Going to War 1861
Going to War focuses on the continued divisions at West Point and the hard decisions cadets had to make- loyalty to country or loyalty to state. The material presented provides first-hand accounts of the thoughts and actions of cadets and administrators at the Academy.
Tully McCrea letter to his cousin Belle, April 13, 1861
Excerpt:
“…my thoughts are with Major Anderson and his little band who are fighting so bravely against such fearful odds at Fort Sumter. There has been great anxiety and excitement for fresh news here all day. And every fresh arrival adds to the excitement, the morning papers stated that war had actually begun and this evening we hear that Fort Sumter and the Harriet Lane are on fire and one of the vessels of war sunk. This news is not believed, and we pray that it turns out to be false. It is dreadful to be placed in suspense at such a critical time, but as the telegraph wires are in the possession of the secessionists and we have to endure it, I hope that the Government will be successful in succoring the gallant Major Anderson, for he had done his duty bravely and faithfully. But be his fate what it will, he has an enviable position, and his name will forever have a bright spot in American history.”
Letter to Simon Cameron, Secretary of War, from Cadet Henry Kingsbury, Military Academy, West Point N.Y., April 14th, 1861
Military Academy
West Point N.Y.
April 14th 1861
Hon Simon Cameron
Secretary of War
Sir—
I have the honor to request most respectfully that I may be permitted to take an early and active part against the enemies of my country. For some reason I could not sign the petition of my classmates, which accompanies this application. Should my class (the First) remain as students until June next, we will complete the review of our course of studies – the advance we have already finished. By graduating now we will probably gain much in rank as Army officers. In ordinary times the latter motive would have much weight; now it has but little. I am eager to go but willing to stay if my superiors deem it best.
I remain most respectfully
Your obt. Servant
Henry W. Kingsbury
Cadet U.S.M. Academy
Cadet Petition to graduate early and to receive commissions in the army
Hon Simon Cameron
Secretary of War
Sir
The undersigned members of the Second Class U.S. Military Academy do most respectfully request that such orders may be given to the authorities of this Academy as will enable our class to graduate and receive commissions in the Army in June next. We submit this request upon the following grounds.
The present alarming exigency in our national affairs seems to demand a full development of its military resources. A large volunteer force has been called into the field and this force must be prepared for immediate service. We have information from most responsible sources that we can be of more service to our country if employed during the ensueing six months in drilling quotas of this force, than we should ever be if continued at the Academy during the same time. We feel authorized to assume that the Academic Board are prepared to graduate us in the time specified And that they favor the application which we have the honor to submit.
[signed]
H. O’Rorke S. Babbitt
Francis H. Parker Joseph C. Audenried
Chas. C. Parsons Eugene Carter
Stephen C. Lyford Chas H. Brightly
A. Custer Samuel P. Ferris
Francis U. Farquhar Justin E. Dimick
Pearson Farley Geo. A Woodruff
H. Buell James P. Drouillard
Arthur H. Dutton Daniel W. Flagler
H. Cushing Jno. R. Edie
Julius W. Adams William D. Fuller
William H. Harris Leroy S. Elbert
Peter C. Hains
Henry E. Noyes
Samuel N. Benjamin letter to his mother, April 16, 1861
Excerpt:
“We had exaggerated reports and rumors circulating here on Sunday, so that many of us began to believe war was at hand. With few exceptions we are all pleased at decided measures being taken, and are ready for anything that may happen. It is probable that if hostilities should commence that nothing would be done in field before fall. Troops would be sent to the Forts, a 'base of operations' and depots established, and the forces organized. I do not think the prospect of war much increased, but a collision may take place at any moment. I have looked over my papers and things and intend to put everything in order, so as to be ready to join my regiment at once, if necessary. I do not want to make you uneasy, but in case trouble arises, we would probably go to our regiments after a very short leave, and in that case I want you all to bid me 'God Speed.' I am willing to go anywhere at anytime, if a collision takes place. I speak of this now when the danger is distant so as to have it settled.”
Robert E. Lee letter to his cousin Roger, April 20, 1861
Lee describes his decision to resign his commission in the United States Army and place his layalty to the state of Virginia:
Arlington 20 April, 1861
My dear Cousin Roger-
I only Rec’d today your letter of the 17th. Sympathizing with you in the troubles that are pressing so heavily upon our beloved country, & entirely agreeing with you in your motives of Allegiance etc. I have been unable to make up my mind to raise my hand against my native State, my relations, my children & my home. I have therefore resigned my Commission in the Army & never desire again to draw my sword Save in defense of my state. I consider it useless
[verso]
to go into the reasons that influenced me. I can give you no advice. I merely tell you what I have done that you may do better.
Wishing you every happiness & prosperity.
I remain faithfully
Your kinsman
R E Lee
Lt. R. Jones
U.S. Army
Tully McCrea letter to his cousin Belle, April 20, 1861
Excerpts:
“…there is nothing to write about; nothing but the War, and rumors of war. It is the all engrossing topic, everything else is cast aside, even to our studies. The Professors complain bitterly about the deficiency of Cadets in their recitations, and the Superintendant [sic] says that something will have to be done about it. I imagine that the only way to prevent it is to stop the war, for it is impossible to confine the mind to dry abstractions in Philosophy, when our country is passing through the most trying ordeal since the Revolution. Text books are ignored and in their stead are placed the daily New York papers, which are constantly in the hands of Cadets.”
“An exciting scene was witnessed in the chapel on Thursday afternoon. The fifth class was assembled to take the oath of allegiance to the United States, as we have all willingly done heretofore. As it was supposed that some from the Slave states would refuse to take the oath, a great many Cadets of the other classes had assembled to witness the ceremony. The oath was administered in the chapel in the presence of the military and academic staff in full uniform. Ten of the class refused to take the oath and of course, will be dismissed. When the first one refused, a few Southern cadets tried to applaud him by stamping on the floor, but he was immediately greeted with such a unanimous hiss that he could clearly see the sentiments of the great majority present. Never before did a cadet refuse to take the oath of allegiance.”
Register of Cadet Casualties, 1802-1953
For the period 1802-1819, entries are arranged chronologically by date of admission to the Academy; 1820-1936, alphabetically by name of cadet under year of admission; and 1837-1953, chronologically by date of separation. Volume II contains a name index covering the years 1909-1928 only. It records the cadet's name, date of admission, State or source of appointment (1843-1953), class year, age (1802-1836, at time of admission; 1837-1953, at time of separation), cause of separation (dismissal, resignation, death), and date of separation. A remarks column contains specific information relating to the separation and, in some cases, reappointment.
John Pelham resigned April 22nd, 1861
“It would be exceedingly gratifying to me and to the whole family to receive a diploma from this institution. But fate seemed to have willed it otherwise. I, I don't see any honorable cause other than that of tendering my resignation when Alabama leaves the Union and offer my services to her."
Superintendent Bowman letter to General Totten, April 24, 1861
Bowman submits the actions and resolutions of the U.S. Military Academic Board to require cadets to retake the Cadet Oath of Allegiance and proceed with the early graduation of the class of 1861.
Gen’l: Jos G. Totten
Chief Engineer
Washington D.C.
U.S. Military Academy
West Point. N.Y. April 24, 1861.
Sir.
In submitting, for the action of the Dept: the enclosed Resolutions of the Academic Board, I would respectfully recommend.
1st. That the 1st Class be examined & graduated as soon as practicable after the decision of the Dept: is known, should that decision be favorable.
2nd. That the oath of allegiance be taken by each member of the class before receiving his diploma, & that institutions be given as to the disposition to be made of those who decline to take the oath.
3rd. That of the 2nd Resolution be approved, the Academic Board be authorized to prepare a programme for carrying its provisions into effect with as little delay as possible.
I would respectfully ask the early action of the Dept: on the above resolutions .__ The attention of these two classes, can with difficulty be kept upon their studies .__ They are anxious to participate in the stirring events of the day, & are rendered restless & discontented. The other classes can hardly fail to share in this feeling.
A decision of the question of their early graduation, favorable or unfavorable, would be preferable to their present state of uncertainty.
I am Sir, Very Respectfully
Your obedt Servt
Signed A.H. Bowman
Col: & Supt. M.A
Superintendent Bowman letter to General Totten, April 26, 1861
Bowman reports to General Totten that there are still over twenty Southern cadets at West Point who have resigned, but require their parents' or guardians’ consent to formally separate and leave the Academy. The mail has been slow and the cadets are restless, so Bowman requests permission to ask them to retake their oaths.
U.S. Military Academy
West Point N.Y. April 26, 1861.
Genl. J.G. Totten
Chief Engineer
Washington, D.C.
Sir
There still remain twenty one Cadets from the disaffected Southern states, who have not permission of their parents or guardians to resign – they are disconcerted and restless and almost entirely neglect their studies.- Although, as yet, they have caused no commotion in the Corps, still their involuntary presence cannot fail to be pernicious to discipline, if continued much longer- most of them alledge [sic] that it is the wish of their parents, that they should resign & that such permission would have been received ere this, but from the interruption of the mails.- However this may be, in view of the circumstances above stated, I would respectfully ask that leave be given me to ask each Cadet, who tenders his resignation, if he is willing to take the oath of allegiance, & if he declines, then proceed as already instructed to do with reference to the 5th class.
I have the honor to be
Very Respectfully
signed| A.H. Bowman
Tully McCrea letter to his cousin Belle, April 27, 1861
Excerpts:
“Thirty two resigned and were relieved from duty on Monday, and since then enough to increase the number to more than forty. There is now very few cadets from any southern state here. My roommate, a good union man from Tennessee, is still here and intends to remain as long as he can possibly do so with honor. He has no sympathy with the southern rebels and thinks that the union feeling is overwhelmed in his state for the present, but will prove true and loyal to the end.”
“I never saw such an alarmed crowd as were those that left here the beginning of the week. They were afraid that they would be mobbed by excited and patriotic people as soon as they left West Point. The Superintentant [sic] let them leave before their resignations were accepted by the secretary of war, so that they might have a chance to reach their homes before the excitement got any higher. The Superindentant [sic] advised them not to go through New York city. Some took his advice and went around by Albany. But the meanest thing of all, was some of them getting red, white, and blue ribbon before they left here, to make rosetes [sic] of, to wear in New York. I would have preferred by far to have been mobbed than to have carried false colors, and wear a lie on my breast. But I have found ‘Southern chivalry’ since I have been at West Point, to be something not worth bragging of.”
The division of the Corps of Cadets into Union and Confederate was nearly, but not quite entirely, according to whether they hailed from northern or southern states. A very few cadets from southern states remained loyal to the United States and determined to fight to keep the Union together. One such was Tully McCrea’s roommate and friend George L. Gillespie, Jr. After graduation, Gillespie became an engineer officer and served in successful bridging operations and defense of important river crossings during the 1862-1863 campaigns in the Eastern Theater. Later during the Overland Campaign of 1864, his daring crossing of enemy lines to report enemy movements earned him a Medal of Honor.
Tully refers to Cadet Gillespie as a "good union man from Tennessee" in his letter to cousin Belle.
Another southern-born classmate of Tully McCrea's and George Gillespie's was Henry Clifton Wharton (1842-1870). Wharton was born into a military family on November 20, 1842, while his father, Henry Williams Wharton, was stationed at Fort Chaffee, Arkansas. Although born in Arkansas, a southern state that seceded, his family hailed from the north; his parents were both born in Philadelphia, Pa. By the time H.C. Wharton was two years old the family had moved to Fort Gibson, Oklahoma. Following this assignment the family moved to Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, and from there the family moved to Fort Kearney, Nebraska from which H.C. Wharton received his appointment to the Military Academy at West Point, joining the Class of 1862 on July 1, 1858.
Wharton retook the Cadet Oath of Allegiance and upon graduation on June 17, 1862, was promoted to Second Lieutenant, Corps of Engineers. He remained at the Academy until October 1862, then served in the Civil War. His assignments in the War were chiefly engineering work, constructing fortifications in Nashville and San Francisco Harbor, California. Following the War, Wharton served as an assistant engineer in Baltimore, Maryland until January 1870 when he resigned his commission. Surviving his father by only two years, Henry C. Wharton died on April 8, 1870, in Baltimore, Maryland.
Cadet Oath of Allegiance
The Cadet Oath of Allegiance has been amended numerous times. These two oaths, George A. Custer's and William P. Dixon's oaths are examples of the wording before the Civil War, and how it was amended when the cadets were asked to retake the oath at the onset of the war.
The oath of 1857 made specific reference to the states, referring to the United States by the plural “them.” Thus, the oath essentially stated that cadets’ loyalty was to the states, not the Constitution. Academy officials were struggling with the ramifications of an apparently ambiguous oath of allegiance. Troubled by the large number of officers and cadets joining the Confederacy, Major General Joseph Totten, Chief of Engineers, ordered the Superintendent Alexander Bowman to have all officers, professors, and cadets to take the oath of allegiance. The oath of 1862 reflects the changes that were made, assuring that cadets pledge their loyalty exclusively to the United States above all other countries, counties, or states, and to support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic.
George A. Custer, USMA June 1861
Cadet Oath of Allegiance, July 1, 1857
I George A. Custer, of the State of Ohio aged Seventeen years, six months, having
been selected for an appointment as Cadet in the Military Academy of the United States, do hereby engage with the consent of my Father, in the event of my receiving such appointment, that I will serve in the Army of the United States for eight years, unless sooner discharged by competent authority. And I George A. Custer, do solemnly swear, that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the United States of America, and that I will serve them Honestly and Faithfully against all their enemies or opposers whatsoever, and that I will observe and obey the orders of the President of the United States, and the orders of the Officers appointed over me, according to the Rules and Articles of War.
GA Custer
William P. Dixon, Class of 1866
Cadet Oath of Allegiance, July 1, 1862
United States Military Academy
West Point, N.Y., July 1st, 1862
I William P. Dixon, of the state of Illinois aged sixteen years, seven months, having been selected for an appointment as Cadet in the Military Academy of the United States, do hereby engage with consent of my mother in the event of my receiving such appointment that I will serve in the Army of the United States, for eight years, unless sooner discharged by competent authority. And I William P. Dixon – do solemnly swear that I have never voluntarily borne arms against the United States since I have been citizen thereof; that I have voluntarily given no armed hostility thereto, that I have neither sought nor accepted nor attempted to exercise the functions of any office whatever under any authority or pretended authority in hostility to the United States, that I have not yielded a voluntary support to any pretended government, authority, power, or constitution within the United States, hostile or inimical thereto. And I do further swear that to the best of my knowledge and ability, I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic, that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same, that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which I am about to enter, so help me God, William P. Dixon.
Tully McCrea: When Shall We Meet Again
“Everyone felt the truth of the words, 'never, no, never.' For in all probability in another year, half of them may be in their graves, the victims of war or disease. At any rate, they will soon be scattered and will never meet together again as a class.”
Excerpt from Upton letter to his sister, May 8, 1861:
"My Dear Sister,
From New York we took the 6 p.m. train to Philadelphia. Everything passed off quietly until we arrived in the City of Brotherly Love. There we were met with police force, and all were arrested for secessionists. We were utterly unprepared for the descent, and a fight was imminent; but the police explained the matter, and we followed them to the station-house. We were taken into the Roques’ Gallery, and there deposited our swords and revolvers, and awaited the arrival of Major Henry. We showed him our orders from the War Department, which, of course, was sufficient evidence of our character. Our arms were returned, and, on the supposition that the train had left, we went to the Continental to put up for the night at the city’s expense. The cause of our arrest was a telegram from the Mayor of Jersey City, stating that forty Southern cadets were on the train, and that their baggage contained small-arms for the South. Under the circumstances the arrest was justifiable. On our arrival in Washington, we reported to Colonel Lorenzo Thomas."
Tully McCrea letter to his cousin Belle, May 10, 1861
The area in which Tully's relatives' plantation was located in Louisiana was historically a seat of African American resistance during the war.
Excerpt:
“I received a letter from Alice a few days ago, and she wanted to know when I was going to resign and come home like the other southern cadets, I told her that as I had received my appointment from Ohio, I was a Buckeye and not a southern cadet, and in all probability, it would be some time yet before I resigned. I told her all about the uprising of the north, and how they regarded the actions of the southern people. I would like to see some of my secession cousins read that letter, for I know that they will think that I have degenerated into a terrible abolitionist and everything else that is bad. Alice also said that Bob and Mark Wood had joined the Mississippi volunteers and were on their way, it was supposed, to Washington. They will have a good time I imagine before they get into Washington. Bill Wood my oldest cousin was dieing slowly with the consumption. His wife's health was also very poor, and Alice stated that Uncle Sam's house was like a hospital. Uncle Sam himself was at his plantation in Louisiana trying to take care of his negroes, and having some trouble with them as 'abolitionists had been tampering with them,' Alice said."
Superintendent Bowman letter to General Totten, Sept. 5, 1861
U.S. Mlitary Academy
West Point NY. Sept. 5/61
Genl Jon. G. Totten
Chief Engineers
Washington D.C.
Sir,
In forwarding the resignation of Cadet Wright without recommendations, I would Respectfully suggest to the Dept: that I have reason to believe that in this case, as in the case of Cadet Fitzhugh, they resign to take commissions in the volunteer service - Here when the subject is well understood, it is not thought that any Cadet now at the Institution is fit to represent it properly in the field & that while they may be better fitted for the positions offered them, that those who would be appointed if they decline, still in the best interests of the service would be consulted by keeping them until their military course here, scarcely yet commenced, is completed. Another Cadet has today asked permission to hand in his resignation so soon as the consent of his parents is procured. If all of these resignations are acceptable, others will follow, and the class will soon lose their most valuable members.
Very Respectfully
Your obedt Servt
Signed A. H. Bowman
Col: &Sup. M.A