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- Aug 25, 2012
Although Delaware was by law still a slave state, in truth it was divided on the subject. No one was sure where Delaware would stand if the Southern States seceded. In general Delaware was commercially tied to the North, the state was sympathetic to the South.
When the Delaware legislature met in January the House of Representatives with 11 People's Party members and 10 Democrats and the Senate with 5 Democrats and 4 People's Party members expressed 'unqualified disapproval" of secession. This did not stop The attorney-general to join with Henry Dickerson, sent by Mississippi to address the legislature, from sending a letter assuring support to Mississippi. "The Governor, officers of State, and six-sevenths of the people of Delaware are cordiality with Mississippi in the Southern cause. The present Legislature opposed to immediate secession. The people will demand a convention and Delaware will co-operate with Mississippi."
Still Delaware was flirting with secession, but only if Virginia and Maryland went first. Pro Southern militias were forming and being provided with arms. The Governor was considered a secessionist, and most of the States arms were soon in the hands of pro Southern militia companies. The firing on Fort Sumter brought things to a head. Union meetings were soon being held and many citizens were expressing support for the Union. There were plans by the pro southern militia companies to seize Fort Delaware, seize the Wilmington depot, and to attack any Northern solder who set foot on Delaware soil. The plans of the Delaware secessionists never materialized and they never came to blows with the pro Union supporters. Soon unionist seemed to have won over most of the state's citizens to the Union cause.
Was there any real possibility of Delaware seceding? If Delaware did secede would it have made any real difference? It would appear to me that Federal forces would have quickly occupied Delaware and the impact Delaware joining the Confederacy would have been minimal.
Any thoughts?
When the Delaware legislature met in January the House of Representatives with 11 People's Party members and 10 Democrats and the Senate with 5 Democrats and 4 People's Party members expressed 'unqualified disapproval" of secession. This did not stop The attorney-general to join with Henry Dickerson, sent by Mississippi to address the legislature, from sending a letter assuring support to Mississippi. "The Governor, officers of State, and six-sevenths of the people of Delaware are cordiality with Mississippi in the Southern cause. The present Legislature opposed to immediate secession. The people will demand a convention and Delaware will co-operate with Mississippi."
Still Delaware was flirting with secession, but only if Virginia and Maryland went first. Pro Southern militias were forming and being provided with arms. The Governor was considered a secessionist, and most of the States arms were soon in the hands of pro Southern militia companies. The firing on Fort Sumter brought things to a head. Union meetings were soon being held and many citizens were expressing support for the Union. There were plans by the pro southern militia companies to seize Fort Delaware, seize the Wilmington depot, and to attack any Northern solder who set foot on Delaware soil. The plans of the Delaware secessionists never materialized and they never came to blows with the pro Union supporters. Soon unionist seemed to have won over most of the state's citizens to the Union cause.
Was there any real possibility of Delaware seceding? If Delaware did secede would it have made any real difference? It would appear to me that Federal forces would have quickly occupied Delaware and the impact Delaware joining the Confederacy would have been minimal.
Any thoughts?
Bringing the