the “Rape of Nicaragua “. Days before Senators Stephen Douglas of Illinois and Senator Andrew Butler of South Carolina authored the Nicaraguan Annexation Bill. Summer now attacked they publicly. “The senator from South Carolina has read many books of chivalry, and believes himself a chivalrous knight with sentiments of honor and courage. Of course he has chosen a mistress to whom he has made his vows, and who, though ugly to others, is always lovely to him; though polluted in the sight of the world, is chaste in his sight—I mean the harlot, slavery. For her his tongue is always profuse in words. Let her be impeached in character, or any proposition made to shut her out from the extension of her wantonness, and no extravagance of manner or hardihood of assertion is then too great for this senator.”
Summer also mocked Butler in his speaking ability, which had been impeded by a recent stroke. This caused South Carolina Representative Preston Brooks of South Carolina, Butler’s cousin, to retaliate.
Brooks attacked Sumner on the Senate floor after Sumner refused to apologize. Beating his almost to death with a walking cane.

This incident along with the southern entanglement in Nicaragua with a Southern Fire-Eater in the White House that the people didn’t vote for brought Brown into a militant circle of the abolitionist movement. With financial backers Brown gathered volunteers and went to Central America to fight the Slave Power.

 

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Chapter 10: Presidency of David Rice Atchison
The swearing in of David R. Atchison as the 15th President of the United States coincided with the realignment of political parties. Disenfranchised Southern Whigs left the now dead Whig party for the Democratic Party. Northern Whigs and Free-Soil party members began to join two new political parties the American Party & the Republican Party. Both would make gains in the 1854 Mid-term elections. Causing concern for Democratic Party leaders. President Atchison’s support for the Nicaragua Annexation Bill and the resulting attack on Senator Sumner galvanized northern support against the Democratic Party.

15th President of the United State David Rice Atchison.

With the help from Illinois Senator Stephen Douglas Atchison proposed the establishment of the Kansas & Nebraska Territories. Following the rules of the Missouri Compromise both would be considered free territories. Atchison desire was for the benefit of his home state of Missouri and the railroad companies as debate was being waged in the US Senate for government funding of a Trans-Continental Railroad. President Atchison lobbied for a Chicago-St. Louis - San Francisco route across the continent while others mainly southerns lobbied for a Houston-El Paso- San Diego. In the end the backers of the Chicago terminus would win out and President Atchison would sign the bill on the last couple of days in office.
On the foreign front Commodore Matthew Perry returned from the Far East after being dispatched by President Taylor. Perry’s report showed that gunboat diplomacy had forced Japan ports opened to American goods. Also Perry reported on potential American islands for occupation like Formosa and the Ryuku Islands. Perry’s tales of further western ambition soon caught the attention of influential members of Congress.
With his term ending and wanting a term in his own right Atchison tried to gather support for the 1856 Democratic National Convention.

 

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Chapter 11: German Americans
The term forty-eighter refers to a person of German decent that fled Germany after the Revolution of 1848. The nobility wasn’t the only people that were effected once the Socialist Republic of Germany came to power, wealthy business men to small business owners pulled up stakes and left their homeland.
German exiles began to sprout up in The Chesapeake Area of Eastern Maryland, Delaware, and Eastern Seaboard of Virginia. The Royal House of Hohenzollern took up residence in Texas helping to settle the wild frontier and the sprawling port of Galveston where German arms manufacturer Johann Nicholas von Dreyse, inventor of the Dreyse needle gun, moved his bolt action rifle.

Johann Nicholas von Dreyse

Alfred Krupp transplanted his entire operations to the outside of the German-Community in New Orleans. The future city of Krupp, Louisiana still holds the headquarters of the Krupp Arms Manufacturing.

Alfred Krupp

Prussian Junkers like Otto von Bismarck moved to New Orleans and after buying a sugar plantation, and slaves to work it, moved into local politics as a Democrat eventually winning a seat in the US House of Representatives. Bismarck will associate with the Fire-Eaters during the Secession Crisis.

Otto von Bismarck

Many German Americans also joined filibuster operations to Nicaragua. Helmuth von Moltke & Albrecht von Roon raised former Prussian soldiers to volunteer, and served distinctly in Central America. Gaining a powerful backer in the John Quitman.

Albrecht von Roon
Helmuth von Moltke

 

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Chapter 12: Election of 1856
With the utter destruction of the Whig party two new political parties moved to try and fill the void. The American Nativist Party or Know-Nothings was a party based solely one one major issue: immigration. With the south seeing an influx of immigration that would eventually help their cause of settling more land as slave owners. The nativist party elders decided to ignore the issue of slavery all together.The forty-eighters were in no way a threat for low paying jobs, but instead investors, landowners, and businessmen pushing the southern economy forward.
The Know-Nothings saw their largest support in New England and the Mid-Atlantic regions of the US. By the time of their first convention there were a few Congressmen and even elected a governor in Massachusetts, Henry Gardiner.

When the Know-Nothing Party convened on February 22, 1856 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania they hoped to build off their stunning 1854 midterm elections. Going into the convention three men were seen as front runners: Massachusetts Governor Henry Gardiner, former Commodore and Mexican-American War hero Robert Stockton, and former Senator John M. Clayton of Delaware. After three days of tumultuous bartering, haggling, and arguing the Party settled upon Commodore Robert Stockton as their candidate with Steamboat entrepreneur from New York George Law.

Robert Stockton & George Law

The Republican Party met on June 17th in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Republican Party was bringing together elements of The Free-Soil Party members, former Whigs, Abolitionist, & Anti-Slavery Know-Knothings. The main contenders for the nomination were Senator from North California John C. Frémont, Associate Justice of the Supreme Court John McLean of Ohio, Senator from New York William H. Steward, & former Congressman from Pennsylvania David Wilmot. The Republican platform called for admission of free states immediately (not waiting for slave state admissions) in contradiction of the Taylor Doctrine, stopping the spread of slavery, defeating Nicaraguan annexation, and end of polygamy in Mormon settlements in Utah Territory.

John C. Frémont, John McLean, William Steward, David Wilmot.

Seward was the first to concede even before the nomination took place throwing his support behind Frémont, McLean’s own campaign manager tried to concede his support for his candidate but Congressman Thaddeus Stevens forced it back into contention losing more support with the fiasco. By the fourth ballot Frémont was nominated with David Wilmot as his running mate.

The Democratic Party still stunned by its drubbing in the 1854 midterms went into the nominations determined to jettison Atchison from the top spot on the ticket. Three main candidates emerged: Senator Stephen Douglas of Illinois had the support of the powerful railroads and many northern democrats that wanted to check the power of the southern expansionists. Former Secretary of State and recently elected Senator from Pennsylvania James Buchanan had a solid backing from his home state and southern members of the party. President David R. Atchison desired his own term, and worked with anyone who could get him the nomination.
The balloting began with Buchanan holding a solid lead, but not the two-thirds needed to secure the nomination. Atchison gained momentum as favorite son candidates soon dropped out, but it was Stephen Douglas who at 43yrs old decided 1856 was not his year, and with assurances from Buchanan’s managers of support in 1860 Douglas dropped out and supported Buchanan. Thus Buchanan became the nominee. To bring balance to the ticket Kentucky Congressman John C. Breckinridge was nominated for Vice-President.
The Democratic platform called for the continuation of the Taylor Doctrine, Nicaraguan Annexation, and the building of a Nicaragua Canal to help spur westward expansion.

Campaign poster of Buchanan and Breckinridge

The Republicans campaigned on the slogan “Free Soil, Free Men, Free Press, Free Speech, and Frémont”. The Know-Nothings ranted about immigration, and a secret papal canal to overtake the United States. The Democrats campaigned on a solid Union, peace, and expansion.
The results told a fantastic story the Know-Nothing party captured the state of Massachusetts and Delaware. The republican party took the rest of New England plus New York, Ohio, Michigan, Wisconsin, and Iowa. The Democrats took the solid south, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, both of the California’s, and the battle ground states of Indiana & Illinois. With the popular vote and the elector college secured James Buchanan became the 16th President of the United States.

 

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Chapter 13: John Brown Part 2
The New England Aid Society was a secret abolitionist military society that planned to fight slavery’s extension into Central America. The first group of volunteers arrived in Costa Rica in late October 1855 among them was a John Brown and four of his sons. In command of a group of 110 men Brown now called “Captain” Brown joined another group of abolitionist under Jim Lane of Indiana.
By this time the countries of Costa Rico, Guatemalan, El Salvador, and Honduras declared war upon Nicaragua in hopes of throwing out the American Filibusters. The abolitionist volunteers were accepted warily. Fearful of a “Yankee” double cross. Together with the Central American Armies they invaded Nicaragua.
It was at the Second Battle of Rivas where the Filibuster/Nicaraguan Army under the command of Helmuth von Moltke with the help of being armed with the Dreyse Needle Rifle that made Moltke’s small force double its rate of fire, and routed the invading Costa Rican army. It was the rearguard action of John Brown and his men that bought vital time for the Costa Rican Army under a Jose Porras.
After the defeat Brown and his men turned away from conventional fighting and turned to guerrilla style of fighting. This intensified once Nicaraguan forces invaded Costa Rica.
Journalist John L. Sullivan wrote stories for Harper’s Weekly that depicted the gruesome beheading of Nicaraguan soldiers by Brown and his men. The telling of John Brown’s brutal killing of three captured soldiers told from eyewitness accounts stunned the Southern Populace, and worried many northern democrats even President elect James Buchanan.
Southern politicians now doubled down on the need to annex Nicaragua and bring peace and stability to the land.

 

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Chapter 14: Buchanan’s Presidency

The four months from the election to the inauguration was a time that president elect Buchanan used to build his cabinet. For the top spot Buchanan offered it to Stephen Douglas, but he respectfully declined acknowledging his need in the Senate, and his plans for 1860. Next to be offered the job was Senator James Bayard of Delaware who accepted. To fill the patronage rich post of a Treasury Department went to former Speaker of the House Howell Cobb of Georgia. The War Department went to John B. Floyd of Virginia, Attorney General went to Jeremiah Black of Pennsylvania, John A. Dix of New York was made Postmaster General, Isaac Toucey of Connecticut was slotted to head the Navy Department, and Interior Department went to Mississippian Jacob Thompson.
On Inauguration Day March 4, 1857 Chief Justice Roger Taney issued the oath of office. In his inauguration speech Buchanan vowed to serve one term, committed himself to the Taylor Doctrine, vowed to sign a Nicaraguan Annexation Bill, and commented on the division over the issue of slavery confronted the nation.
The Taylor Doctrine was put to the test when Oregon asked for admittance into the Union in the first months of 1857. With Senator Douglas taking the lead the Oregon-CubanAct was passed admitting the States of Oregon as a free state, the state of as a slave state.

In regards to Nicaragua Buchanan sent US Army troops under Brigadier General Albert S. Johnston, and offered to negotiate an end to fighting in the Central America. With the threat of US intervention the alliance of Central American nations came to the negotiating table. The resulting Treaty of Washington 1857 saw an end to what many called the Filibuster War, and acknowledged the US annexation of Nicaragua which had passed the US Senate and just awaited President Buchanan’s signature. In return Nicaragua and the Filibuster army withdrew from Costa Rica. With Nicaragua finally brought into the Union it was agreed that the new territory couldn’t immediately apply for statehood, and would have to be Americanized. A strong military presence maintained to help stabilize the region, and disarm all abolitionist guerrillas.

In early 1858 a financial panic gripped parts of the country. Overnight 1400 banks closed and folded and some three thousand business foreclosed. The southern part of the United States escaped unscathed while unemployment skyrocketed in the north. By 1859 the economy turned itself around, but this only helped fueled an already sectional divide that was.
In regards to foreign policy an arrangement was reached with Great Britain for the transfer of the Mosquito Coast in return for favored status for transit “ through” Nicaragua. The laid the groundwork for a future Nicaraguan Canal through Central America. With issues in Europe heating up Great Britain was happy to give responsibility of Central America to the a United States.
President Buchanan tried you negotiate for the purchase of Alaska from Russia, but the onset of the American Civil War made that impossible.
One man who would dominate the last fourteen months of Buchanan’ s administration would be closely associated with death and disunion....John Brown.

 

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Chapter 15: John Brown Part 3
Following the annexation of Nicaragua the abolitionist returned to Boston, and was greeted as heroes. When federal marshals tried to arrest them for violation of the Neutrality Act a mob nearly tore the officers to pieces. Brown and his followers now grown to nearly 200 armed men went to New York at the behest of a powerful benefactor Garret Smith.
Smith was part of the powerful Secret Six, a secret society of wealthy abolitionist who believed that open ware fare was the only way to ride the country of the evil of slavery. The other five members were George Luther Stearns , Thomas Wentworth Higgins, Samuel Gridley Howe, Franklin Benjamin Sanborn, Theodore Parker.

George Luther Stearns

Franklin Benjamin Sanford

Gerrit Smith

Theodore Parker

Samuel Gridley Howe

Thomas Wentworth Higgins

In early 1859 John Brown proposed to the Secret Six his plan to raid Harper’s Ferry, and with the captured weapons lead a slave revolt through the south. Money was distributed to Brown, and told to keep information about his mission secret. In late August 1859 Brown met up with Harriet Tubman, and about 20 former slaves that had been freed from the area, outside of Hagerstown, Maryland. Here Brown awaited the arrival of his 200 strong army of volunteers.
On October 17, 1859 John Brown with a force of 225 volunteer swept down on the sleepy federal armory. Within hours Brown had captured over 10,000 rifles and a dozen hostages that included Lewis Washington, the great-grandnephew of George Washington.
Just as soon as the arsenal was occupied was word broke out of what was happening. Local townsmen soon gathered and began to harass Brown and his men. In Washington President Buchanan instructed Lt. Gen. Winfield Scott to gather what forces, and put down the rebellion. Secretary of War Floyd sent telegrams to the governors of Virginia and Maryland to call out the militia.
Scott sent for Lt. Col Robert E. Lee who was in Washington, and directed Lee to take a mock force of marines, sailors, and artillery men stationed in the capital and squash the rebellion.

 

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Chapter 16: Robert E. Lee
Lt. Col. Robert E. Lee was the son of Revolutionary War hero “Light Horse” Harry Lee. After the death of his father the family was destitute due to his father’ s failed financial investments Lee, with the help of one of his uncles was admitted to West Point Military Academy. He would graduate to n 1829 second in his class of 45 graduates. Following his graduation As customary with his placement Lee went into the Engineers. Lee later married Mary Custis great grand daughter to Martha Washington.
Lee would serve with distinction during the Mexican-American War serving under Winfield Scott. After the war Lee served as the Superintendent of West Point. There his eldest daughter Agnes fell in love with another instructor of the facilities Captain George H. Thomas of Virginia, and they married in the Spring of 1853.
On the night of Brown’s seizure of Harpers Ferry Lee and Thomas were at the family mansion of Arlington outside of Washington D.C. President Buchanan was asked Lee with putting down the rebellion. Lee gathered his small force of barely 150 soldiers, marines, and sailors and header toward Brown and his army.
Brown was well that Informed as he had scouts and spies to relay him information. With US forces gathering faster than he anticipated Brown decided to abandon his position. It was decided that Brown would leave a message when the captives were hanged and signs placed around their necks saying “For the Crime of Slavery”. Dividing his force in half “ General” Tubman, as Brown addressed her gave her the mission of delaying the army as the rest of his force moved westward. Tubman with 25 freedmen & runaway slaves held up in the armory as Virginia militia surrounded the building. When Lee arrived with his regulars an offer of surrender was sent to the blockhouse, but Tubman refused. Keeping a constant fire on the defenders a dozen of marines led by Captain Thomas rushed the blockhouse. Using a battering ram the doors were forced open where fierce hand to hand combat ensued. After about 10 minutes Tubman, who was wounded, and six of her “freedom” fighters were subdued.
Tubman and her lot were given over to the Virginia militia while Lee went after Brown. Crossing into the mountains of Western Virginia Lee came across burnt out houses, and hanged corpses. Brown’s renegades killed without remorse or distinction, and the men following them were very quickly filled with hatred toward their foes.
It was at the Ohio border where things escalated when Ohio militia allowed Brown and his men to escape, but hindered the US and Virginia militia from stepping onto Ohio soil on orders from Governor Salmon P. Chase. Lee became enraged with “those people”, and messaged General Scott for orders. After two days Lee was allowed to pursue, Brown’s forces had escaped. Rumors swirled that he had escaped into Canada, but even $500,000 reward wasn’t enough to bring Brown or his followers to justice.

 

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Chapter 18: Election of 1860
With the coming of the 1860 election President Buchanan tried to push through two more states to help the Democratic nominee. The states of Minnesota & Rio Grande we’re both admitted as the 35th and 36th states on March 21st, 1860. Buchanan also reaffirmed his promise to a one term presidency setting off an already scramble for support within the Democratic Party.
As part of the deal with Illinois Senator Stephen Douglas President Buchanan endorsed him immediately. With his strong backing from the railroad interests and now strong southern backing Douglas hoped for a clean nomination, but once the Democratic Party Convention gathered in Charleston, South Carolina on April 23, 1860 a fight was brewing within the ranks of the party.
There were three parties working to get a two-thirds majority to win the nomination: Illinois Senator Stephen Douglas, Virginia Senator R.M.T. Hunter, and former Attorney General Caleb Cushing of Massachusetts. Cushing’s main support were Northern Democrats that wanted someone not beholding to the south, and had been feeling the growth of the ant-Democratic forces for years to come. Hunter’s supports came from Virginia, Maryland, and Delaware. They wanted action taken against the abolitionist north, and wanted concessions from the Douglas camp to secure their support.
Douglas proposed to continue westward expansion by continued funding of the Continental Railroad, in Nicaragua Douglas promised to punish abolitionist guerrillas working out of other countries would be hunted down and countries giving aid punished, the Taylor Doctrine would be continued, an increase effort to bring the criminal John Brown to justice. With these promises Douglas won over Hunter, and secured the nomination. Cushing and his followers marched out of the convention and set up their own plank of the Democratic Party. To help balance the ticket Douglas offered the second spot on the ticket to Hunter.

The 1860 Democratic Ticket of Douglas and Hunter

Frustrated Northern Democrats gathered in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and tried to nominate a ticket, but even Cushing himself wouldn’t be used as a candidate. Many northern democrats soon became disheartened or decided to join the new Republican Party.
The Republican Party Convention convened on June 4, 1860 in Chicago, Illinois. This would be an even bigger event as the Republican and the Know Nothings had decided to join forces and hold a joint convention for president. A host of potential candidates soon entered the field: the 1856 candidate John C. Frémont of North California, the 1856 Vice-President Candidate David Wilmont, New York Senator William Seward, Ohio Governor Salmon P. Chase, Pennsylvania Senator Simon Cameron, Representative from Vermont Jacob Collamer, Speaker of the House Nathaniel P. Banks of Massachusetts, and Associate Justice of the Supreme Court John McLean.
In the beginning Seward and Chase were in essence tied for the top spot. It soon came down to whittle down the favorite son candidate of states, and wheeling and dealing to gain the upper hand. The Secret Six proclaimed their support for Chase fueling speculation from many the John Brown was backing Chase. After two days of balloting it was the head of the Illinois delegation Abraham Lincoln that put The nail in Seward’s defeat. Remembering being rebuked by the New York Senator years before Lincoln relished in serving to him a gigantic political defeat.
To help heal the wound of the party Chase asked long time friend of Seward’s Massachusetts Senator Charles Sumner, the hero of the Caning by Preston Brooks years before.

The 1860 Republican Ticker of Chase & Sumner

When the people of the United States went to the ballot on November 6, 1860 it was a complete route. The Republicans captured the elector rich states of New York and Pennsylvania securing the election. Douglas and the Democrats secured the slave states plus the candidate’s home state of Illinois and Oregon. Charges of election fraud in major cities were thrown around by both parties, but no one could counter that the Republicans had won the White House.

 

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Chapter 19: Secession
Just as soon as the results of Chase’s victory did Southern leaders begin to plot. Governor Henry Wise of Virginia was the first to act. By getting a law passed that changed the state’s constitution to allow him to run for a second term; which he won hands down since no opposition challenged him. The state militia was placed on ready alert, and General von Roon sent coded messages to his most trusted officers.
By December 1st Governor Wise called for a special convention to meet on December 26, 1860 to decide the question of secession. This threw the states of the Deep South into action as well. South Carolina called for a Secession Convention as well to meet in conjunction with Virginia. What many didn’t know was that Virginia and South Carolina we’re working together, and that Virginia was given the honor of deciding first. On December 28, 1860 Virginia voted to secede from the Union. As the results were being sent to the rest of the country militia units under Captains Turner Ashby and George Patton occupied Harper’s Ferry Arsenal, and another group under Captain William Jones captured the Gosport Naval Yard in Norfolk, Virginia.
Across the state of Virginia the bloodless coup occupied federal property throughout the state, and where the Stars and Stripes once flew in its place flew the flag of the Commonwealth of Virginia. The next day South Carolina voted in favor of secession, and joined their sister state now turned republics.
Over the next month the following states seceded: Alabama January 2nd, Mississippi & Florida January 8th, Georgia January 10th, Cuba January 16th, Louisiana January 20th, Texas February 1st, North Carolina February 4th.
On February 6, 1861 the states that had seceded met in Richmond, Virginia to help form a provisional government until the people could vote on it at a later date. The men that gathered in Richmond were impressed with the work that they saw in Virginia. Outside of the city cadets from the Virginia Military Institution drilled recruits in the annuals of warfare. Industry like the Tredgar Iron Works began to turn out war materials. With the basics of government copied from the US Constitution with some notable changes in slavery’s favor the decision on who would lead the new nation. When the delegates gathered notable men were nominated for the Presidency: former Secretary of the Treasury from Georgia Howell Cobb, Senator from Georgia Robert Toombs, Mississippi Senator Jefferson Davis, Senator from Virginia R.M.T Hunter, and leader of the Knights of the Golden Circle John A. Quitman.
Almost immediately Davis let it be known that he wanted a field command, and demurred to the other candidates. Fearful that Toombs or Quitman might somehow be elected Cobb and his followers put forth the name of Virginian Henry A. Wise for the presidency. Seeing how quickly Wise had turned the state into a war footing the delegates soon were swept up in the furious of Wise’s candidacy. So too did Hunter turn his support toward Wise. Even Quitman bowed to the enviable. With Henry Wise selected as the Confederate States first President the decision now turned to the Vice-Presidency, offering the spot to Cobb, but he turned it down. Eventually Robert Toombs was selected as the Vice-President of the Confederate States of America.

Henry A. Wise Provisional President of the Confederate States of America’s.

Robert Toombs Provisional Vice-President of the Confederate States of America.

 

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Chapter 20: Building a Government
On February 8, 1861 Henry A. Wise was sworn in as the Provisional President of the Confederate States of America. Immediately Wise went to work building his cabinet. Wise selected the Adjutant General of Virginia Albrecht von Roon as his Secretary of War, former Floridian Senator Stephen Mallory as Secretary of the Navy, Louisiana delegate to the convention and former US Representative Otto von Bismarck as Secretary of State, South Carolinian Christopher Menninger as Treasury Secretary, Thomas Bragg of North Carolina as Attorney General, and John Reagan of Texas as Postmaster General. Each man chosen was given a Herculean effort in front of them, and that was building a national infrastructure in what would soon be a war time atmosphere.
State
Secretary Bismarck went to work immediately by convincing President Wise of set up the Office of Secret Service. This department under the umbrella of the State Department would be responsible for sending out diplomats & lobbyists to help convince European governments to aid the Confederacy, helping secessionist movements in other states and territories, gather information by usage of spy rings throughout the northern states, aid guerrilla activities, and spread pamphlets & giving speeches to influence northern political opinion. The motto “Let Us Go” or “Let Them Go” became a popular theme used by Agents.
To lead the Secret Service Wise took counsel from Bismarck and named Judah Benjamin Director of the department. Fearful of being isolated within the Confederacy Bismarck dispatched diplomats to the courts of Europe. James Chestnut (Spain), Roger A. Pryor (England), and William C. Rives (France) were dispatched days after the Government was formed. Their missions were to purchase much needed war material, and influence popular opinion against the United States.
To assist the diplomats Secretaries Mallory and von Roon sent purchasing agents along to Europe. To deal with their respected areas each man tackled in their own way.
Navy
At the Naval Department Mallory began to organize his department, and began to prioritize the needs of the nation. The defense of the Mississippi River became paramount; along with coastal ports. A way to defeat any potential Union blockade would be necessary, attack northern commerce around the globe.
Luckily for Mallory and the nation the state of Virginia turned over the Gosport Naval Yard to the Confederate States Navy. A treasure trove of 1200 cannons, including 50 new Dahlgren guns, tons of ammunition, large dry dock, rope walks, foundry, machine shops, boiler shops, and covered ways. Plus four outdated and dilapidated ships in need of repairs.
Next Mallory had to procure funds from Congress. After a lengthy speech historians remember this one phrase “no nation that has ever had to build a navy for defense, had done it cheaply. We may well mortgage our future for a generation, but I promise you we will have a future to mortgage.”
Even though combined with the Army Appropriation Bill the national debt created would take a lifetime to overcome. With funds in hand Mallory began to duplicate what was needed from designs from Norfolk all over the south. Cities like Tuscaloosa (Alabama), Augusta (Georgia), and Vicksburg (Mississippi) began to lay the ground work of building a modern navy for the CSA
War
Albrecht von Roon was a professional soldier, and had survived the Revolution of 1848 by coming to America. He was determined to not let what had happened to his homeland now happen to his new home. The first couple of days after assuming his saw the arrival of Helmuth von Moltke as the head delegate from the Territory of Nicaragua that sought acceptance into the CSA. Moltke soon became a vital member of von Room’s staff in building the War department. The War Department soon took form with the role of Adjutant and Inspector General going to Samuel Cooper, Quartermaster General went to Colonel Abraham C. Myers, Commissary-General of Substance went to Brigadier General William Wallace Smith Bliss, Surgeon General went to Colonel Samuel Moore, Chief of Ordnance attached to the Quartermaster would go to Colonel Josiah Gorgias, Chief of Torpedoes would be assigned to Colonel Gabriel Rains. With the help of Secretary Bismarck the Department of Railroads were created (the Militarized Railroad Act allowed the President to conscript the railroads during times of war or national emergency) would soon be headed by a Brigadier Isaac a Trimble.
Treasury
To help finance all the government new taxes were levied that allowed for the taxes to be paid in agricultural products. Cotton, sugar and tobacco would be used to help finance the war. A 10% tax was levied on slaves, much to the dismay of large plantation owners. With word coming from up north that soon to be inaugurated President Chase would send troops to bring the south back forcibly, and extinguish slavery once and for all.

 

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Chapter 21: President Salmon P. Chase
As the governor of Ohio and the President-Elect Salmon P. Chase had a platform to chide the secession states. Governor Chase called up some five thousand militiamen after the secession of Virginia. On New Years Eve in a speech given in Cleveland, Ohio Chase broke with President when he promised to push for admittance of states as soon as they were ready. This soon enraged fence sitting southerners as they saw the Taylor Doctrine as a reasonable way to admit states to the Union.
As federal property was being occupied throughout the south, and President Buchanan began to lay out his plan to combat the secession. He promised to cleaners the federal government of southern sympathizers, with the defection of southern senators now the Republicans controlled the three out of four branches of government and bills banning slavery were already being considered, and a grand army of the republic would be needed to subdue the rebellion.
After both houses of a Congress certified the election of Chase as President the President-Elect headed toward Philadelphia where abolitionist forces under John Brown and Jim Lane were gathering to protect Chase from rumors of southern assassins waiting to kill him.
On March 4, 1861 Salmon P. Chase was inaugurated as the 17th President of the United States in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania by Associate Justice John McLean, after Chief Justice Taney refused to make the trip to Philadelphia. The next day Chase and members of his cabinet along with militia units from Ohio and Pennsylvania joined with John Brown as they moved toward Washington D.C.

 

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Chapter 22: Baltimore Riots
On March 6, 1861 elements of Chase’s caravan arrived in the city of Baltimore. Amongst the first to arrive is John Brown with a host of fully armed body guards. When word of Brown’s presence reached Police Chief George Kane he called out his force, and made a plea for local militia to assist in the apprehension of Brown (as he was still wanted by the federal government). Kane along with Mayor George Brown of Baltimore called upon the army commander at Fort McHenry Major Robert Anderson for assistance. Not aware of Chase’s presence Anderson gathered some 50 soldiers and joined the forces of Kane’s policemen and militia. Anderson, under a flag of truce, demands Brown surrender. Hearing his southern accent, and fearing a secessionist plot open fires. Yelling “for the republic!” Brown launches an assault without waiting for the 1st Ohio under Colonel Edward McCook. The fighting is street to street, and house to house. The battle is a mess and confusion controls the day. Major Anderson is wounded, but refuses to relinquish the field.
After a day of terrible fighting the train station is occupied, and the President who now trusts Brown with his life continues onto Washington D.C. Colonel McCook, an ex-regular army office tries to negotiate with Anderson, but the defenders of Baltimore refuse to answer the call for parley as they feared what Brown would do. It’s not until the next day that McCook along with Governor Thomas H. Hicks try to bring order to the ordeal. Anderson’ s arrest is ordered by President Chase along with the garrison of Fort McHenry enraged the local populace. They see Anderson and the men as saviors of the city. McCook is forced to tread carefully as the local militia gather around him even the once pro-unionist governor of Maryland sees the destruction caused by Brown/Chase, and demand that the Ohio militia leave the area. McCook agreed to leave and marches toward the capital.
The results of the Baltimore Riots, as described in the north or the First Battle of Baltimore as described in the south set off a chain reaction throughout the nation. Governor Hicks called upon the state’s legislature to call for articles of secession, and sent pleas of help to Richmond, and other states. Before the end of the month Maryland would join the CSA , a new front in the war of secession would begin.
Major Anderson while vilified in the north as a traitor would be seen as a hero through the south decided to walk away the the United States Army as he was already an enemy of the President. Anderson accepted a commission as a a Major General of Maryland Militia. Plans were now being formed in both Washington and Richmond on what to do next.

Major General Robert Anderson of the Maryland forces CSA