The year begins with feelings of enmity & apprehensions," wrote an Episcopal minister. At least the question that there would be serious trouble had been answered. South Carolina had seceded; the Federal government was opposing it, though hard put to determine what form that opposition would take. It was more than probable that other deep South states, at least, would follow South Carolina. Compromise was still looked for by many, but Congress had thus far failed; the President-elect opposed compromise. Neither side appeared willing to accept any real settlement. The basic issue of the crisis at this point had changed from a political one of the rights of the Southern states versus the greater power of the Northern states, and from such issues as expansion of slavery, to one of secession itself. While a few talked of armed conflict and there was a building up of state forces in Charleston Harbor, war did not yet appear inevitable, necessary, or even probable to most observers. It seemed unlikely that one state, or even a few, could oppose the might of the Federal government for long.

Several issues had been solved as the new year began, but their solution only made things darker. At Charleston Major Anderson was safe for the moment with his garrison at Fort Sumter, but time would run out unless he were reinforced or resupplied. In the harbor the state forces worked readying Fort Moultrie for possible action. South Carolina was setting up a government as a sovereign power, complete with a Cabinet. Other states of the deep South were meeting, contemplating secession. Talk of a new Southern Confederacy was growing daily. In Washington Buchanan's reorganized Cabinet was strengthening the President's stand against secession, and troops and supplies were ordered to sail for Fort Sumter. Congress still debated possible compromises with little success. In Springfield, Illinois, the President-elect was busy with Cabinet choices and the politics of organizing a new administration. At the same time, Mr. Lincoln, violently opposed to secession was publicly silent, but privately writing that there should be no compromise over slavery expansion. South Carolina had broken the dam of events; now the waters would begin to rush.

The events of January and even the preceeding December had tumbled one after the other until many felt both frustration and confusion. Six states had actually declared themselves out of the United States and Texas was about to join them. Questions proliferated. Were they actually gone and for how long? Could anything be done? What about this convention called for early February at Montgomery, Alabama? What about the so-called Peace Convention soon to gather in Washington? What of Illinois? Would he take immediate action or would he wait? He had not said much publicly since his election. Where did he really stand? While the non-slave states were firm for the Union there were eight other slave states on the "border" or in the "mid-South." Would they follow their sisters of the Gulf Squadron or would they wait?
Perhaps Mr. Lincoln would speak out en route to Washington or at least before the inaugural. Perhaps there was just a lot of fiery talk from the more determined Southerners and maybe this secession business would pass away. Let the South go, cried some on both sides; no, others shouted, mostly in the North. Secession was the natural right of a sovereign state! No, the Union was indivisible! Neither one was right; why couldn't there be a compromise?

It was still a time of waiting, of less hopeful waiting. The fact that two nations now existed where previously there had been one could not be ignored. The issue had to be faced, but how? Opinions and feelings were many, varying in degree and emphasis. Would there soon come a crisis that would force decisions? What about Fort Pickens at Pensacola, Florida, and Fort Sumter in Charleston Harbor, South Carolina? Federal troops still garrisoned these, but were they not within Confederate territory? What about the slave states that had not yet seceded: Virginia, Maryland, Delaware, Tennessee, Kentucky, Arkansas, Missouri, and North Carolina?

The seven-state Confederacy was acting very much like a nation, complete with government, President, Constitution, people, and territory. At Washington President Lincoln must try to mold and shape a new administration elected by a new party. He must see to a Cabinet of diverse and ambitious men, must fill jobs with party faithful, must decide what to do about these forts, what to do about the seceded states he could not recognize as departed. How far would the people back the new President? For the Confederacy at the moment the picture was clearer; there was much to do so solidify the new country, possibly gain new states, foreign recognition, and go about living. But perhaps it would not be that easy.

Less than three weeks before, the firing began at Fort Sumter and war was under way. Most of the talk was over, and a few shells had flown instead. A form of unreal realism was crossing both the United States and Confederate states. People were waking to what had happened and beginning to get ready to do more. They knew it was war now, but did they know what war was? Maybe it would all be patched up again; and if this war was real, could it possibly last very long? Could the North not see that the South had a right to their independence, to choose their own way of life? Could not the South see that it was bringing ruin to the Union? No one in truth could see anything very clearly but they had to peer around, gather their wits after a fashion, and do something.

The line-up was not quite complete--several other states were on the verge of leaving the old nation. Could any of the slave states be saved? The Confederate government at Montgomery, successful up to now in its effort to secession, must gird itself for a war--and with what? Patriotic manpower ws not enough, and even that was limited. Of course major foreign powers would recognize the validity of the Confederacy--or would they? In Washington a new administration, a new President, and a new political party were in power and just what would and could they do with what was left of the country?

Prepare! Prepare! In the various states, they organized, gathered in the men, armed them after a fashion, paraded in gaudy uniforms if available, made speeches. More and more people realized that there was something called a war, but only a small part of the truth was dawning and that was the pretty part. Men came to the colors willingly, as state governments organized regiments, offered them in a somewhat haphazard manner, and sent them off to join the national banners. For the South there was not only an army to be organized, but a navy to be created. There would be considerable casting around to see how this could be done. What about the supplies, small arms, big guns, shot and shell, food, uniforms? Yes, it would be a problem, but there was tremendous hope this summer, Secession appeared to be succeeding every day, and the armies in the field and those gathering would cinch that success. At least many felt so. In the North there were still those who deplored the war and hoped for settlement, but they were fewer every day. Again there was the problem of men, guns, and supplies. Of course, there was more of everything than in the South, but it seemed quite a task at that. Patrotism was on the upsurge and speeches helped appear to make up for deficiencies. What few realized was that what had happened in the six weeks since the episode at Fort Sumter was hardly war--that would come later. All they knew was that the Federals were in Virginia around Alexandria and were moving into western Virginia--was that not action?

The war was young yet, and still it seemed a long time since mid-April. Event piled upon event and certainly these unknown places names would last forever in history. Bur fortunately man cannot see far ahead, for if he had he would have known that the "great battles" of the early summer of 1861 were really not so very great, certainly in comparison with the struggles to come. But already it was clear there would have to be a big fight in Virginia and that might well end the war before winter. The Federal advance in western Virginia seemed like a major invasion; citizens on both sides awaited news from Missouri. Out on the ocean the blockade was ponderously steaming into position but was yet a think broken line rather easily evaded. On the other hand, the South could well use the cargoes from ships from foreign ports that never sailed, those that refused to attempt even the scanty blockade. And at home there was still intoxication; for which it was being fought hald glamour, courage, fascination. To the Confederate his new nation was a startling success, but then it was to be expected considering the people. To the Northerner there was some surprises that things had gone as well as they had, but of course soon Northern power would crush this ridiculous secession. For that was still the main issue--could a handful of states simply pull out and set up for themselves?

That "big" battle was over and by August the true import of First Bull Run was discernible. Washington was still very much in Federal hands. The Confederates in Virginia showed no signs of invading the North. It was a time of stocktaking militarily, economically, politically, and spiritually, as it was obvious now that the war was going to last a few months at least. This was the legacy of First Bull Run or Manassas both North and South. Prepare, prepare, prepare, was the pattern of late summer. So far nothing of great excitement had broken loose in the uncertain West beyond the Alleghenies, but there were indications that out of Missouri a clash would be forthcoming. The confederacy had not collapsed at one blow, and, taking a deep breath, they planted the feet of their new nation firmly. At the same time, the North, were united now, realized that there was no quick solution. The conflict was more serious than most people had been able to conceive.

Peoples of the North and South began to wonder where the next military blow would fall, where the fighting would be, who would die. In the North, McClellan, awkward under the restraing of aging General Scott, was building the Army of the Potomac and his own reputation. In the South the Confederates were building with what they had, and wondering how to stretch it far enough. Fremont's unauthorized "Missouri Emancipation" caused consternation in Washington, and in the Northern press, although here and there the abolitionists rejoiced. In the South it brought forth edtorial comment that "we told you so"; the real purpose of the war was unmasked. Both sides asked how it would affect Kentucky. The neutral state was an immense barricade to military action from the Alleghenies to the Mississippi River. How and when would this unnatural barrier come down?

In the East there were rumblings both North and South for further action. Much was still expected of McClellan, but many wondered why the fine fall weather was being let to slip by. McClellan, himself was fast becoming "his" army, and at the same time was having difficulties with General-In-Charge Scott, the Cabinet and even Mr. Lincoln. In Richmond and the Confederacy, likewise, there was wondermunt over why the victorious army of First Manassas, was not being put to better use. In the West the issue of Kentucky had been settled for the time, but the end of "neutrality" brought new problems with it. The Confederates hastened work on their Western defense line; the Federals gave thought to future invasion of the South. In Missouri Fremont continued to be a touchy problem to the Lincoln administration and something would have to be done. East Tennessee and Western Virginia still were in the limelight. At the Confederacy the question of hoped-for foreign recognition was paramount. The people of the two sections at war still were mainly optimistic, but questions of all kinds were being asked and more and more frequently in the United and in the Confederate States.

The fall so far had seen no major military moves by either the Confederate or the United States, and some people of both nations were calling out loudly for offensive blows. It was thought that in both North and South there would soon be important command changes. In Virginia both armies appeared to be doing little except organizing; in western Virginia operations would soon be over for the year due to weather, and it appeared that the Union would hold most of the soon-to-be state. In Kentucky the new Confederate line was making a brave show from Cumberland Gap to Columbus; in Missouri guerrilla activities were mounting and Fremont and his army were in the Ozarks at Springfield supposedly seeking Price and his Confederates. On the south Atlantic coast it was known that a mighty Federal fleet had sailed from Fort Monroe. Where would they strike? Politically the South had an election set, but no one ran against President Davis. In the North two main forces were slowly developing as opposition to the Administration, one definately for a peaceful settlement, the other for a war of conquest against the South and slavery.

In the North excitement, tinged with anxiety and doubt, continued over the Trent Affair as acclamation for Wilkes's seizure of the Confederate commissioners began to sour. Congress would meet, and the President would comment on the state of the Union. Grumblings over the failure of the Army of the Potomac to act were rising; the first winter of the war was upon the people.

In the South indignation over the Trent Affair also shifted to a realization that it might be a blessing in disguise and that Mason and Sidell in Federal hands might be more useful than in posts in Britain and France. On the military front, there was concern over both men and arms, and, while not yet tight, the unceasingly present blockade cast forebodings for the future. Some bickering and discontent over both political and social affairs was bound to rise within a new nation and a new government fighting a war, but the people as a whole remained hopeful. In the coastal areas of the Carolinas and Georgia planters continued to burn cotton crops to prevent seizure by Yankees and to create a cotton shortage abroad.