. Bullet and shell. War as the soldier saw it; camp, march, and picket; battlefield and bivouac; prison and hospital. cope with the political: organization that had so long held supreme■power in the land, but now hopelessly divided^ on national questions. The East and theWest had united in throwing the reins of gov-ernment into the hands of the new party; butthe South, though humiliated by its defeatthrough the ballot, was still defiant, and threatened to resortto the bullet in defense of her theories and institutions. Inassuming this position, she was greatly strengthened by theunwise utteran
. Bullet and shell. War as the soldier saw it; camp, march, and picket; battlefield and bivouac; prison and hospital. cope with the political: organization that had so long held supreme■power in the land, but now hopelessly divided^ on national questions. The East and theWest had united in throwing the reins of gov-ernment into the hands of the new party; butthe South, though humiliated by its defeatthrough the ballot, was still defiant, and threatened to resortto the bullet in defense of her theories and institutions. Inassuming this position, she was greatly strengthened by theunwise utterances of Northern politicians; for their words ledthe Southern people to believe that the North was irrevocablydivided in national sentiment: so, Avhile getting ready for war,the South believed that a bold and threatening front wouldintimidate the less belligerent North. The political sky was full of strange portents ; and the mindsof all thoughtful men on both sides of the new geographicalline were greatly agitated, for none could tell what a day mightbring forth. Scarcely a household in the land but was tempo-. >;:.:31lM ■,1% THE HAND ON THE HILT. 47 rarily divided against itself, so imperfectly were the real issuesof the time understood, or their dangers appreciated. Events crystallized rapidly after the result of the electionbecame known ; and before Lincoln had taken his oath of office,several of the wayward States openly revolted. South Caro-lina impetuously led the way for her sisters, and alreadj^ thebusy note of preparation for the threatening struggle was heardwithin her borders. As yet there had been no overt act, beyond the seizure ofa fort or two, and a navy-yard. There were many wild utter-ances, but no blood had yet been shed. A feeling of dreadrested upon the nation. Men feared each other, and the tiesof personal friendship were visibly loosened. At length the seven cotton States formally seceded, and theremaining slave States threatened to follow. Then the
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Keywords: ., bookauthorwilmerri, bookcentury1800, bookdecade1880, bookyear1883
