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Baltimore was not expected or known.
As the South was not yet ready to march on Washington, and as Mr. Lincoln's inaugural address purposely under the advice of Seward left it wholly uncertain whether he would attempt to retake Forts Pickens and Moultrie, it became a very important question who should strike the first blow, and when and where it should be struck.
It was thought best to wait for the South to strike it at Sumter, where some three thousand armed men had been assembled, and batteries erected with which to defend Charleston and attack Sumter.
This state of things so far satisfied our legislature that war was neither near nor probable, that on the 10th day of April it repealed unanimously, so far as any roll call shows, the emergency appropriation, leaving only money enough to pay for the expenditures already incurred.
How well I remember the tone of the articles in the newspapers at this time, which accused me of a desire to feed the moths with overcoats, and praised my shrewdness in getting up the scare so as to get for the company in which I was a stockholder the contract for cloth to feed the insects.
On the 11th day of April, the legislature, having practically disarmed the Commonwealth (for its troops could not be moved without the expenditure of appropriated money), adjourned without delay, and went home in happiness, at the bright prospect of lasting peace.
Another event happened on that same 11th day of April, which showed how little the legislature of Massachusetts knew of the condition of the country, and of the determination of the South to make war. The rebels opened fire on Fort Sumter.
Gen. William Schouler, who was the first adjutant-general appointed by Governor Andrew, and who remained in that office during the war, published a book in 1869, entitled “The history of Massachusetts in the civil War,” in which he relates with great particularity, all that he claims was done in Massachusetts to prepare her to take her illustrious part in the contest, which was begun on the 11th of April, 1861.
It is well known that an unfortunate variance of opinion occurred between Governor Andrew and myself, arising out of an offer of the services of myself and troops to
A. M. Thayer and Co. 1892.
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