ALEXANDRIA, Jan. 8,
1861.
. . . Things are moving along with the
rapidity of revolutions. The papers announce that the people of Alabama have
seized the arsenals at Mobile Point, Fort Morgan, and above Mobile. I think
similar steps will soon follow at the forts at the mouth of the Mississippi and
Lake Pontchartrain. I have been in town today and had a long talk with Dr.
Smith who goes next week to Baton Rouge to attend the meeting of the
legislature and convention. He knows well my opinions; I have not concealed
them, that I cannot do any act hostile to the United States. . .
The Board is
unwilling to entrust the management here to any one of the other professors. It
takes me all I can do to suppress disorder and irregularity. I had a cadet
threaten me yesterday with a loaded pistol because I detected a whiskey jug in
his room and threatened him with dismissal. He did not await trial but went
off. Although a large majority of the cadets are good boys still we have some
hard cases.
From what I see in
the New Orleans papers Anderson is still in possession of Fort Sumpter, and the
general government has failed to reinforce him and will wait till he is
attacked. This disgusts me and I would not serve such a pusillanimous
government.
It merits
dissolution. This fact will increase the chances of an attempt to prevent
Lincoln's installation into office, and then we shall see whether the
wideawakes will fight as well as carry cheap lamps of a night zigzagging down
the streets.
I see every chance
of long, confused, and disorganizing Civil War, and I feel no desire to take a
hand therein. When the time comes for reorganization then will come the time. I
feel anxious for your comfort and safety but these cannot be threatened. . .
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