Virginia Memory: February 1861 to July 1861

THIS PAGE HAS BEEN FORMATTED FOR EASY PRINTING

"Are you for disunion or not."
"You were supprised to hear of my marriage"
"When the summons came for my dear boy"
"When he dressed up in his Uniform"
"Thrown off the shackles of Lincoln ism"
"Hemmed us in completely"
"Only let the yankees be driven from our soil"

February 1861 to July 1861

Callie Anthony says: My pa voted on February 4, 1861, in the election to choose delegates to Virginia's convention. The convention started meeting in Richmond on February 13. We heard that most delegates didn't want to leave the Union, and on April 4, a motion to secede failed by a two-to-one margin. What were they thinking? But a week later, President Abraham Lincoln attempted to resupply Fort Sumter, down in Charleston harbor, and Confederate soldiers fired on the fort. It was grand to hear that the fort's commander surrendered, but then Lincoln called for 75,000 volunteers to put down what he is calling a rebellion. Our governor didn't send any Virginia troops, and on April 17 the convention voted to secede. Voters had to ratify the Ordinance of Secession on May 23, which Campbell County did by a unanimous vote. It looks like there will be lots of fighting. The Confederates routed the Union forces at Manassas on July 21. My brother Johnny joined up in April, and I'm so proud of him.