Nevada in the American Civil War
Union states in the American Civil War |
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Dual governments |
Territories and D.C. |
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Because its population at statehood was less than 40,000,[1] Nevada was only able to muster 1,200 men to fight for the Union Army, but Confederate forces never posed any serious threat of territorial seizure, and Nevada remained firmly in Union control for the duration of the war.[2] Largely isolated from the major theaters of the conflict, Nevada nonetheless served as an important target for political and economic strategists before and after gaining statehood. Its main contribution to the cause came from its burgeoning mining industry: at least $400 million in silver ore from the Comstock Lode was used to finance the federal war effort.[1] In addition, the state hosted a number of Union military posts.
Admission into statehood
Prior to the Civil War, the geographic area that makes up present-day
The majority of what is now Nevada was separated from the
The Nevada Territory was short-lived, however, as its entry into full statehood in the United States was expedited in 1864. President
Lincoln and Congress moved quickly to approve the constitution and Nevada was officially admitted to the Union as the 36th state on October 31, 1864. It had fewer than 40,000 inhabitants when it gained statehood, far fewer than the population at statehood of any other state.[6]
Nevada volunteers
The Nevada volunteer group was made of residents from Carson City, Virginia City, Reno, and Dayton. This group was originally considered to be a part of the California volunteer group but, was actually organized, ran, and implemented in Carson City by Charles D. Douglas.
Sanitary Commission
During the time of the Civil War, the Nation lacked an organization to help administer aid and help the wounded or sick soldiers. Similar to the role the
Comstock Lode
However, Nevada's main contribution to the war was the Comstock Lode, whose silver totaling $400 million financed the Union war effort to defeat the southern states. A common belief is that Nevada achieved early statehood due to its silver, but its admission to the Union was much more influenced by political concerns, not economic.[12]
Confederate sympathizers in Nevada were not unheard of during the war; in fact, of the Pacific Coast states, none had more southern supporters.
One particularly pro-Union organization was the Virginia City Fire Department. Many of them were originally from New York and had strong feelings for the
Military posts in Nevada during the Civil War
- Mormon Station (1849–1910)
- Fort Churchill (1860–1869)
- Camp Schell(1860–1862)
- Fort Schellbourne(1862–1869)
- Camp Nye (1861–1865)[b]
- Fort Ruby (1862–1869)
- Camp Smoke Creek (1862–1864)[c]
- Camp Dun Glen (1863, 1865–1866)[d]
- Fort Trinity, 1863–1864[e]
- Antelope Station, 1864[f]
- Fort Baker, 1864
- Deep Creek Station, 1864[g]
- Quinn River Camp, 1865
- Fort McDermitt, 1865–1889
- Camp McGarry, 1865–1868.
- Camp McKee, 1865–1866[h]
- Camp Overend, 1865[i]
See also
Notes
- ^ The National Archives press release states that the cost was $4313.27, but the amount $4303.27 is actually written on the document.
- ^ A depot for California Volunteers and, after 1864, Nevada Volunteers. Located in the Washoe Valley five miles north of Carson City.
- ^ Near Robbers Roost, Nevada, a temporary Army post that was intermittently occupied. Located near the Smoke Creek Depot (or Smoke Creek Station) on the Honey Lake stage route. The site is not shown on most maps, but it was located five miles from the state line west of Smoke Creek Desert and north of the Pyramid Lake Indian Reservation.
- ^ This camp was established at the request of the citizens of Dun Glen to protect them from attacks by the Snake Indians.
- ^ Eightmile, Nevada. Located at the Goshute Indian Reservation between Tippett and the state line. Originally called Eight Mile Station, it was frequently occupied by troops from Fort Ruby.
- ^ At Little Antelope Mountain, it was an important stage station located about 40 miles west of Ely, Nevada in operation during the 1860s and 1870s. Garrisoned by California Volunteers in 1864.
- ^ A stage station near Eightmile, Nevada that was garrisoned by the California Volunteers in 1864. Located on the state line three miles northwest of Fort Trinity.
- ^ Near Gerlach, Nevada. Originally called Detachment at Granite Creek, the Army occupied the Granite Creek Station after Indians burned it and killed its employees. Located north of town and east of Granite Mountain.
- ^ A temporary Army post that lasted only a few days, located south of Golconda, Nevada at Summit Springs.
References
- ^ a b Gary J. Duarte (May 15, 2019). "Nevada's role in national security". Reno Gazette Journal. p. 6A.
- ^ "State by State - Nevada". NPS, The American Civil War. National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior. Retrieved 2 April 2017.
- ^ a b "National Archives Celebrates the 145th Anniversary of Nevada Statehood". National Archives of the United States. September 23, 2009. Retrieved November 4, 2011.
- ^ "Progress". University Association. 1899.
- ^ Kintop, Jeffrey M. (January 13, 2009). "The making of the Nevada State Constitution". Nevada State Library and Archives. Archived from the original on November 3, 2011. Retrieved November 4, 2011.
- ^ Rocha, Guy. "Myth #102: battle Born and Legal". Nevada State Library and Archives. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved January 3, 2015.
- ^ OCLC 893202666.
- ^ OCLC 49262585.
- ^ a b Sam P. Davis, editor, The History of Nevada, vol. I (1912), CHAPTER IX. NEVADA AND THE CIVIL WAR
- ^ "James G. Scrugham, Nevada: The Narrative of the Conquest of a Frontier Land Vol. I, (1935), Chapter VII NEVADA DURING THE CIVIL WAR". Archived from the original on 2014-08-28. Retrieved 2010-01-15.
- ^ OCLC 1113689.
- ^ "<Why Did Nevada Become A State? by Guy Rocha>". Archived from the original on 2008-07-03. Retrieved 2008-06-04.
- ^ Sam P. Davis, editor, The History of Nevada, vol. I (1912), p.270]
- ^ Civil War History[permanent dead link]