The Delicate Balance: Union Slave States on the Edge During the Civil War
In the early days of the Civil War, the Union slave states of Delaware, Maryland, Kentucky, and Missouri stood on the brink of secession. While Southern support was less prevalent in some states, the prospect of the Union splitting reared its head in others, especially during the immediate aftermath of the First Battle of Bull Run. This article delves into the circumstances that brought these states to the precipice, the decisions that kept the Union together, and the close call that nearly handed victory to the Confederacy.
The First Battle of Bull Run and the State of Washington, DC
After the First Battle of Bull Run on July 21, 1861, the Union army was decimated and disorganized. The city of Washington, DC, was left almost completely undefended for days. In contrast, the Confederate army, although also disorganized, was less chaotic. General Thomas J. 'Stonewall' Jackson's suggestion was to immediately pursue the Union forces. However, Generals Joseph E. Johnston and P.G.T. Beauregard recommended reorganization before advancing. They sent only two small units into pursuit, which were stopped by a few units of the regular Union army that had maintained its organization.
The Potential for Confederate Victory
If the Confederate army had listened to Jackson, it might have pushed on into Washington, capturing at least parts of the city and its leaders, including members of Congress and perhaps even President Lincoln. This could have forced the remaining parts of the Union government to surrender, presenting a decisive victory for the Confederates. According to historians, this was the closest the Confederacy ever came to winning the war.
Analysis of Union Slave States
Delaware: With only 231 slaves, predominantly aged and cared for by their former masters, the likelihood of Delaware seceding was minimal. The state's geography and demographics left it firmly in Union favor.
Maryland: Highly regionalized, with most Southern support concentrated in the southeastern quadrant, the state's political stability during the crisis allowed the Union to maintain control. The governor's decision to keep the legislature Union was a critical factor in the state's continued loyalty.
Kentucky: The most divided state, with a strong planter class in the western half and industrial interests in the eastern part, Kentucky hovered on the edge. A decision to declare neutrality was made, with secessionists holding the vote. However, strategic blunders by the Confederacy, including an ill-advised attempt by Leonidas Polk to control the confluence of the Mississippi and Ohio rivers, ultimately decided the state's allegiance. Kentuckians raised the Union flag to signify their support for the Union.
Missouri: The state's southern and northern waves of immigration created a complex political landscape. However, despite pro-Southern elements, the state's industrial and democratic influences, particularly among 1848 European immigrants, united against secession. A unique political balance and the strategic exclusion of certain pro-Southern groups prevailed, keeping Missouri in the Union.
Regional Considerations
States like Tennessee, North Carolina, and Arkansas also faced internal divisions, but their situations differed. Their potential shift to the Union side was a close call, but not addressed in this article. The focus here is on the four states that remained on the brink of secession, whose political and social dynamics played crucial roles in determining the outcome of the Civil War.