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CHAPTER 39 1861 TLANTA, as has been seen, experienced a remarkable career of growth , .and business prosperity thus far in its history. But when the first sounds ^.of war's alarms were heard throughout the land, the march of uninterrupted progress diverged from its accustomed course and sought new and hitherto untried channels. Normal building operations were, to a great extent, discontinued. Population, however, steadily increased and business, in unaccustomed channels, acquired an astonishing vigor and grew to immense proportions . It was not surprising that the business and social life of the city should have changed so markedly; for war creates desires and necessities that are entire strangers to a state of peace. Many able men, who in times of peace, expend their energies in the accumulation of material property are spurred when war calls upon them, either from motives of patriotism or the desire for honorable distinction in arms, to withdraw from normal activities and seek fame and fortune on the tented field. Thus it was that in 1861 and in the several years to follow, large numbers of local citizens forsook the allurements of mercantile or professional life, the mechanic's bench and the laborer's daily toil, to give their best efforts, and in numerous instances, their lives, for the Southern Confederacy. Atlanta was soon to become one of the chief military centers and supply depots of the Confederacy, and ere long a major objective of Federal armies. In early 1861, when all was doubt as to whether the incoming administration of Mr. Lincoln would attempt to coerce South Carolina back into the Union, and forestall the secession of other states, so soon to secede, the people of the South were prone to extract encouragement even from the ominous acts of nature. At twenty minutes before five o'clock in the afternoon of January 3rd, there was felt in Atlanta a slight though distinct shock of earthquake. Its range appeared to be east and west, and it continued about ten seconds. The sky was described as being "clear and cloudless" at the time, and the sun was setting with unusual brilliancy. The question was asked: "Who will account for it in this latitude?" The Intelligencer of the next day contained the following paragraph: "May not its coming and passing away so easily, with the clear and bright sky, be symbolical of the present political convulsion in the country, which, in the South, will pass away so easily, leaving the spotless sky behind . . .?5>1 The paragraph was printed in apparent earnestness, but nature's convulsion proved a slender reed, indeed, upon which to base such sanguine hopes. For just beyond the horizon the storm was approaching that was to sweep the ante-bellum South, including Atlanta, into eclipse. The day before the earthquake, January 2nd, an election was held in Atlanta and Fulton County to elect delegates to the State Convention to be held at Milledgeville on January 16th for the purpose of determining whether or not Georgia should secede from the Union. The vote shows that there was then a strong minority for cooperation with other states in the effort to settle the pending controversy with the Northern States without seceding from the Union. The vote was as follows in Fulton County: K 494 ATLANTA AND ITS ENVIRONS FOR SECESSION Luther J. Glenn 1053 Dr. James F. Alexander 1055 Dr. Joseph P. Logan 1059 FOR COOPERATION James M. Calhoun 692 George W. Adair 672 Thomas Moore 661 Fulton County was thus represented in the secession convention by a delegation pledged to vote for withdrawal from the Union.2 The situation was different in De Kalb County, the mother of Fulton. From its organization it had always been a Union county, its people generally supporting all measures and leaders favorable to the preservation of the Union under the Constitution. A majority of its citizens in 1861 favored further efforts, before secession, to end sectional prejudice and bring about a peaceful solution of the grave problems then threatening the Union.8 De Kalb was entitled to two votes in the secession convention, and after a lively contest, Charles Murphey of Decatur and George K. Smith of Stone Mountain, both lawyers, running as Union men and opposed to secession, were chosen as delegates to represent the county.4 During the campaign Mr. Murphey had frequently declared that he prayed he would never live to see Georgia out of the Union. Shortly after his election he came down with pneumonia...

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