Showing posts with label Arsenals. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Arsenals. Show all posts

Sunday, December 18, 2022

William T. Sherman to Senator John Sherman, January 18, 1861

ALEXANDRIA, Jan. 18, 1861.

DEAR BROTHER: Before receiving yours of the 7th, I had addressed a letter to Governor Moore at Baton Rouge, of which this is a copy: (see the preceding letters to Governor Moore).

I regard the seizure by Governor Moore of the United States Arsenal as the worst act yet committed in the present revolution. I do think every allowance should be made to southern politicians for their nervous anxiety about their political power and the safety of slaves. I think that the constitution should be liberally construed in their behalf, but I do regard this Civil War as precipitated with undue rapidity. It is inevitable. All the legislation now would fall powerless on the South. You should not alienate such states as Virginia, Kentucky, Tennessee, and Missouri. My notion is that this war will ruin all politicians, and that military leaders will direct the events.

SOURCE: Walter L. Fleming, General W.T. Sherman as College President, p. 343-4

Friday, December 16, 2022

William T. Sherman to George Mason Graham, January 20, 1861

SEMINARY, January 20, 1861.

MY DEAR FRIEND: Yours of yesterday was read with painful interest last night along with Mr. Sanford's two, which I herewith return. Of course now that reason is powerless and the truth cannot be reached through the clouds of mistrust, suspicion, and mutual accusations which envelop us, we are all drifting together no one knows whither.

I was waiting as patiently as a red-headed person could, for the official acts of the convention charged with the destiny of Louisiana, when tidings reached me that Governor Moore had caused the seizure of the forts and arsenals, and had driven away with ignominy the small garrison posted among friends for the protection of the dangerous instruments of war. For this I see no justification and feel compelled to announce my determination by letter in the terms I have previously done to Dr. Smith in the presence of Mr. Elgee. Dr. Smith gave me his personal assurance that in no event should I be called on to do any act compromising my national character and preferences.

But fearing some unforeseen cause might render him powerless I resolved to move officially and therefore addressed to Governor Moore a letter of which the subjoined is a copy — and at the same time wrote him and Dr. Smith each, other private letters with the view to convey to them the personal reasons for my choice. [See pages 341-346.]

Of course they will now make short metre of me and within a week I expect to be homeward bound. I have made all reports, returns, and letters to parents, and all the books are written up to date. I have asked Smith to meet me in New Orleans to balance the bank account, for I want to leave with clean hands, and they will be clean enough, for I have saved but little and can now hardly expect the legislature will appropriate for the rebel.

I have notice that three thousand three hundred stand of arms - seventy thousand cartridges and two hundred carbine cartridges and belts are enroute for this place. I must, as long as I stay, be faithful to my trust, and I will take immediate steps for their safe storage, though it will force me to move and use this room as a store-house. I hope however to be relieved in time so that some one else will have the pleasure of receipting for them and accounting for them.

My own opinion is that Lincoln will be installed in office — that Congress will not repeal the Union, that the revenues will be collected. The consequence is inevitable — war, and ugly war too. I do not think the South will be invaded, or plain coercion attempted; but no vessel can be cleared at New Orleans and no vessel can enter without paying duties outside. Commerce will cease unless the South can combine, organize a navy and fight their way, or unless she can form a treaty with our old enemy England. For the northern and eastern cities will never consent to pay duties and allow New Orleans to be a free port, to send into the interior goods cheaper than they

But discussion is useless. The storm is upon us, and we must each to our own ship. I hope I may meet you again but if not accept the assurances of my great affection, respect, and admiration, and my earnest prayer that you and yours may long survive to look back with satisfaction to the time when we started the Seminary in a vain belief that we were serving the cause of our common country.

SOURCE: Walter L. Fleming, General W.T. Sherman as College President, p. 348-50

Friday, September 9, 2022

Annual Report of William T. Sherman, January 1, 1861

LOUISIANA STATE SEMINARY                
of Learning and Military Academy,        
Alexandria, January 1, 1861.

TO THE PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS, Alexandria:

Sir: I have the honor to submit this, my Annual Report. Accompanying it you will find,

1st. Balance sheet, exhibiting the state of all accounts for 1860.

2nd. An Inventory of articles on hand for sale to cadets, classified as "merchandise,” such as text books, clothing, bedding, etc.

3d. An inventory of property belonging to the Seminary, charged to expense account, but remaining on hand and in daily use.

4th. A return of arms, accoutrements and ammunition stored here, for the Central State Arsenal.

5th. A list or catalogue of all professors, cadets, and other persons belonging to the Seminary.

6th. An exhibit, giving the approximate cost of maintaining a "state" and "pay” cadet.

These contain all the information I am required to give at this time, but I am satisfied you will expect of me a more full exhibit of our financial prospects.

By an examination of the Balance sheet, marked 1, you will observe that we begin the new year with: [$56,056.02]. . .

I estimate our expenses for this current year to be: ($43,746.42]. . .

Deducting this from the former sum and we should have a cash balance at the beginning of next year, of $12,310.60, of which balance the sum of $10,502.97 will belong to the “State Cadet Fund," "and must be held sacred. Deducting this from the former balance, leaves the sum of $1,807.63 over and above all the estimated expenses, which are full and liberal. From our isolated position, however, we must expect always to keep on hand a pretty large stock of merchandise for sale to cadets; and this will require a moderate capital to be retained in hand.

All other accounts, such as wood, tuition, furniture, and tailors, are self supporting.

The two professors' houses are now substantially done, and will be occupied within a fortnight. The old rail fence has been removed, and a plain board fence constructed, so as to enclose the buildings in a rectangular field of about twenty-eight acres. The small balance of the appropriation for roads and fences, $243.06, will soon be expended on the main road, within the Seminary limits, and in connection with the road now under construction by commissioners of the parish.

It would be well, at this time, to demolish the old, dilapidated log cabin which stands by the east tower of the Seminary, as well as the shanty occupied by the tailor's family, and to construct, in more retired localities, two plain but neat cottages, one for the servants employed about the Institution, and the other for the occupation of the tailor. These would not cost over seven hundred dollars, a sum that the very favorable condition of our finances will warrant. With these small changes, I do not see that any more buildings will be called for till the number of cadets exceed one hundred and sixty.

CENTRAL STATE ARSENAL. By the act of your General Assembly, approved March 14, 1860, was established here, in connection with this Military Academy, an Arsenal under the above title. We then had on hand only fifty-five muskets and fifty sets of rifle equipments, and it appeared to me of some importance that a better supply should be procured before the opening of the present term. On my application, the adjutant-general of the state, M. Grivot, and Governor Moore, placed in my hands a requisition on the ordnance department of the United States, for the quota of arms due Louisiana for the year 1861. Availing myself of the August vacation, I went to Washington, at my own expense, had a personal interview with the secretary of war, Gov. Floyd, who promptly and courteously gave the necessary orders for advancing these arms before the time they could be claimed under existing laws. Colonel Craig, chief of ordnance, promptly filled the requisition, so that we are now in possession of a complete supply of the very arms and accoutrements needed by this institution. The arms are of the newest and best patterns. The jury of the parish, at its December meeting, appropriated the sum of two hundred, fifty dollars for the purchase and deposit here of powder, balls, and percussion caps. By an inspection of the return herewith you will see a complete list of them all.

To afford a proper and safe place of storage for these arms and ammunition, I enclosed the space under the main stairway, in such a manner as greatly to strengthen them, and to afford a magazine easy of access, easy to guard, and where the powder is remote from any walls containing fireplaces or flues.

It was my purpose to give in detail the history of events which attended our progress during the past year; to have explained the character of discipline, of instruction, and all things that would be calculated to assist you in your duty report to the legislature. But I find all these things so well described by your late vice-president, General Graham, in his report of April 28, 1860, that I have nothing further to add.

The rules and regulations for the government of us all, professors and cadets, have been so thoroughly canvassed, and adopted and printed for general use and circulation, that nothing remains but to give them a fair trial. Should, in their application, any defects exhibit themselves, I shall not hesitate to point them out, and at the very start I cannot withhold the expression of my earnest conviction that, in our course of study and array of text books, we have imposed upon the cadets a load they cannot bear, and that it is calculated to make imperfect and superficial scholars. In adding to a full scientific course of study a most complete classical one, we are apt to appall the mind of ambitious youth who contemplates the task he has assumed.

Our standard for admission is low, but not too low. The majority of applicants come to us very badly prepared, and with every disposition possible to yield to the wishes of parents, the Academic Board was constrained to reject twelve applicants at the beginning of this term. All these things can be safely left to time, and, in the meantime, by adhering closely to the system which has been well begun, by maintaining a pretty severe discipline, and more especially, by keeping the classes of cadets constantly employed, at their studies and recitations, we can, beyond the probability of doubt, complete the work so auspiciously begun, and make this to rank among the first institutions of our country. A result in which I feel assured all, professors and cadets will continue to exhibit a pride and zeal worthy the cause.

I have the honor to be your ob't servant,

W. T. SHERMAN, superintendent.

SOURCE: Walter L. Fleming, General W.T. Sherman as College President, p. 321-5

Saturday, November 5, 2016

Governor Thomas H. Hicks to Brigadier-General Benjamin F. Butler, April 24, 1861

State of Maryland, Executive Chamber, ANNAPOLIS, April 24th, 1861
 Brig. Gen’l. B. F. BUTLER

SIR: A despatch signed by you, addressed to Governor A. Curtin, has been received by me, with a verbal request that I countersign it, and have it forwarded to its address.

In reference to the Arsenal at Pikesville I have no official information. I do not know who is in the possession of it. I am cut off from all communication with other parts of the State, and have no means to forward. your despatch, if I were willing to countersign it. I am compelled therefore, to decline to accede to your request.

Very Respectfully, Yr. Obdt. Servi.,
THos. H. HICKs

SOURCE: Jessie Ames Marshall, Editor, Private and Official Correspondence of Gen. Benjamin F. Butler During the Period of the Civil War, Volume 1: April 1860 – June 1862, p. 36