The first year of the war in America Author:Edward Alfred Pollard Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. This is an OCR edition with typos. Excerpt from book: CHAPTER II. Mr Lincoln's journey to Washington—Ceremonies of the Inauguration—The Inaugural Speech of President Lincoln—The Spirit of the New Administration—I... more »ts 1'inancial Condition—Embassy from the Southern Confede- . racy—Perfidious Treatment of the Southern Commissioners—Preparations for War—The Military Hills of the Confederate Congress—General Beauregard—Fortifications of Charleston Harbour—Naval Preparations of the Federal Government—Attempted Reinforcement of Fort Sumter— Perfidy of the Federal Government —Excitement in Charleston—Reduction of Fort Sumter by the Confederate Forces— How the News was received in AVashington.—Lincoln's Calculation—His Proclamation of "WAR —The ''Reaction" in the Xorth—Displays of Rancour towards the South —Northern Democrats—Replies of Southern Governors to Lincoln's Requisition for Troops—Spirit of the South—Secession of Virginia—Maryland —The 33ultimore Riot—Patriotic Example of Missouri—Lincoln's Proclamation Blockading the Southern Ports—General Lee—The Federals Evacuate Harper's Ferry—Burning of the Navy-Yard at Norfolk—The Second Secessionary Movement—Spirit of Patriotic Devotion in the South—Supply of Anus in the South—The Federal Government and tho State of Maryland—The Prospect. The circumstances of the advent of Mr Lincoln to Washington were not calculated to inspire confidence in his courage or wisdom, or in tho results of his administration. His party had busily prophesied, aud sought to iimoculato the North with the conviction, that his assumption of the Presidential oilice would be the signal of the restoration of peace; that by some mysterious ingenuity he would resolve the existing political complication, restore the Union, and inaugurate a season of unexampled peace, harmony, and prosperity. These weak arid fulsome proph...« less