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While the Civil War was in progress the mines along the
Comstock were kept in constant touch with the victories and defeats of the north
by news that came across the telegraph wire. Whenever there was a victory
it sent excitement through the district. On the top of a rocky point just
east of the center of Gold Hill two small cannons were set on heavy platforms
facing the west overlooking the town. One of these cannons came from
California while the other was quite famous. The latter was the cannon
that Captain Frémont had with him when he explored the the Sierras in 1834
to1844. whenever news of a victory came into town the cannons were fired
and the concussion could be felt the whole length of the canyon.
During the Civil War, the south
was no longer able to use Union currency and had to make their own.
As the war went on funds for quality paper money became
more scarce.
Captain Tredwell Moore, along with twenty men, was dispatched from Fort
Churchill on June 6th, 1861 to check out rumors of Confederate agents being active
in some of the mining camps. Captain Moore along with U. S. Marshall John
Blackburn confiscated arms from the citizens
in Carson City, then marched on to Silver City where he confiscated twenty-one more arms,
and then on to Virginia City. There he was to investigate the flying of the
Confederate flag.
The Confederate flag was flaunted only once in a public place. June 7th of
1861 the proprietor of a store on the corner of Sutton Avenue and A Street, John
L. Newman hoisted the flag over his business. He stood outside along with a
small group of sympathizers to protect it. Immediately after, his very own
business partner, R. M. Waterhouse, hoisted a Union flag on the other end of the
building. Armed with a pistol he swore he’d kill anyone that dared to try and
take it down.
This stand-off aroused the citizens and excitement filled the air. For only a
few hours danger seemed to be inviting a civil war of their very own.
But the better part of discretion prevailed, and the rebellious emblem was
removed, never again to reappear in Nevada. But not exactly by choice . . . .
Captain Moore investigated the raising of the flag and was told by the
proprietor it was only meant as a joke, and to create a little excitement. Captain Moore however
wasn't to take the incident lightly and looked at the matter from a different
prospective.
Believing there was a secret organization in Virginia City
he rode in with twenty dragoons and formed
two companies of fifty Volunteers each upon his arrival. He gave them the confiscated
arms, had them swear an oath to protect the Union and to suppress any rebellious
actions. This was the first step towards placing Nevada under martial law.
When the
Civil did break out in the east, it caused many reprecutions along the Comstock.
Upon Captain Moore's arrival a number of southern sympathizers were found in the
Comstock district and were taken into custody. They were taken to Fort
Churchill where they were kept busy with what could be considered corporal
punishment. It was reported by a traveler that the sympathizers were given
special treatment, a special form of exhaustive work. A twenty foot
chain was locked around the prisoner's ankles, the other end fastened to a short
post. Then for two hours he was forced to walk at chain's length around
the post carrying a fifty pound sack of dirt on his back.
On July 7th, 1861,
Territorial Governor James W. Nye arrived in Carson City. Horseman and
carriages, adorned with Union flags greeted his stage five miles from town. His
arrival was announced with a twelve-pound cannon, and an enthusiastic crowd
cheered as he stepped up to make his first speech.
In a speech
he made in San Francisco on July 4th, 1861, he declared that no utterance
against the Union would be tolerated, and that being neutral in the issue was
not possible.
From the time Nevada was given territory status until the time it was made a
state, the rest of the country was in a state of civil conflict. Many of the
pioneers which had migrated to Nevada in search of riches came from the south.
When the south succeeded from the Union it provoked exhibitions of personal
opinion and feelings that often ended up in violent confrontation.
At the opening of the war, any U. S. Army troops in Nevada were transferred to
the east to take part in the war.
With the removal of federal troops and law enforcement, the Overland
Mail route was subject to attacks by Indians, and robbery by highway bandits.
The routes to California via the Panama Canal
and Cape horn were suspended due to
the war. All vessels were needed to effectively carry out blockades.
The southern route via Texas, New Mexico and Arizona was under the control of
the Confederacy. The only way to get supplies or passengers to and from the east
coast to the west coast was through Nevada, so the Overland route was vital.
A warning was sent out to the secessionist that any one repeating such an
offense as flying the Confederate flag would be summarily dealt with.
This led to the secessionist organizing a branch of a secret group, the Order of the Golden
Circle and their operations were carried on in secret.
Rumors began to surface of plots to seize the territorial government by the
sympathizers and the Knights. The object of the Golden Circle was to establish
the state and territorial governments under Confederate authority. Confederate
President Jefferson Davis commissioned governors and military officers to be
leaders of the proposed organization.
Judge David S. Terry visited the Territory of Nevada along with other conspirators
with the commission of governor in his pocket. Secret meetings were held, and
slight demonstrations were made in order to feel out the temperament of the
people, but there were no outbreak of hostilities nor assumptions of authority.
The conspirators were under suspicion and their movements closely watched.
Precautions were taken by Unionists and Federal Authorities.
A recruiting office was opened in Virginia City in the spring of 1862 by Lt.
Soaper. To boost enthusiasm and moral the Lieutenant had two drummer boys
and a flag barer march down the street. When the men began their march a
sympathizer rushed them from the crowd destroying one of the drums. He was
about to attack the second drum when the flag barer knocked him down. The
march continued to city hall where a fervent Union meeting was held.
Seventy-five men enlisted. Troops that were recruited for the
California Regiment, were used for frontier service. Their job was to protect
the Overland route against hostile Indians and the bandits. The seventy-five men
that were recruited were assigned to the 3rd Regiment of California Volunteers, and
were sent to Utah in May of ’62, Headquarters, Fort Douglas, Salt Lake City.
Their duties included policing and keeping order not only in Utah, but over the
entire district to the Sierra Nevada Mountains.
The Nevada Volunteers never engaged the enemies of the Union. They did however
play an important role in aiding and protecting the great overland highway and
the settlements on the frontier from Indian invasion and theft.
Col. P. Edward Conner, Commander of the 3rd Regiment of California Volunteers
and of Fort Churchill issued an order on August 6th,
1862, making it a crime to express sentiment against the government.
Anyone found guilty would be confined until such time they swore an oath of
allegiance to the Union. If they returned as a repeat offender, the
accused would be confined until such time Col. Conner was notified so he could
render the punishment.
This is only a few samples of their paper money.
Early 1861 $10
The reverse side of this $1 bill was blank.
Notice the lack of color ink.
This $100 bill from 1864 was back to a better quality.
