CIVIL WAR IN AMERICA. The conflict between the Northern and Southern States of the Union, in 1861-65; ostensibly and immediate ly occasioned by disagreement between the two sections on the subject of the control of slavery. lint perhaps not less the result of long-standing differences in political and economic theories. The public agitation of the Abolitionists: the nomination of anti-slavery candidates for the Presidency, at each election. from 1849; the introduction in Congress of the 'Wilmot Pro viso' (q.v.), in 1846: the passage of the Fugitive Slave Law, in 1850. and the incidents connected with its enforcement; the repeal of the Mis souri Compromise in 1854; the Mred Scott' case (q.v.) in the United States Supreme Court, in 1857; the adoption of the Lecompton Constitution for Kansas. in 185S; the John Brown raid at Harper's Ferry, in 1859—served to force slavery into eonspieuous notice as the lead ing issue to accentuate the irreconcil able divergence of beliefs relative thereto, and to intensify the bitterness which rendered a peaceful settlement of the problem still more difficult. The projection into politics of a sec tional issue served to divide the only party that still retained a following both North and South—the Democratic—and to bring about the nomination of four Presidential candidates in 1860: Stephen A. Douglas, of Illinois. rind John C. Breckenridge, of Kentucky. who were nomi nated by the two wings of the Democratic Party; John Bell, of Tennessee, who was nominated by the so-called Constitutional Union Party; and Abraham Lincoln, of Illinois, who was nominat ed by the Republican l'arty. Abralmm Lincoln was elected President. exclusively by the votes of the North; and the immediate effect of his election was to precipitate the secessionist move ment. A State convention mot at Charleston. December 17. and on the 29tli passed an ordi nance declaring that "the union now existing between South Carolina and other States, under the name of the United States of America, is hereby dissolved." This example was followed by acts, similarly phrased, passed by conventions of ten other Southern States, in the following order: January 9, 1861 ; Florida, January 10; Alabama, January 11 ; Georgia, January 19; Louisiana, January 26; Texas, February 1; Virginia, April 17; Arkansas, May 6; North Carolina. May 20; Tennessee, June S. The States of Misiouri, Maryland, and Kentucky were divided in sentiment on the question of se cession. and in the ensuing war had representa tives in the governments and armies of both sec tions. The western counties of Virginia remained loyal to the Union, and separated themselves from the rest of the State. On February 4, 1'861, a Congress met at Montgomery. Ala.. in which were represented all the States that had passed ordinances of secession previous to that date. This Congress adopted for the new organization a Provisional Federal Constitu tion, which was later ratified, and the title 'Confederate States of America.' Jefferson Davis.
of Mississippi. was elected President. and Alex ander H. Stephens, of Georgia, Vice-President. of the new Confederacy. In the meantime the State forces of South Carolina had seized the United States Custom-ITonse, Post-office. and Arsenal in Charleston, and had taken possession of Forts Pinckney and Moultrie in the harbor of that city; Major Robert Anderson, in com mand of Fort 'Moultrie, with a force of only 128 men, many of whom were non-combatants, to Fort Sumter, which he con more defensible. On April 12, 1S61, hos tilities began with the bombardment of Fort Sumter, which, after a brave defense, although several times set on fire by shells, was surren dered on the 14th by Major Anderson—the small garrison withdrawing with the honors of war. There were no casualties on either side. On the day following this event, President Lincoln is sued a proclamation calling for 75.000 volunteers fo' three months; this was followed by a procla mation declaring the blockade of the Southern ports: and. on May 3. a second call was issued for 64,000 men for the army and I5,000 for the navy, to serve 'during the war.' The United States Regular Army consisted, January 1, 1861, of 16,402 officers and men; but these had been dispeised by .John B. Floyd, Secretary of War under Buchanan, to distant parts of the country. Under his directions, also, quantities of arms and anummition had been transferred from Northern' to Southern arsenals, during 1860; and the ships of the United States Navy were mostly absent at foreign stations by direction of the Secretary of the Navy, Toucey. A very large proportion of the Southern army officers re signed and entered the Confederate service, though this course was by no means so general on the part of Southern officers in the navy. In the Southern States, preparations for war were carried on with great energy. (len. Robert F. Lee was appointed commander-in-thief of the Confederate forces in Virginia, their main body being concentrated at Manassas .1unetion. On June 10 a Union force was repulsed by the Con federates at Big 11ethel, Va. (q.v.), and on .July 21 was fought the first battle of Bull Run (q.v.), the Confederates, under Generals Johnston and Beaurerrard, completely defeated the Fed erals, under General McDowell, and threatened the capital. This was the first important battle of the war, and its effect was to rouse both sides to what now promised to be a long and bloody struggle. Meanwhile, General 'McClellan (q.v.) had succeeded in wresting the western portion of Virginia from the Confederates; and intime diately after the disastrous defeat at Bull Run, he was appointed eouunander-in-ehief of the Army of the Potomac. !Us skill in organizing and disciplining large bodies of men, and mak ing valuable soldiers out of raw and inexperi enced recruits. doubtless qualified that army for the magnificent part it afterwards took in the war.