Cedarcroft, Sunday, April 21, 1861.
Everything here is upside down. We live almost in a state of
siege, with the rumors of war flying about us. At present we don't know what is
going on. We have reckless secessionists within twelve miles of us. Everybody
is arming. The women are at work night and day, making clothes for the
volunteers. Fred has raised sixty riflemen, and goes off in two days. The
people of Kennett have contributed four thousand dollars to equip them. All the
young Quakers have enlisted. The excitement and anxiety is really terrible. We
are so near the frontier that if the damnable Maryland traitors are not checked
within three days we may have to meet them here. I never knew anything like the
feeling — earnest, desperate, sublime — which the people exhibit. There are no
parties any more. All are brothers, drawn together by the common danger.
Chester County will furnish one thousand men, and dangerous men to meet. Of
course we can't think of going to Europe now, nor until this immediate crisis
is over. The danger is too near and too great. Our departure is postponed until
some decisive action occurs. I cannot leave home now, though I want to go to
New York to raise money. I shall have to sell one share of Tribune stock
immediately, to pay Fred's pressing debts and let him go. C— L— has enlisted, W—
C—, G—'s boys; everybody that can be spared, in fact. The old men are forming a
home guard for the defense of their households.
I never had such a day as last Thursday in Washington. I had
a private interview with Lincoln, which was very satisfactory. I passed through
Baltimore just before the attack on the Massachusetts men, — four hours only.
Wilmington is loyal, I think; the news to-day is favorable, but we live from
hour to hour in a state of terrible excitement. Show this letter to Putnam
immediately (I have no time to write to him), and let me ask him in this way
immediately to send me a check for one hundred dollars, or fifty dollars, or
twenty-five dollars, any sum he can spare, to buy arms. We are unarmed; that is
our great danger. Just let him read this, as if written to him. Go to his
house; if you don't find him at home, tell Fiske my situation. I will send him
a letter as soon as I can. Seward was not to be seen when I was in Washington,
and Sumner had just left. We are courageous here, and full of hope for the
final result, but the next few days will decide our fate. I will write again
soon. God and Liberty!
SOURCE: Marie Hansen-Taylor and Horace E. Scudder, Editors, Life and Letters of Bayard Taylor,
Volume 1, p. 375-6
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