War!
At 4:30 am, April 12, 1861, war officially broke out between the North and South when Confederate forces under the command of P. G. T. Beauregard opened fire on Fort Sumpter in Charleston harbor, South Carolina.
On April 15, 1861, President Abraham Lincoln issued his call for 75,000 troops to suppress the what many in the North considered an illegal insurrection. In the days following the outbreak, rumors swirled and uncertainty abounded. Communities across the nation rallied together in support of the cause.
THE CRISIS!
Great Union Meetings in Ann Arbor.
On the 15th inst. our citizens were called together at the Court House at an early hour of the morning, by the ringing of the Court House bell, and the telegraphic dispatches of the night before read to them. The detailed and war-like character of the news inspired and roused up the latent patriotism of every heart present, and they went forth resolved upon immediate action.
![News of [Civil] war announced by Dr. Tappan. Sunday -1861](images/ann-arbor-small.jpg)
Sunday April 21, 1861. Dr. Tappan
leading
a rally on the courthouse
square in
Ann Arbor following a
flurry of rumors out
of Washington, DC.
Emergencies and Wars, U of M & the
Civil War. no. 358, University of
Michigan photographs vertical file
At 2 o’clock P.M., an impromptu meeting of our citizens, old and young, was held in the Court House, to take proper and effectual steps to do their part in subduing the present rebellion in the country and our flag from impending destruction, devastation and ruin which seemingly awaits it at the hand of the confederates of the seceded States of the Union. – Dr. Tappan was called to the chair, and E.B. Pond, editor of the Michigan Argus, was appointed Secretary.
Speeches were made by Senator Bingham, Rev. Mr. Blades, R. G. DePuy, Esq., and by Chancellor Tappan, all of which were of a most patriotic, enthusiastic and Union character. The meeting was full, and the greatest enthusiasm was apparent.
Friday evening last, upon the call of our worthy, active and efficient Mayor, John F. Miller, a meeting was held at the Court House for the purpose of inviting our citizens to take a portion of the State loan. E.B. Pond, Esq., was called to the Chair, and Hon. J.F. Miller appointed Secretary. Hon D. McIntyre stated the object and read the list of the names of those who had subscribed to take a portion of the loan, which subscription amounted to about $4,500.
The meeting was addressed by Dr. Tappan and others, in a very spirited and patriotic manner, and was much enlivened by martial music and the patriotic songs of the Misses of the Union School, under the director of Prof. Jackson, who were seated in the gallery, which adjourned to meet Saturday afternoon at 2 o’clock. At 2 P.M. the meeting assembled pursuant to adjournment, and was called to order by the Major. The Rev. F.A. Blades was appointed Chairman, and Prof. Jackson appointed Secretary, and was addressed by several prominent citizens, and an opportunity given to citizens and others from the country, to subscribe to the loan. The meeting adjourned with three hearty cheers for the Union.
On Sunday morning, the 21st inst., our citizens were thrown into the most intense excitement by a rumor that Washington had been taken by the rebels, and that President Lincoln and Gen. Scott were prisoners in their hands, but which we are happy to say was not the fact.
Argus & Journal Extra.
EA.5b, Out box, Civil
War Contemporary,
Vertical File Collection
The telegraph was in operation during most of Saturday night, and the dispatches received up to 10 A.M., of Sunday were issued in Extra, in union, by the Michigan Argus and the Journal, and laid before the public at 12 M. At the request of a large number of citizens, Mayor Miller caused a notice to be given in the different churches, that a meeting of the friends of the Union would be held in the Court House Squareat 2 o’clock P.M., to be addressed by Dr. Tappan. In response to the notice, an immense concourse of citizens, including a large number of ladies, together with the military, assembled. Rev. F.A. Blades opened the meeting by prayer, after which Dr. Tappan delivered a stirring, enthusiastic and patriotic address, and was followed by the Rev. J.M. Gregory in a most thrilling and devout Union speech. Prof. White then stated that Ex-Mayor Barry had offered to command a second company, which has been filled. All the clergy of the city were upon the stand, and participated in the services of the day. The Steuben Guards were present in full uniform, with flag and music. – Sixteen hundred dollars were promptly pledged by citizens for the support of the families of those who volunteered.
The Steuben Guard added much to the patriotic and cheerful bearings of the day, by their enlivening strains, and the meeting adjourned amidst anthems, cheers and martial music, and the impressions of the doubts and fears of the safety of this great Union upon the minds of the assembled thousand during that day of excitement of civil war, will probably never be erased.
Ann Arbor Journal, Wednesday Morning, April 24, 1861 page 2
Michigan Argus
The Crisis in Ann Arbor.
April 26, 1861, page 3
Since our last issue the excitement in our City has gone on increasing; and the notes of preparation are heard on every hand. On Friday evening last, a meeting was convened on call of the Major, to respond to the call of the State for financial aid, and the Court House was filled to overflowing. E.B. Pond, was called to the chair, and J.F. Miller, Esq, was elected Secretary. The object of the meeting was stated at length by Mr. McIntyre, who reported that a subscription paper had been circulated, and over $4000 subscribed to the loan. The meeting was addressed by Dr. Tappan, Gov. Felch, Rev. Mr. Cochran, Rev. Mr. Chapin, R.G. DePuy, Prof. Wood, Dr. Palmer, C.H. Dennison, and others; and patriotic songs were sung by about forty girls from the Union School […]
Oath of allegiance, Detroit,
April 16, 1861.
This public meeting was typical of
Detroit’s wartime rallies. Jex Bardwell
photographed the crowd gathered in
front of the US Post Office on Griswold
Street to watch Detroit’s civil and
Military officials take a new oath of
allegiance.
Photos (32) slides, Box 2,
Michigan and the Civil War
At an early hour on Sunday morning, a report gained general circulation that Washington had been taken by the revolutionists, and President Lincoln and Gen. Scott were prisoners in their hands. This started the blood to boiling in every vein, and excitement was up to the war pitch. Sermons were preached in several of the churches appropriate to the times, and a meeting was announced to be held in the Court House Square at 2 o’clock P.M. The meeting was an immense one, and was addressed by Dr. Tappan and Hon. J.M. Gregory. It was opened and closed with religious exercises and gave evidence of the deep feeling of the Christian portion of the community. While the meeting was in progress a subscription was in circulation to aid the Steuben Guards in filling up their ranks. […] The Steuben Guards were paraded in front of the stand during the meeting.
This Sabbath meeting, a thing so unusual and almost unheard of in this country, shows the intense excitement that pervades society., an excitement that has thoroughly aroused all classes, and especially the men of capital and character. It was a gathering not for pleasure but of earnest men to consider their duty to the country.
In the evening various Churches joined in exercises at the M.E. Church, which were participated in by the Revs. Blades, Chapin, Cornelius, Cochran and Clark. We were not present, but understand that he [sic] deepest interest was manifested.