Abraham Lincoln arrived at the Springfield, Ill., telegraph office the evening of Wednesday, Nov. 8, 1860, to follow the election returns as they came in from across the country. Eight, nine, 10 o’clock brought state after state in favor of Mr. Lincoln for the office of President of the United States. When the city of New York carried for Lincoln, men threw up their hats with hurrahs and cheers for Lincoln, followed by cheers for New York and cheers for everybody!

“Some actually lay down on the carpeted floor and rolled over and over.”

At the Illinois State House, the applause was tremendous, raising a noise “never before heard in that prestigious building.”

Spreading through the town, the jubilant crowd declared “New York 50,000 majority for Lincoln.

“Whoop, whoop, hurrah!” All of Springfield “went off like an immense cannon report, with shouting from houses, shouting from stores, shouting from housetops and shouting everywhere.”

As history has so tragically recorded, Lincoln’s opponents responded with a fervor equal to the victorious celebrations held in Lincoln’s favor. Resolutions from Georgia declared that the election “ought not, and will not, be submitted to,” and called for the organization of arms to defend the state.

At his home in Springfield, Ill., President-Elect Lincoln received numerous death threats. He was warned that he would never be seated as President of the United States.

In an effort to calm the nation, a dispatch from Washington, D. C., stated that President Buchanan would fully perform his duties, and further affirmed that “no apprehension exists in official quarters that any efforts will be made to seize the forts or other public property in the South.” The federal government assured the public that “no such movement would be tolerated by the authorities of the states in which they are located.”

Even so, succession was on the lips of every southerner.

In Philadelphia, Republicans attempted to form a posse “to protect Lincoln in the presidential chair.” The effort was defeated while others organized to tender services at the inauguration “to oppose Southern minutemen.” On Dec. 20, 1860, South Carolina became the first state to succeed from the Union as the nation staggered toward civil war.

In Kansas, the commander of the Kansas Brigade, General James H. “Jim” Lane, wrote to the president-elect.

James P. Muehlberger, in his book, “The 116,” notes Lane’s letter to Lincoln dated Jan. 2, 1861. In that communication, Lane offered 1,000 true Kansas men “armed and organized” to protect the inauguration. Lincoln declined.

As each state seceded, its senators and representatives resigned from national office. Georgia was the fifth state to leave the Union on Jan. 19, 1861. The bill for the admission of Kansas to the Union was taken up and passed on Jan. 21, 1861, as the future President of the Confederacy Jefferson Davis resigned his senate seat. The bill to admit Kansas to the Union was signed by Buchanan, a pro-slavery Southern Democrat, on Jan. 29, 1861.

Six days later, Monday, Feb. 4, the successionist states of the South established the Confederate States of America. Lincoln began his inaugural journey on the 11th by private train from Illinois to Washington D. C.

At Philadelphia, President-Elect Abraham Lincoln hoisted the first United States flag bearing the 34th State of Kansas star to the top of Independence Hall on Feb. 22, 1861, in celebration of George Washington’s birthday. A national salute was fired as the flag floated out in the sun.

Allan Pinkerton’s detective agency had uncovered a plot to advance “hostile purposes” against Lincoln in Baltimore. On Pinkerton’s advice, Lincoln passed through Baltimore without stopping, ultimately arriving safely in Washington.

The new Stars and Stripes floated over public buildings, schools, businesses, houses and avenues on a clear and beautiful Inaugural Day, March 4, 1861. Lincoln began his inaugural address at 1:30 p.m., followed by the oath of office. Chief Justice Robert B. Taney officiated, having administered the oath to seven previous presidents.

In Kansas, Jim Lane and Samuel Pomeroy were elected senators by the Kansas Legislature on April 4. Dissension swirled about the country as civil war drew ever-closer. The opening salvo came in the early morning hours of April 12, 1861, with the bombardment of Fort Sumter at the entrance of the Charleston, S.C., harbor.

Senators Lane and Pomeroy arrived in Washington on April 13, 1861, as the battle for Fort Sumter thundered across Charleston harbor. Kansas newspapers reported “With the Senators has arrived a large number of Kansas gentlemen; being evidently, to secure the confidence and patronage of the Administration, in the way of some occupation.”

The Kansas men arrived at a moment of the Union’s greatest need. Only a handful of troops were stationed at nearby Fort Washington. By April 18, Lane was gathering his Kansas men for the defense of the president. That evening, Lane’s Frontier Guard of 60 tried-andtrue Kansas men marched to the White House and took up positions in the East Room.

In the nation’s darkest hour, Kansas men rose to the occasion in defense of freedom, for they knew full-well the blood and sacrifice given in forging the free state of Kansas, on The Way West.

“The Cowboy” Jim Gray can be reached at 220 21st Rd., Geneseo, KS 67444, (785) 531-2058 or kansascowboy@kans. com.