The delegates often appeared to be confused because they ofter were. Both advocates of secession and its opponents were trying to persuade the other side, and opponents and undecided delegates were also trying to find ways to end the crisis and not have to make a choice. The times were rapidly changing and very tense. I second the recommendation of Dan Crofts's splendid RELUCTANT CONFEDERATES, which is a brilliant analysis of the attitudes and actions of upper south Unionists and their interactions with secessionists and undecideds. Brent Tarter The Library of Virginia [log in to unmask] Visit the Library of Virginia's web site at http://www.lva.lib.va.us -----Original Message----- From: RLB [mailto:[log in to unmask]] Sent: 07 February, 2002 8:59 AM To: [log in to unmask] Subject: Re: The Vote to secede --------- Brent Tarter wrote: In the only state about which I can claim to know anything at all, Virginia, sentiments certainly changed between the election in November 1860 and the opening of hostilities in April 1861. Scarcely anybody doubts that a substantial portion (probably a large majority) of the people who voted in February 1861 for members of the Convention of 1861 were at that time opposed to secession. When the question of secession came to a vote on 4 April 1861 a majority of the convention delegates voted it down. Only two weeks later a majority of the same delegates voted in favor. So what does that tell us? That opinions changed as circumstances changed. --------- Brent, Those details help verify the observations in spring 1861 letter that has come down through our family. A young man from Albemarle, living in Richmond at the time, wrote to his sister that the "delegates are all either drunkards or fools" because one day the talk was all succession and the next all union. He was frustrated that they couldn't seem to make up their minds. He then told about the quantities of weapons and ammunition South Carolina was buying in Richmond, and that everyone was sure that if shots were to be fired, it would start in South Carolina. I'm recalling these details from memory. Don't have a copy of the letter handy. Interestingly, he didn't take a position on the issue of succession, but seemed to be waiting for the convention to figure out what the state would do. His next letter home was uncharacteristically brief -- just one line saying he didn't know where he'd be next but would write when he had his new address. What went unspoken (and we later found in the service records), is that he had enlisted. Guess that was his way of breaking it to the family gently. Rosanna Bencoach P.S. The relative who has the originals of the war letters from Joseph Parrish of Albemarle deposited copies of them with Alderman Library at UVA, if anyone is interested. He served as a private with a heavy artillery company, and was later transferred to the engineers. He died in the spring of 1864. To subscribe, change options, or unsubscribe, please see the instructions at http://listlva.lib.va.us/archives/va-hist.html To subscribe, change options, or unsubscribe, please see the instructions at http://listlva.lib.va.us/archives/va-hist.html