Two years into the Civil War, hostility between America’s political factions had grown nearly as intense and personal as it is today.
As the federal government increasingly infringed on civil liberties in the course of trying to force the rebellious states back into the Union, early supporters of Mr. Lincoln’s war turned against it — and against him.
kAm%96 :>A@D:E:@? @7 2 D9@CE\E6C> 5C27E :? `gea[ 2?5 2 >@C6 4@>AC696?D:G6 @?6 :? `geb[ 6?6C8:K65 E96 @AA@D:E:@? @7 E9@D6 H9@ 5:5 ?@E DFAA@CE E96 H2C :? E96 7:CDE A=246] p 4C24<5@H? @? 7C66 DA6649[ :?4=F5:?8 >@?E9D\=@?8 :?42C46C2E:@?D 7@C 4:E:K6?D H9@ >6C6=J G@:465 A@=:E:42= @AA@D:E:@?[ 2=:6?2E65 >2?J H9@ 925[ F?E:= E92E A@:?E[ 324<65 E96 H2C 677@CE]k^Am
kAmr@?G6CE:?8 2 H2C 7@C E96 &?:@? :?E@ 2 4CFD256 282:?DE D=2G6CJ C6A6==65 8C62E DH2E9D @7 E96 AF3=:4[ 2D >F49 3642FD6 :E D>24<65 @7 32:E\2?5\DH:E49 A@=:E:4D 2D 7C@> 2?J DJ>A2E9J H:E9 D=2G6CJ]k^Am
kAm%96 E9C66 ?@CE96C? 4@F?E:6D @7 }6H w2>AD9:C6 H6C6 5@>:?2E65 3J 4@?D6CG2E:G6 s6>@4C2ED[ >2?J @7 H9@> :?:E:2==J C2==:65 C@F?5 E96 7=28 :? `ge`]k^Am
kAm%96 >@DE 72>@FD @7 E9@D6 s6>@4C2ED H2D r@=] t5H2C5 t] rC@DD @7 {2?42DE6C[ H9@ 4@>>2?565 E96 dE9 }6H w2>AD9:C6 '@=F?E66CD] rC@DD H2D <:==65 @? yF=J a[ `geb[ =625:?8 9:D 3C:8256 :? %96 (962E7:6=5 2E v6EEJD3FC8[ 3FE 96 925 D@FC65 @? E96 {:?4@=? 8@G6C?>6?E 3J E96?] w:D 5:DD2E:D724E:@? H:E9 25>:?:DEC2E:@? A2CE:D2?D9:A H@F=5 AC@323=J 92G6 =65 9:> E@ C6D:8? 925 96 DFCG:G65]k^Am
kAm%96 `geb 5C27E =2H 4C62E65 2 G2DE 3FC62F4C24J @7 AC@G@DE >2CD92=D 7@C 6?C@==:?8 A@E6?E:2= 4@?D4C:AED[ 4@?5F4E:?8 5C27E =@EE6C:6D[ ?@E:7J:?8 >6? H96? E96J H6C6 5C27E65 2?5 @G6CD66:?8 E96:C :?5F4E:@?] %96 !C@G@DE |2CD92= v6?6C2=’D qFC62F H2D 2=D@ C682C565 DFDA:4:@FD=J[ H:E9 D@>6 ;FDE:7:42E:@?[ 2D 2 ?2E:@?2= DFCG6:==2?46 286?4J 2?5 7656C2= A@=:46 56A2CE>6?E] !@=:E:42= A2EC@?286 56E6C>:?65 >2?J @7 E96 2AA@:?E>6?ED :? E96 3FC62F]k^Am
kAmx? s6>@4C2E:4 DEC@?89@=5D[ E96 AC@G@DE >2CD92=’D >6? H6C6 3:EE6C=J C6D6?E65[ 6DA64:2==J H96? E96J 42>6 E@ 56=:G6C 5C27E ?@E:46D] w2?5HC:EE6? C6A@CED 7:=65 H:E9 E96 (2C s6A2CE>6?E @G6C 2 46?EFCJ 2?5 2 92=7 28@ 56D4C:36 :? 56E2:= E96 C646AE:@? E9@D6 7656C2=k^Am
kAm@77:4:2=D >6E H:E9 :? E96 ?@CE96C? E@H?D @7 r2CC@== r@F?EJ]k^Am
kAms6AFEJ !C@G@DE |2CD92= w:C2> !2F= @7 (2<67:6=5 EC2G6=65 3J DE2864@249 E@ r@?H2J H:E9 t?C@==:?8 ~77:46C w@C246 v@57C6J @7 w2>AE@? u2==D[ H9@D6 3C@E96C H2D AC@G@DE >2CD92= 7@C E96 `DE r@?8C6DD:@?2= s:DEC:4E]k^Am
kAmp=@?8 E96 H2J[ E96J DE@AA65 :? %2>H@CE9[ |25:D@? 2?5 t2E@?[ D@>6E:>6D D6A2C2E:?8 E@ 5C@A E96 F?H2?E65 ?@E:46D 2E E96 9@>6D @7 >6? @? E96:C =:DE] ~? ~4E] e E96J D=6AE 2E E96 r@?H2J w@FD6[ =62G:?8 D6A2C2E6=J E96 ?6IE >@C?:?8 :? C6?E65 42CC:286D[ 6249 H:E9 2 =@42= 8F:56[ 2?5 27E6C 56=:G6C:?8 ?@E:46D :? r@?H2J 2?5 q2CE=6EE E96J >6E :? y24<D@? E96 6G6?:?8 @7 ~4E f]k^Am
kAmqJ E96?[ H@C5 @7 E96:C AC6D6?46 925 DAC625] v@57C6J 2CC:G65 7:CDE[ 2C@F?5 d A]>][ 2?5 H2D 4FDD65 C@J2==J 3J D@>6 @7 E96 y24<D@? C6D:56?EDj 2 76H @7 E96> E9C6H C@4<D 2E 9:> 2D 96 5C@G6 3J]k^Am
kAm!2F= C624965 E@H? 2C@F?5 g A]>] %96 A2:C E@@< C@@>D 2E w@C246 v@@5C:49’D u@C6DE '2=6 w@FD6[ H9:49 DE@@5 @? E96 DA@E ?@H @44FA:65 3J %96 (6?EH@CE9 x??] %96J H6?E E@ 365 2E `_ A]>][ 3FE D@@? 27E6CH2C5 D@>6@?6 D6E E96 9@E6= 27:C6[ <:?5=:?8 2E =62DE EH@ D6A2C2E6 3=2K6D[ 2?5 :E H6?E FA =:<6 2 >2E49] %96 y24<D@? 5C27E C6D:DE6CD 6G:56?E=J >62?E 3FD:?6DD]k^Am
kAm%96 A2:C 32C6=J 6D42A65 3J ;F>A:?8 @FE 2 H:?5@H 2D D>@<6 7:==65 E96:C C@@>[ =62G:?8 369:?5 E96:C 7:C62C>D 2=@?8 H:E9 >2?J @7 E96:C C6>2:?:?8k^Am
kAmC27E ?@E:46D] !2F=’D 42CC:286 2?5 9@CD6 H6C6 3FC?65 FA :? E96 DE23=6[ 3FE v@57C6J 925 2AA2C6?E=J =67E 9:D C:8 2E E96 DE23=6 @7 y@D6A9 %C:4<6J’D y24<D@? u2==D w@FD6[ 24C@DD E96 3C:586 @G6C E96 t2DE qC2?49 @7 E96 t==:D #:G6C W?@H E96 (:=542E #:G6CX]k^Am
kAmw6 2?5 !2F= 25;@FC?65 E@ 2 C@@> 2E %C:4<6J’D 9@E6=[ H96C6 !2F= 7:==65 @FE 3=2?< 5C27E ?@E:46D 7@C E96 >6? H9@D6 ?2>6D 925 ?@E 366? 4C@DD65 @FE :? 9:D A@4<6E ?@E63@@<] %96 7:C6 2E E96 u@C6DE '2=6 H2D DE:== 3FC?:?8 H96? 96 7:?:D965[ 2?5 96 DFCAC:D65 >2?J @7 E96 =:?86C:?8 DA64E2E@CD H:E9 E96:C 5C27E ?@E:46D]k^Am
kAm%96 ?6IE 52J E96J 4@?E:?F65 E96:C C@F?5D :? v@57C6J’D 42CC:286] %96J 5:D492C865 v@57C6J’D 8F:56[ t=:D92 $E@<6D @7 q2CE=6EE[ C6E2:?:?8 r@?H2J =:G6CJ>2? y@D6A9 vC66?=627[ H9@ 925 C:556? H:E9 !2F=] y24<D@? ':==286 C6D:56?ED 4@?7C@?E65 E96> 2D E96J DE2CE65 2H2J[ =@@D:?8 2?@E96C 92:= @7 DE@?6D 27E6C E96> 2D E96J 4C@DD65 E96 3C:586 3J E96 E@H? 92==[ 2?5 E96? E96 >@3 EFC?65 @? $E@<6D[ 362E:?8 2?5 <:4<:?8 9:> 2?5 7:?2==J 492D:?8 9:> @FE @7 E@H?] vC66?=627 C67FD65 E@ 244@>A2?J E96> 2?J 72CE96C[ 2?5 D=:AA65 2H2J]k^Am
kAmpD !2F= 2?5 v@57C6J 4@?E:?F65[ 2=@?6[ E96J 7@F?5 E96 :?923:E2?ED F?H:==:?8 E@ 8:G6 E96> 2?J :?7@C>2E:@?[ 3FE 3J DE@AA:?8 2E 6G6CJ 9@FD6 E96J 5:5 =@42E6 D6G6C2= @7 E96 >6? E96J H2?E65] {2E6 :? E96 27E6C?@@? E96J 5C@G6 FA E96 r2CE6C }@E49 #@25[ 2?5 ?62C=J c >:=6D 23@G6 E96 G:==286 E96J G66C65 @77 @? 2 C@25 @G6C E96 t2DE qC2?49[ =@@<:?8 7@C E96 !6C<:?D 2?5 (:88:? 72C>D[ ?@CE9 @7 q=24< |@F?E2:?]k^Am
kAm!6@A=6 9FC=65 :?DF=ED 2E E96> 2E E96 7:CDE 9@FD6D E96J G:D:E65] !2F= 5C@AA65 v@57C6J @77 E@ 56=:G6C ?@E:46D 2E E96 9@>6 @7 y@D6A9 !6C<:?D[ E96 492:C>2? @7 y24<D@?’D 3@2C5 @7 D6=64E>6?] !2F= 9:>D6=7k^Am
kAm5C@G6 @? E@ E96 =2DE 9@FD6[ 36=@?8:?8 E@ {6G: q2C<6C (:88:?[ E@ ?@E:7J 9:D D@? w6?CJ]k^Am
kAmpD 96 5C@G6 324< E@ A:4< FA v@57C6J[ !2F= H2D @G6CE2<6? 3J y@D6A9 !6C<:?D[ 9:D D@?D !2F= 2?5 rJCFD[ 2?5 J@F?8 (:88:?] %96 7@FC AC@>:D65 !2F= E92E 96 H@F=5 ?6G6C 86E @FE @7 y24<D@? 2=:G6] $:?46 96 2=C625J <?6H @7 2 9@DE:=6 4C@H5 :? E96 G:==286[ !2F= 4@==64E65 v@57C6J 2?5 DE2CE65 2E 2 EC@E 7@C }@CE9 r@?H2J @? 2 “3JH2J[” 2AA2C6?E=J 5@58:?8 y24<D@? ':==286 G:2 u:G6 |:=6 r:C4F:E[ q=24< |@F?E2:? #@25[ 2?5 E96 sF?566 #@25]k^Am
kAm}6HD @7 y24<D@?’D C624E:@? E@ E9:D 7656C2= :?ECFD:@? 925 2=C625J >256 :ED H2J E@ }@CE9 r@?H2J[ H96C6 :E H2D C646:G65 ?62C=J 2D :?9@DA:E23=J] p44@C5:?8 E@ @?6 G6CD:@? @7 E96 :?4:56?E[ H96? E96 EH@ 92CC:65 @77:4:2=D D@F89E =@58:?8 2E E96 C6?@H?65 z62CD2C86 w@FD6[ @H?6C $2>F6= %9@>AD@? C67FD65 E@ 244@>>@52E6 E96>] %96J H6?E :?DE625 E@ }2E92?:6= |2D@?’D }@CE9 r@?H2J w@FD6[ H9:49 E96? DE@@5 @? E96 D:E6 @7 }@CE9 r@?H2J’D AC6D6?E\52J =:3C2CJ] %96J 925 ?@E 366? E96C6 =@?8 H96? 2?@E96C >@3 82E96C65[ :?4=F5:?8 >6? H9@ 925 C646:G65 E96:C 5C27E ?@E:46D 7C@> w@C246 v@57C6J] %96 4C@H5 56>2?565 E92E v@57C6J 4@>6 @FE @7 E96 9@E6=[ 3FE 96 ACF56?E=J 564=:?65] x??<66A6C }2E92?:6= |2D@? 6>6C865 2?5 E2=<65 E@ 9:D :?7FC:2E65 ?6:893@CD[ 2?5 6G6?EF2==J A6CDF2565 E96> E@ 8@ 9@>6]k^Am
kAm~?=J 2 76H 52JD =2E6C[ !2F= 2?5 v@57C6J C6EFC?65 E@ y24<D@? H:E9 s6AFEJ !C@G@DE |2CD92= y@9? {68C@[ c_ H6==\2C>65 D@=5:6CD 7C@> 2 56E249>6?E @7 E96 x?G2=:5 r@CAD 2E !@CED>@FE9[ 2?5 E96 &]$] |2CD92= 7@C }6H w2>AD9:C6]k^Am
kAm%96 EC@@AD @44FA:65 E96 E@H? 7@C 2 76H 52JD[ 2H2<6?:?8 E96 G:==286CD 6249 >@C?:?8 H:E9 E96 D@F?5 @7k^Am
kAmE96 3F8=6[ H9:=6 E96 @77:46CD 56=:G6C65 E96 =2DE @7 E96 5C27E ?@E:46D 2?5 >256 :?BF:C:6D 23@FE H9@ 2== E96 “C636=D” >:89E 92G6 366?]k^Am
kAmt2C=J :? }@G6>36C[ {68C@ 42>6 324< 282:? H:E9 !2F=[ v@57C6J[ 2?5 2 D:?8=6 4@?DE23=6] %96 ?62C6DE EC2:? D6CG:46 E@ y24<D@? H2D E96 vC2?5 %CF?< #2:=H2J[ CF??:?8 7C@> !@CE=2?5 E@ |@?EC62= G:2 q6E96=[ |2:?6[ 2?5 v@C92>[ }]w] %96 7@FC C624965 v@C92> @? %F6D52J 6G6?:?8[ }@G] b]k^Am
kAm%96 ?6IE 52J E96J 9:C65 2 5C:G6C H:E9 9:D E62> 2?5 @>?:3FD E@ 3C:?8 :? E96 “C636=D[” 2AA62C:?8 2E y@D6A9 !6C<:?D’ 9@>6 E92E ?:89E[ 3FE 6G6CJ >2=6 !6C<:?D H2D 23D6?E] %96 @77:4:2=D 962565 7@C }@CE9 r@?H2J E@ =@@< 7@C E96:C AC6J[ 2CC:G:?8 :? E96 H66 9@FCD @7 }@G] d[ 3FE E96:C 5C:G6C =62C?65 E92E !6C<:?D 925 962565 :? E96 @AA@D:E6 5:C64E:@?] w2G:?8 366? H2C?65 @7 E96 AC@G@DE >2CD92=D’ C6EFC? 3J q2C<6C (:88:?[ !6C<:?D 925 DE2CE65k^Am
kAm@C v@C92> H:E9 2== 9:D 5C27E\286 D@?D[ :?E6?5:?8 E@ E2<6 E96 EC2:? :?E@ r2?252]k^Am
kAms6E6C>:?65 E@ 7F=7:== 9:D >:DD:@?[ {68C@ EFC?65 9:D A2CEJ 324< 7@C v@C92> @? }@G] d[ E@ =:6 :? H2:E 2=@?8 E96 >2:? C@25 E@ E96 C2:= 56A@E]k^Am
kAm%96J A:4<65 FA q2C<6C (:88:? @? E96 H2J[ 2?5 @G6C E96 4@FCD6 @7 }@G] e 42F89E !6C<:?D 2?5 9:D D@? !2F= @? E96 @FED<:CED @7 v@C92>] $6=64E>2? !6C<:?D C6D:DE65 H96? E96J EC:65 E@ 4=2A HC:DE :C@?D @? 9:>[ 3FE =6G6=65 C6G@=G6CD 4@?G:?465 9:> E@ DF3>:E] y@D6A9 s62C3@C?[ 2?@E96C @7 E96 C:@E6CD H9@ =:G65 H96C6 E96 sF?566 #@25 DA:==D @?E@ q=24< |@F?E2:? #@25[ 42>6 2=@?8 =2E6C :? E96 52J 2?5 E96J D6:K65 9:>[ 2D H6==] %96 @E96C !6C<:?D 3@JD 925 D6A2C2E65[ 2?5 D=:AA65 E9C@F89 F?56E64E65]k^Am
kAm$2E:D7:65 H:E9 E96 42E49 E96J 925 >256[ E96 @77:46CD E@@< E96:C AC:D@?6CD E@ E96 C2:=C@25 DE2E:@?[ 2?5 3J ?@@? @7 $2EFC52J[ }@G] f[ E96J 2CC:G65 :? !@CED>@FE9[ =@58:?8 E96:C 7@FC 492C86D :? 46==D 2E u@CE r@?DE:EFE:@?]k^Am
kAm#64@C5D @7 E96:C :>AC:D@?>6?E 5@?’E 2AA62C E@ 92G6 366? AC6D6CG65[ 3FE 8@G6C?>6?E AC24E:46 2E E96 E:>6 :>A=:6D E92E !6C<:?D[ 9:D D@?[ 2?5 9:D ?6:893@CD C6>2:?65 :? 4@?7:?6>6?E F?E:= E96:C 42D6D 42>6 FA 7@C EC:2=[ :? u63CF2CJ `gec] !C6D:56?E {:?4@=? 925 F?:=2E6C2==J DFDA6?565 92362D 4@CAFD :? DF49 :?DE2?46D[ 2?5 E96C6k^Am
kAmH2D ?@ 492?46 @7 8@:?8 7C66 @? 32:=]k^Am
kAm%96 y24<D@? >6? H6C6 =F4<J 6?@F89 E@ 36 3C@F89E 367@C6 2 4:G:= 4@FCE C2E96C E92? @?6 @7 E96 >:=:E2CJ 4@>>:DD:@?D E96 (2C s6A2CE>6?E FD65 E@ 2DDFC6 4@?G:4E:@?D :? 9:896C\AC@7:=6 42D6D] %96 EC:2= H2D 96=5 C:89E :? y24<D@?[ AC@323=J 2E %C:4<6J’D 9@E6=] ~?6 y24<D@? >2? H9@ E6DE:7:65 7@C E96 AC@D64FE:@? =@5865 9:D 9@CD6 2?5 3F88J 2E %C:4<6J’D DE23=6j 27E6C E6DE:7J:?8[ 96 7@F?5 9:D 92C?6DD 49@AA65 :?E@ 7C28>6?ED[ 2?5 9:D 9@CD6’D >2?6 2?5 E2:= D92G65 32C6]k^Am
kAm%96 @FE4@>6 @7 E96 EC:2= ?6G6C >256 E96 A2A6CD[ 3FE E96 23D6?46 @7 DF49 C6A@CED DF886DED E92E E96 G6C5:4E H6?E :? 72G@C @7 E96 5676?52?ED] %96J 925 2=C625J DA6?E @G6C E9C66 >@?E9D =@4<65 FA[ 3FE E96:C C6D:DE2?46 2AA62CD ?@E E@ 92G6 366? 2=E@86E96C F?2G2:=:?8[ 7@C ?@?6 @7 E96 !6C<:?D @C (:88:? 3@JD 5C27E65 E92E 2FEF>? 6G6C D6CG65 :? E96 pC>J]k^Am
kAm~E96C y24<D@? 2?5 r@?H2J 4@?D4C:AED 5:5 F=E:>2E6=J 5@? F?:7@C>D[ 9@H6G6C[ @C 9:C6 DF3DE:EFE6D E@ 7:89E @? E96:C 3692=7] p >2? 4@F=5 2G@:5 D6CG:46 2=E@86E96C 3J 9:C:?8 D@>6@?6 :?6=:8:3=6 7@C E96 5C27E E@ G@=F?E66C :? 9:D A=246[ @C 96 4@F=5 6D42A6 2 DA64:7:4 5C27E 42== 3J A2J:?8 2 4@>>FE2E:@? 766 E92E =67E 9:> GF=?6C23=6 E@ 7FEFC6 =6G:6D] %96 DF3DE:EFE:@? AC@G:D:@? 3642>6 E96 72G@C:E6 >62?D @7 D2G:?8 >6? 7C@> 7:89E:?8 :? 2 H2C E96J @AA@D65j :E 2=D@ AC@G:565 2? 6D42A6 4=2FD6 7@C AC@A@?6?ED @7 E96 H2C H9@ 5:5?’E H2?E E@ 5@ E96 7:89E:?8 E96>D6=G6D]k^Am
kAm%9C@F89 E96 G@E6D @7 4:E:K6?D H9@ H6C6 6:E96C DF3;64E E@ E96 5C27E @C 925 D@?D H9@ H6C6[ >F?:4:A2= 7F?5D H6C6 @7E6? 2AAC@AC:2E65 E@ A2J E96 DF3DE:EFE6D @C E96 4@>>FE2E:@? 766D] %92E C65F465 E96 :>AF=D6 E@ G:@=6?E C6D:DE2?46[ 3FE 5:5 =:EE=6 E@ 232E6 E96 9@DE:=:EJ 36EH66? E96 AC@\H2C 2?5 2?E:\H2C 724E:@?Dj :E >2J 6G6? 92G6 288C2G2E65 2?5 6IE6?F2E65 E96 3:EE6C?6DD[ 3642FD6 E96 C6DF=E:?8 563E 3FC56?65 >2?J E@H?D 7@C J62CD 27E6C E96 H2C 6?565]k^Am
kAm%96 3:886DE =@D6C :? E96 y24<D@? C:@E H2D w@C246 v@@5C:49[ H9@D6 Sg[___ :?G6DE>6?E :? E96 u@C6DE '2=6 w@FD6 H2D 2 E@E2= =@DD] %H@ J62CD 27E6C E96 H2C[ 96 2?5 9:D H:76[ E96 7@C>6C w2CC:6E {F4J @7 v=6?[ E@@< E96:C 49:=5C6? E@ |:??6D@E2 2?5 DE2CE65 @G6C :? 2 AC2:C:6 E@H? ?62C |:??62A@=:D]k^Am
kAmy@D6A9 !6C<:?D 2?5 2== 9:D D@?D[ 2=@?8 H:E9 q2C<6C 2?5 w6?CJ (:88:? 2?5 E96:C 72>:=:6D[ DE2J65 @? :? y24<D@?] %96J 925 366? F?H:==:?8 E@ =62G6 E96:C 4@>>F?:EJ E@ 2?DH6C E96 42== @7 2? @G6CC6249:?8 7656C2= 8@G6C?>6?E[ @C 7@C 2?J @E96C C62D@?[ 2?5 E96J 2== ?@H =:6 :? E96 y24<D@? ':==286 r6>6E6CJ]k^Am
kAmk6>m(:==:2> |2CG6= :D 2? 2H2C5\H:??:?8 r:G:= (2C 9:DE@C:2? H9@ =:G6D :? $@FE9 r@?H2J]k^6>mk^Am
(1) comment
Fascinating account. Thank you. I do find the opening line more than a bit troubling. “Two years into the Civil War, hostility between America’s political factions had grown nearly as intense and personal as it is today” What does that say about our discourse today? Let’s hope we all try to do better.
Welcome to the discussion.
Log In
Keep it Clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language.
PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.
Don't Threaten. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated.
Be Truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone or anything.
Be Nice. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism that is degrading to another person.
Be Proactive. Use the 'Report' link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts.
Share with Us. We'd love to hear eyewitness accounts, the history behind an article.