Category Archives: Georgia

March 17, 1861: The Irish for each side

James T. Brady Irish-Americans fought on both sides of the Civil War, and the last peacetime St. Patrick’s Day before it presaged that fact. From the New York Times, this account of a St. Patrick’s Day dinner a the Astor … Continue reading

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March 16, 1861: Georgia ratifies Confederate Constitution

Alexander Stephens (of Taliaferro County) moved to approve the report of the ratification committee. He had been Vice President of the Confederacy since February 11, 1861 — is this a conflict of interest? From the Journals of the Georgia Secession … Continue reading

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February 8, 1861: Georgia seizes New York ships

Robert Toombs In late January the New York police seized some muskets destined for the South – some for Alabama and others for Georgia. Apparently the Alabama muskets were eventually released, but the Georgia-bound ones were not, and Georgia retaliated. … Continue reading

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January 29, 1861: Georgia’s declaration of the causes of secession: tariffs?

The Georgia Secession Convention passed its ordinance of secession on January 19, 1861. Then days later, on January 29, the convention then went on to adopt a Declaration of Causes of Secession. It’s an interesting one; like every other statement … Continue reading

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January 25, 1861: Georgia forms an army. And a navy.

Francis S. Bartow From the journals of the Georgia Secession Convention: THURSDAY, JANUARY 24, 1861.   The Convention met in secret session.   Mr. Bartow, from the Committee on Military Affairs, made the following reports :   First : — … Continue reading

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January 23, 1861: Georgia resolves to meet in Montgomery

Robert Toombs From the journals of the Georgia secession convention: Mr. Toombs, from the Committee on Foreign Relations, reported that said Committee have had under consideration the subject of a Congress of the States, which have withdrawn from the government … Continue reading

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January 19, 1861: Georgia secedes

Robert A. Toombs Georgia secedes (full text of the Georgia Secession Convention Journal available in links at lower right): Mr. Nisbet, from the committee appointed to report an Ordinance to assert the right and fulfil the obligation of the State … Continue reading

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January 18, 1861: “…that danger arises from the assaults that are made upon the institution of domestic slavery”

The Georgia Secession Convention opened on January 16, 1861, but the first two days were largely taken up by formalities. On January 18 the convention got down to the main business at hand. Eugenius A. Nisbet The doors were then … Continue reading

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January 17, 1861: Orr to the Georgia Convention: North in the grip of a “blind and relentless fanaticism”.

James L. Orr James L. Orr was a commissioner from South Carolina to the Georgia Secession Convention. The early-seceding states sent commissioners to other Southern states that were holding conventions, with the charge of helping to persuade those other states … Continue reading

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January 16, 1861: “I would willingly give them up for this cause.”

From the Charleston Mercury, January 16, 1861. Letter From a Georgia Lady.                 We have been favored, by a venerable gentleman of this city, with the following extract of a letter from his niece, now living in Georgia, which fully … Continue reading

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