Cleveland in the American Civil War

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A photograph taken on Public Square of hundreds of Cleveland veterans from the American Civil War in 1865

Union Army, as well as millions of dollars in supplies, equipment, food, and support to the soldiers.[1] The city was also an important national center for the abolitionist movement.[2]

Public sentiments

The Cozad–Bates House in Cleveland's University Circle, known for its role in the Underground Railroad

Strongly influenced by its

Harpers Ferry in October 1859. By contrast, The Plain Dealer, a largely Democratic publication, blamed Brown and abolitionist Republicans for the raid.[1]

In the election of 1860, Abraham Lincoln won 58% of the vote in 9 of Cleveland's 11 wards.[1] In February 1861, the president-elect visited Cleveland on his way from Illinois to his inauguration in Washington and was greeted by a massive reception.[5] However, as the war loomed closer, the partisan rhetoric of Cleveland newspapers became more and more heated. The Herald celebrated Lincoln's victory "as one of right over wrong, of Unionists over secession-minded southern Democrats," while the Leader dismissed threats of Southern secession. The Plain Dealer, meanwhile argued that Lincoln's election would mean the imminent secession of the South. When the Civil War finally erupted in April 1861, Cleveland Democrats and Republicans decided to temporarily put aside their differences and unite as the Union party in support of the war effort. However, this uneasy coalition did not go untested.[1]

Economic impact

The Civil War years brought an economic boom to Cleveland. The city was making the transition from a small town into an industrial giant. Local industries manufactured railroad iron, gun carriages, gun carriage axles, and gunpowder. In 1863, "22% of all ships built for use on the Great Lakes were built in Cleveland," a figure that jumped to 44% by 1865.[1] The cutoff from Southern trade led to the establishment of Cleveland's first tobacco factory, T. Maxfield & Co., in 1862, and the city also saw the rise of its garment industry, with the German Woolen Factory becoming the first company to produce wool cloth in the city. By 1865, Cleveland's banks "held $2.25 million in capital and $3.7 million in deposits."[1] Civilian aid in support of the Union military included the establishment and maintenance of the Soldiers' Aid Society of Northern Ohio (1861), the U.S. General Hospital (1862), Camp Taylor (1861), and Camp Cleveland (1862). Food, blankets, and reading material were provided by citizens to recruits at the latter two military camps "until government stores and equipment could be distributed." When the war ended, Cleveland welcomed home troops by treating them to a meal and a welcoming ceremony on Public Square "before they marched to Camp Cleveland for payment and discharge from the army."[1]

Memorialization and lingering issues

The Soldiers' and Sailors' Monument in Cleveland commemorates the more than 9,000 individuals from Cuyahoga County who served in the Civil War.

After the war, the issue of full

Lincoln funeral train was brought to Cleveland. A large public funeral was held and his coffin was displayed on Public Square, observed by thousands of onlookers.[5][6]

Those Clevelanders who died in the war were honored at

8th Ohio Infantry, which helped repel Pickett's Charge. The Cuyahoga County Soldier's and Sailors' Monument was erected in Public Square and dedicated July 4, 1894, as a memorial to the over 9,000 individuals from the county who served the Union during the American Civil War. The interior of the structure features 38 marble tablets inscribed with the names of veterans who served honorably from the region. Of the four life-size bronze relief panels, one is designed to commemorate the efforts of local women during the war, notably the women of the Northern Ohio Sanitary Commission.[7] Local members of the United States Colored Troops are also honored. The names of 107 members of the USCT discovered through research were added in 2019.[8]
The monument remains open to the public to this day.

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i Stark, William C. "Civil War". The Encyclopedia of Cleveland History. Case Western Reserve University. Retrieved May 24, 2020.
  2. ^ a b Wyatt-Brown, Bertram. "Abolitionism". The Encyclopedia of Cleveland History. Case Western Reserve University. Retrieved June 7, 2020.
  3. ^ "Cleveland Anti-Slavery Society". The Encyclopedia of Cleveland History. Case Western Reserve University. Retrieved June 7, 2020.
  4. ^ "In Search of the Underground Railroad". Cleveland Historical. Retrieved June 7, 2020.
  5. ^ a b "Abraham Lincoln in Cleveland". Cleveland Historical. Retrieved May 24, 2020.
  6. ^ "Abraham Lincoln's Funeral". The Encyclopedia of Cleveland History. Case Western Reserve University. Retrieved August 7, 2020.
  7. ^ Gleason, William J. (William John) (1894). History of Cuyahoga County soldiers' and sailors' monument. Scenes and incidents from its inception to its completion.--Description of the memorial structure, and roll of honor. New York Public Library. Cleveland, O., The Monument commissioners.
  8. ^ DeJong, Lisa; Dealer, The Plain (2019-06-19). "Civil War Colored Troops veterans are added to Roll of Honor at Soldiers' and Sailors' Monument". cleveland. Retrieved 2020-08-07.

Further reading
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