THE REBELLION.
These and some files of papers, and the Doctor's
memory, gave us the leading occurrences which had
taken place at home up to near the end of March,
1861. We learned of the inauguration of the new
President and of the leading events following his election,
but of the startling incidents of a later period
we were ignorant. We could not apprehend that war
had actually broken out. We knew only of the intrigues
for a division of the States and of the acts
looking to that design. We learned that suspicion on
the one hand, and treason on the other, ruled the
hour; that threats of violence and irresolute counsels
had thrown society into a ferment; and that the national
safety was imperiled; but we knew not of the
firing on Fort Sumter, nor of the bloody wound
which the Nation had received at Bull Run; nor that
a vast army for the protection of the Capital and the
defense of the Government was then growing up on
the banks of the Potomac. We little thought, that in
every city, and town, and hamlet, the occupations of
peace had already given place to the passionate excitements
of war; that a cry of indignation and
anger had gone up throughout the land against men
who, pledged to protect the national flag and the national
name, had abandoned and repudiated them; or,
that under the banner of States' rights and under the
impulse of ambition, a powerful party had boldly bid
defiance to the Federal power and declared their purpose
to break the Federal compact. And, even had
we heard these things, it would have been difficult for
us to have thus suddenly realized that, in a single
year, human folly and human madness had so completely
got the better of right and reason.
I occupied myself while the schooner lay at Uper-
