MAY 9, 1862:
Major General David Hunter, Commander of the Department of
the South, issues General Order No. 11---
The three States of Georgia, Florida and South Carolina,
comprising the military department of the south, having deliberately declared
themselves no longer under the protection of the United States of America, and
having taken up arms against the said United States, it becomes a military
necessity to declare them under martial law. This was accordingly done on the
25th day of April, 1862. Slavery and martial law in a free country are
altogether incompatible; the persons in these three States — Georgia, Florida,
and South Carolina— heretofore held as slaves, are therefore declared forever
free.
President Lincoln, still concerned
about alienating the Border States and Southern Unionists, immediately
countermands the Order, but the resultant public criticism he receives for
doing so convinces him the national mood toward emancipation is changing.
President Jefferson Davis declares
Hunter, “A felon, to be executed if
apprehended.”
On this same day, Union troops
advancing on Corinth are surprised by an attack by Confederate troops near
Farmington, Mississippi, and are forced to fall back temporarily. The victory
at Farmington, although small, had a significant impact on the remainder of the
campaign. General Halleck, once again reminded of the Confederate ability to
surprise him, became even more cautious than before.
On this same day, Baton Rouge,
Louisiana’s State capital, capitulates to the Union without resistance.
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