May 24, 1861: Contraband and the First Union Martyr.

Condem

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Tue May-24-11 07:38 PM
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May 24, 1861: Contraband and the First Union Martyr.

Union General Benjamin "the Beast" Butler, commander of a critical Federal base at Fort Monroe in Virginia begins to hold slaves as "contraband of war", arguing that to return slaves known to have worked for the Confederate war effort only aids the enemy.

Elmer Ellsworth, 24 year-old Colonel of the glamorous First Fire Zouaves from New York City, is shot to death by a hotel keeper for hauling down the Rebel flag in Alexandria, Virginia. Ellsworth's (a very close confidant of Lincoln) funeral services are held in the East Room of the White House.

Two little known events that had a crucial effect on the coming war.

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Drale

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Tue May-24-11 07:50 PM
Response to Original message

1. Actually I would say the first Union Martyr was

Edited on Tue May-24-11 07:50 PM by Drale

Elijah Lovejoy. He was an Illinois abolitionist newspaper man who was murdered because of his views. His murder brought the abolitionist view into the main stream, because if a white man can be murdered because of his views on slavery, slavery must be evil. That murder really started the main stream acceptance of abolition.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elijah_Parish_Lovejoy

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Condem

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Tue May-24-11 07:57 PM
Response to Reply #1

2. Excellent point, Drale.

And many after him. Ellsworth's death was the harbinger of things to come. After Sumter, there was no turning back. Along with that, this killing galvanized the North. Only a few had a clue of what was in store.

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Drale

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Tue May-24-11 07:59 PM
Response to Reply #2

3. Side note

There are not enough people named Elijah anymore, its a cool sounding name.:rofl:

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Condem

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Tue May-24-11 08:01 PM
Response to Reply #3

4. Or Elmers.

Wasn't the last one a pig on 'Green Acres'?

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