Jefferson Davis Is Grateful For Georgia’s Strong Show of Support For the Confederate Cause

On January 18, 1861, Georgia became the fifth southern state to secede from the Union. On Feb. 4, her delegates, along with those of South Carolina, Mississippi, Florida, Alabama, Louisiana, and Texas, met in convention at Montgomery, Alabama to join their forces and organized a new, provisional government – the Confederate States of America. The convention elected Jefferson Davis and Alexander H. Stephens president and vice president respectively. It also set up a legislature and drafted a constitution, which was adopted on March 11.

In the early months of 1861, many people, both north and south, doubted that secession would lead to war, and those who considered war possible almost universally expected it to be short and painless. The men who predicted a long and damaging conflict were few and far between (and openly ridiculed as insane). However, by the end of 1861, with almost a million men under arms and many battles already fought, it was clear that the war would be a knock-down, drag out affair. The national and state governments on both sides came under the urgent necessity of finding ways to recruit, equip, field and replenish military forces, and raise enough money to finance the war, while at the same time maintain morale on the home front. They also sought to stifle the inevitable dissent that arises when early wartime expectations are dashed and the bitter reality of the conflict sinks in.

On December 11, 1861, the Georgia General Assembly passed a number of resolutions directly relating to the war. Some of them stand out as of particular importance, as they show the determination of the people of the state, and indeed of the South, to maintain their Southern Confederacy at all hazards: “Dissolution of the old Union.

Resolved, by the Senate and House of Representatives of the State of Georgia in General Assembly met, That it is the sense of this General Assembly, that the separation of those States now forming the Confederate States of America, from the United States is, and ought to be final and irrevocable; and that Georgia will, under no circumstances, entertain any proposition from any quarter, which may have for its object a restoration or re-construction of the late Union, on any terms or conditions whatever; War to be prosecuted to independence. Resolved, That the war which the United States are waging upon the Confederate States, should be met on our part, with the utmost vigor and energy, until our independence and nationality are unconditionally acknowledged by the United States; Georgia's pledge to stand by the other seceded States. Resolved, That Georgia pledges herself to her sister States of the Confederacy, that she will stand by them throughout the struggle – she will contribute all the means which her resources will supply, so far as the same may be necessary to the support of the common cause, and will not consent to lay down arms until peace is established on the basis of the foregoing resolutions; Tender of State volunteers to Confederate Government. Resolved, By the General Assembly of Georgia, that the Governor be, and he is hereby authorized and instructed to tender to the Confederate Government the volunteer forces called into service under the law of 1860, or which may hereafter be called into service for the State defence, in companies, battalions, regiments, brigades or divisions, as may be found to be acceptable to the War Department of the Confederate States…”

After the passage of the Resolutions, Georgia Governor Joseph E. Brown sent copies to Confederate President Davis. He was doubtless pleased with the strong show of support and responded.

Letter Signed, Richmond, Va., December 27, 1861, to Brown. “I have received with much gratification your letter of the 16th inst., enclosing a copy of the Joint Resolutions adopted by the General Assembly of the State of Georgia at its late session.”

Despite these Resolutions, the reality was that there was contention between Brown and Davis. Davis was a federalist with an authoritarian streak who believed in and tried to create a strong national government, while Brown felt that Davis violated the pro-states rights intent of the Confederate Constitution. He wanted more say over the soldiers from his state and at times held back both men and arms.