Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 24.djvu/73

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ist dt [aiiuary, iS6i, and passed the ordinance of secession on the loth day of the same month, which received my hearty approval. \\'hile the convention was yet in session the < iovernor deemed it pru- dent to sei/.e such forts, ordnance and ordnance stores as lie could, be- longing t> the United States within the limits of the State. For this purpose a force was sent to IViisacola to sei/.e the navy yard, Forts Harancas, McBee and Pickens, to which all the United States troops then at Pensacola had now retired. At the request of the company, signified tome in Tallahassee while they were awaiting transportation to St. Mark's, I agreed to command them in this expedition. Another company under Captain Amaker from Tallahassee was also going on the same errand. We failed at St. Mark's to get steamboat transportation. Returned to Tallahassee and started over- land byQuincy, Chattahoochie, &c. Captain Amaker' s commission as captain was older than mine, but at his urgent request and that of Governor Perry I consented to assume the command of the /accom- panies. Having inarched to Chattahoochie arsenal we were stopped by a dispatch from Governor Perry directing us to remain there till further orders. In about a week it was decided by the officer in com- mand of Florida troops at Pensacola not to attack Fort Pickens, and he accordingly dispatched Governor Perry to disband my detach- ment.

In the meantime the convention of Florida had determined to send delegates to a convention of such Southern States as had seceded from the Union, which was to meet in February at Montgomery, Ala. These de'egates from Florida were to be appointed by the Governor, by and with the advice and consent of the convention. Governor Perry dispatched me at Chattahoochie arsenal that he had appointed me one of the three delegates to this general convention, and directed me to return to Tallahassee with my twp companies where they would be disbanded, which was done.

In February I repaired to Montgomery and took part in the pro- ceedings of the convention, which formed a provisional government for the seceded States. All the principal measures of that body, passed or proposed during its first session and while I was a mem- ber, met my support. I was on the Committee of Military Affairs and favored the raising of troops, &c. I also proposed to have the cooks, nurses, teamsters and pioneers of our army to consist of slaves. After having adopted a provisional constitution and a pro- visional president, the convention or Congress adjourned about the first of March.