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Vol. 22 No. 1- January 2009
Volume 22, No. 1 Upcoming Program: Wednesday, January 14, 2009 Ted Allen has been impersonating Abraham Lincoln since 1974. He has appeared as Lincoln at countless meetings throughout the nation, including Civil War reenactments, political rallies, churches, civil groups, schools (from elementary to postgraduate), retirement organizations and Civil War Roundtables such as ours. He has also put on a one-man stage show. We are fortunate on the eve of the bicentennial of Lincoln’s birth to have Mr. Allen don Lincoln’s frock coat and top hat and enthrall us as he has done so many others. Ed Lewis is at it again! One of our esteemed members, Ede Lewis, will be giving two free lectures at the Delray Beach Public Library, of interest to our members. On Wednesday, January 28, 2009, he will talk on "The Causes of the Civil War." On Wednesday, March 16, 2009, he will talk on "Abraham Lincoln as Commander-in-Chief." Each talk will start at 6:30 P. M. and is scheduled to end at 8:00 P. M. The library is at 100 West Atlantic Avenue. For directions, call (561) 266-0194. Program: Wednesday, November 12, 2009 Several members came dressed to the "nines" in Civil War garb. Especially notable was a return visit from "Widow Clark," the oldest living Confederate widow! Our most loyal nationally known author, Robert Macomber, began by announcing that he has won the prestigious National Literary Award from the American Library Association for his last book, "A Different Kind of Honor." He is an international traveler and lecturer, but this last trip may have been the most exciting, because he was arrested in Singapore for weapons smuggling! He was such a smooth talker that he talked his way out of jail!
When, exactly, did the war end? The answer depends upon where you
are: in April 1865, Lee surrendered. Then Lincoln was assassinated and
Southerners feared Northern blood lust. Fighting involving Union
soldiers,
Faced with defeat, Davis’ cabinet debates three options: Plan A: fight on in the mountains (a pipe dream); Plan B: escape to Kirby Smith in Texas and fight on; or Plan C: escape to Cuba, Mexico or Europe with the Confederate gold (and then what, raise a ironclad navy and invade? – lots of luck.). The cabinet members were convinced they would be hung (with or without trial) as traitors, so escape was attractive, even if there was scant chance of carrying on the war.
By early May, Davis has been captured in Georgia. Mallory is awaiting capture at his cousin’s plantation outside Gainesville. Attorney General George Davis reaches Key West, where he wanders the streets, penniless, for a week before finally being arrested. Two cabinet members escape: In June, John Breckinridge, Secretary of War, reaches Biscayne Bay with some Southern troops and runs into a nest of former Confederate who had turned to piracy. Eventually Breckinridge reaches Havana, is arrested in Matanzas as a "vagrant," is recognized by a friend and released. Judah P. Benjamin, Secretary of State, flees to Sarasota Bay, boards an 18-foot boat named "The Blonde. In Charlotte harbor, the boat is stopped by a Union patrol boat looking for the escapees. The three men with Benjamin have authentic "parole" papers, but Benjamin, dressed in dirty clothing, claims he lost his papers. The luckless Union petty officer believes him and lets him go. Benjamin gets to Cuba and then to Europe where both he and Breckinridge flourish.
Some Southern blockade runners switched sides and supplied cattle to the occupying army for three years after formal fighting stopped. Not all stories ended so neatly: Governor Milton was so fervent a Confederate that he stripped his own state to send Florida recruits fight in Virginia and the Mid South. Distraught, Milton shot himself in May 1865. The Union installed Gov. Marvin, a Union judge in Key West, as Governor during the Reconstruction period. In 1868, the new constitution was adopted and Florida rejoined the Union. Reconstruction was milder in Florida than further North. Why? Many Union officers retired to Key West, Tampa, etc., reducing animosity. Also, Florida was really still a frontier where people had to live and work together to survive. How many Floridians fought for the North? Many Seminole Indians, who fought the Federal troops to a standstill until 1858 (shades of Vietnam!), went with the North to continue fighting their oppressors. Many Floridians who remained loyal to the Union abandoned their homes and walked to the Gulf Coast where they flagged down Union gunboats and were taken to Key West and enlisted. Pro Union citizens formed two regiments (1400 men), the 1st and 2nd USA Florida cavalry. From December 1863 on they occupied Usappa Island (the site of his hero’s first home in Point of Honor). Thanks to many contributors, the holiday feast was, as usual, bounteous!
Last changed: 06/23/11 |