Pickens, Walker, and the Defense of the South Carolina Coast in September 1861

Leroy Walker was a hard working yet inefficient first Secretary of War for the Confederacy. Francis Pickens was obsessed with defending his state against the coming Yankee threat. What could possibly go wrong? Before Walker resigned on September 16th due to the strain of the position, Pickens showed off his amateur military knowledge to push for specific coastal defense needs. In a letter from September 1st, he strongly urged for Colonel Maxcy Gregg's assistance on the coast since he believed an invasion was imminent and Gregg would give 'confidence to the country.' Also, in a jab at Walker's effectiveness, Pickens wished to avoid 'disasters' similar to what happened 'on the defenseless coast of North Carolina.' Also, Pickens speaks about remodeling old guns from the country since fresh arms weren't available, practically begging Walker for more weapons & powder as well as more troops. Finally, Pickens outlined his ideal military setup so that he 'could feel safe for the present,' bringing to mind his contempt of Roswell Ripley, commander of the SC coastal defenses. 

Francis Pickens looking properly stern.

Brigadier General Roswell Ripley

CSA's 1st Secretary of War, Leroy Walker

The dashing Maxcy Gregg

Jesse D Bright

One of the more interesting congressional stories during the Civil War was the expulsion of Jessie D. Bright from the US Senate. Bright, a senator from Indiana, was an active supporter of the Compromise of 1850 and the Kansas-Nebraska bill. After 'secessionitis' became rampant throughout the south, Bright was a key part of the Democratic opposition to the Lincoln administration, being the Senate's senior Democrat. His sympathies for the South were obvious, and this came to a head in March of 1861. 

Bright wrote a letter of introduction to Jefferson Davis for a friend travelling to Montgomery, Alabama. This letter referenced Davis as 'President of the Confederation of States.' Since the predominant view of Congress was a South in rebellion against the Union, this form of address seemed to recognize Jefferson Davis as the leader of a nation. This empowered Bright's enemies (including abolitionist senators Charles Sumner and Morton Wilkinson) to strike, leading a campaign to convince other senators of his conflicting loyalties. On February 5, 1862, the Senate successfully expelled Bright and effectively ended his political career. It was a shocking reversal for a powerful senator with 16 years of experience in Congress.