And the Lights Go Out

Portsmouth, Virginia unknown date (LOC - LC-USZ62-25222)

A Consequence of Virginia’s Secession

From The New-York Times April 27, 1861:

PORTSMOUTH, Va., Wednesday, April 24, 1861.

The great want of the Revolutionists is small arms. It is the cry that comes up from Richmond from every part of the State, and the fact does not corroborate entirely the claims put forth in regard to the martial spirit of the people of Virginia. It looks very much as if the “piping times of peace” had led to a general neglect of military duty, and some of the new Virginia recruits will probably be quite as awkward in handling guns as they allege all Northern men to be. …

Cape Henry Lights, old and new - old on the right (LOC - LC-DIG-det-4a12490)

One other fact of some moment, let me mentioned The light-houses on Capes Henry and Charles, have been out two nights; and last night the light-boat stationed between the capes and Fort Monroe, was abandoned by the light-keeper, all the oil on board having been first poured out. A boat was sent down from the Cumberland to know why the light was not burning, and found things in this condition. Two steamers, with troops on board, were detained all night outside the bar by these interferences with the lights. Now, for the point: these light-keepers obtain their appointments at Washington, and the light-house at Fort Monroe is in the hands of a Mrs. DEWEES, a slaveholder, whose two sons, what superintend the lights, are two of the most violent Secessionists I have seen in the South. I conversed, this morning, with one of them, who gloated on the prospect of seeing Monroe battered down, and swore that he would be one of the first to scale its accursed wails! He is led by Federal bounty.

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A Possible Consequence I Never Thought Of

From a speech by David S. Coddington at the mass union meeting in Union Square, New York City on April 20, 1861:

Virginia, has seceded, and carried my political fathers with it — Washington and Jefferson. The State has allowed their tombs to crumble as well as their principals. Outlaw their sod! Who will dare to ask me for my passport at the grave of Washington.

So if the CSA flourished I’d need a passport to visit lots of historical places involved in our nation’s founding. Coddington was riled up eight days after the attack on Sumter. 150 years later I feel the sense of shared heritage. Maybe Coddington is putting a practical spin on Lincoln’s “mystic chords of memory”.

In the Pre-CSA days: Mount Vernon, Virginia 1800 (by Francis Jukes)

Gotta get my passport! Tomb of George and Martha at Mount Vernon

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The photo of the Washington tomb is by Harald Klinke and is licensed by Creative Commons.

Map of Mount Vernon drawn by George Washington (LOC - g3882m ct000367)