Congress voted in favor
of such an amendment on January 31, 1865. Illinois, the
President's own State, adopted it on the very next day, and
though Mr. Lincoln did not live to see it a part of the
Constitution, Secretary Seward, on December 18, 1865, only a few
months after Mr. Lincoln's death, was able to make official
announcement that 29 States, constituting a majority of three-
fourths of the 36 States of the Union, had adopted it, and that
therefore it was the law of the land.
Jefferson Davis had issued a last appeal to "fire the southern
heart," but the situation at Richmond was becoming desperate
Flour cost a thousand dollars a barrel in Confederate money, and
neither the flour nor the money were sufficient for their needs.
Squads of guards were sent into the streets with directions to
arrest every able-bodied man they met, and force him to work in
defense of the town. It is said that the medical boards were
ordered to excuse no one from military service who was well
enough to bear arms for even ten days. Human nature will not
endure a strain like this, and desertion grew too common to
punish. Nevertheless the city kept up its defense until April 3.
Even then, although hopelessly beaten, the Confederacy was not
willing to give in, and much needless and severe fighting took
place before the final end came. The rebel government hurried
away toward the South, and Lee bent all his energies to saving
his army and taking it to join General Johnston, who still held
out against Sherman.
Pages:
192
193
194
195
196
197
198
199
200
201
202
203
204
205
206
207
208
209
210
211
212
213
214
215
216