Page:The part taken by women in American history.djvu/26

Rh than in the way she met the first great crisis of their united lives.

In 1860 General Logan was re-elected to Congress and Mrs. Logan spent that memorable winter of tension and dread in the affairs of state in Washington with him. Scarcely had they returned home when came the news of the fall of Sumter, and, in response to President Lincoln's Proclamation convening an extra session of Congress, General Logan was forced to hurry back to Washington. Mrs. Logan remained at their home in Marion, Williamson County, Illinois, realizing more and more acutely the difficulty, even the danger, of her position in that community, which was settled largely by southerners or persons of southern descent. These constituents were thoroughly in sympathy with the southern cause and grew more and more restive to know what Logan's course would be. His speeches in the House of Representatives revealed his determination to adhere to the Union, and when word was brought that at the Battle of Bull Run instead of remaining in Washington he had joined Colonel Richardson's Michigan Regiment and fought with it all day, these people of Southern Illinois were in a ferment of discontent over their Congressman's action. The day arrived for General Logan to reach home and so great was the excitement in Marion that all business was suspended. The adult population was about one thousand and every one of these people who could get about the streets roved to and fro with loud declamations against any course which would drive them to fight for the negroes. It was known that besides these excited but order-loving citizens, there had been a large accession of desperate characters, drawn thither by their anxiety to join in any sanguinary fray. Passion was at fever heat, and General Logan, speeding there, was the avowed victim. Trembling for the safety of her husband Mary Logan jumped into a buggy and drove to Carbondale, twenty-two miles distant, but the nearest