Worth A Mint

The United States mint in New Orleans was taken over January 31st 1861 by the state of Louisiana.

The United States, New Orleans Mint in Louisiana operated from 1838 to 1861 and from 1879 to 1909. It produced over 427 million coins during that time. The Mint had operated continuously from 1838 until the state of Louisiana seceded from the United States on January 26th 1861. When Louisiana reconvened the secession convention on January 26 1861 it was decided to allow Federal employees at the Mint to remain at their post, but they would have to work for the state of Louisiana. The Mint was used for a short time to make Confederate coins, the silver O-half dollar. After this the Mint was used to quarter Confederate troops, until it was recaptured the following year along with the rest of New Orleans, by the Union navy under command of Admiral David G Farragut.

An All Black Play

William Wells Brown published the first black drama, “Leap of Freedom” on January 30th 1858.

William Wells Brown was born November 6th 1816 in Lexington Kentucky, a slave. His mother was Elizabeth and she was owned by a Dr Young, his father was a white cousin of Dr Young. Brown spent most of his early years in St Louis, Missouri, where he was hired out to work on the Missouri River. He escaped on New Year’s Day 1834, slipping away from a steamboat while it was docked in Cincinnati, Ohio. Brown settled in Buffalo, New York were he found work on a Lake Erie steamboat.

The Anti Slavery Society asked Brown in 1843 to come lecture, and he soon became a well known public speaker. He wrote and published a great deal, including the play “The Escape; or a Leap for Freedom” published January 30th 1858. It was the first all black drama ever published. Brown died at his home in Chelsea, Massachusetts November 6th 1884.

Bleeding Kansas

Kansas entered the Union on January 29th 1861 as a free state.

Kansas was obtained by the United States from France, as part of the Louisiana Purchase in 1803. It’s name comes from the Kansa Indian tribe which lived in the area. During the early years it was used by the United States government as a place to relocate Indians. The Kansas - Nebraska Act of 1854 gave Kansas residents the right to decide if the their state would be a free or slave state. Slavery proponents and abolitionists both sent settlers to the territory trying to swing the vote in their favor. This differences in ideology led to violence known as “Bleeding Kansas“. The abolitionist prevailed and on January 29th 1861 Kansas became the 24th state. Becoming a state didn't end the violence; on August 21st 1863 the raid by Confederate sympathizers on Lawrence Kansas resulted in a civilian massacres. Following the Civil War Kansas’ population exploded as immigrants and ex-soldiers flooded to the good agricultural land.

The Gag Rule

House Rule 21, also known as the Gag Rule, prohibited abolition petitions from being read on the floor of the House, passed on January 28th 1840.

The House of Representatives adopted a series of rules between 1836 and 1844 banning petitions for the abolition of slavery. Known as the gag rules, they prevented antislavery petitions from having to be read according to usual House procedures. House rules had been that during the first thirty days of each session of Congress was for reading of petitions from the people. Each petition would be read aloud, printed and assigned to committee. Slave owning southern Representatives had no attentions of abolishing slavery and were incensed by the antislavery petitions.

The House of Representatives passed the 21st Rule; January 27th 1840, it banned even the acceptance of antislavery petitions. The Rule passed by the slim vote of 114 to 108, being opposed by Northern Democrats and Whigs. The Rule would stand until December 3rd 1844 when all the Northern Whigs, along with three quarters of the Northern Democrats and four Southern Whigs voted to repeal the Gag Rule.

The Man Had A Temper

A Democratic Congressman from South Carolina, Preston Smith Brooks died January 27th 1857.

Preston Smith Brooks was born August 5th 1819 in Roseland, Edgefield, South Carolina. He was the son of Whitfield and Mary Parsons [Carroll] Brooks. He attended South Carolina College [now known as the University of South Carolina]. He may or may not have graduated in 1839, if he didn’t it was do to some issues of threatening with a firearm. Brooks became a lawyer in 1845, and served with the Palmetto Regiment during the Mexican American War.

He had a duel with Louis T Wigfall and was shot in the hip which caused him need to use a cane. Brooks became a member of the South Carolina House of Representatives in 1844. In 1853 he was elected to the United States Congress. It was while serving in Congress that Brooks beat United States Senator Charles Sumner an anti-slavery advocate, in the United States Senate chambers with his walking cane. The beating was caused by a speech given by Sumner a few day before in which Sumner had spoke against a member of Brooks’ family. Brooks is quoted as saying "Mr. Sumner, I have read your speech twice over carefully. It is a libel on South Carolina, and Mr. Butler, who is a relative of mine." Sumner started to stand up and Brooks him in the head with his cane, which had a gold head. Sumner couldn’t get away as he was trapped by his desk which was bolted to the floor. Brooks continued to beat Sumner until his cane broke and Sumner was unconscious.

Brooks survived a vote to remove him from his House seat, but he resigned anyway. His constituent returned him the Congress thinking him a hero. Brooks stayed in the office until he died January 27th 1857 in Washington DC from the croup. He is buried in Willow Brook cemetery in Edgefield, South Carolina.

A Magnolia On White

Mississippi adopted a state flag in January 26th 1861.

Mississippi seceded from the United States on January 9th 1861. At the time there still wasn't a Confederate States of America, so Mississippi like it’s neighbors stood alone. Following the secession Mississippi began using the flag which had flown over the Republic of Florida in 1810. The flag was blue with a single star, and is known popular as the “Bonnie Blue Flag”.

After several weeks the Mississippi secession convention chose a new flag for the Sovereign Republic Mississippi on January 26th 1861. The flag is known as “The Magnolia Flag”. It has a magnolia tree on a white field with a red fringe on the fly, and the Bonnie Blue included on the canton. Although Mississippi used the Confederate flags through out the war, “The Magnolia Flag” was the official state flag for 33 years until 1894 when the present flag was adopted.

Out Numbered But Not Out Fought

The Battle of Athens fought January 26th 1864 in Athens, Limestone, Alabama.

A Union forces under Captain Emil Adams, who was part of the 9th Illinois Mounted Infantry, and the Confederate 1st Alabama Cavalry under Lieutenant Colonel Moses W Hannon met at Athens, Alabama. At about 4 am on January 26th 1864 Confederate cavalrymen; numbering about 600, attacked Athens. Athens was being held by a Union force of about 100. Even though the Union defenders were outnumbered six to one and didn't have any fortification, they were able to hold off the Confederates. After a two hour battle the Confederates were obliged to retreat.