February 7, 1861: Little Rock Arsenal taken

Little Rock Arsenal

On February 7, 1861 Congressman Alfred Rust sent a frantic telegram to Governor Henry Massey Rector warning him not to attack the federal arsenal in Little Rock, Arkansas.

WASHINGTON, February 7, 1861.

Governor RECTOR,
Little Rock, Ark.:

For God's sake allow no attack to be made on Fort Totten.

A. RUST.

Rust was too late. Thousands of pro-secession militia men had massed in Little Rock earlier that week and had strong-armed Governor Rector into demanding the surrender of the Little Rock arsenal. The federal commander of the arsenal was Captain James Totten and he had fewer than ninety men at his disposal to defend the post. Totten was a tough soldier, but he knew that the odds were impossible--he took steps to ensure that he and his men would live to fight another day.

LITTLE ROCK ARSENAL,

Little Rock, Ark., February 7, 1861.

His Excellency H. M. RECTOR,
Governor of Arkansas:

SIR: Being entirely without instructions to meet the grave responsibilities so suddenly thrust upon me, and the solemn circumstances by which my command is now surrounded, and believing that the Administration of the Federal Union would deprecate and condemn any act of mine which might bring on collision and bloodshed between the U. S. troops under my command and the citizens of the State of Arkansas, and futhermore, believing that civil war would immediately and inevitably result throughout the country from the effusion of blood at this point, or elsewhere in the United States, connected with the political topics of the day, I regret the necessity which forces me to retire from this arsenal with my command. It is, however, without the sanction of the United States Government that I do this, and entirely results from my judgment and discretion, under existing circumstances, and for the reason above stated. I have to acknowledge the receipt of Your Excellencys communication of this date, and the lateness of the hour makes it necessary that this response be brief. It is, however, understood that in consideration of Your Excellency's guarantee that the conditions demanded in my communication of yesterday shall be complied with, certain amendments referred to in your letter of this date excepted, I shall retire from the arsenal on or before 12 oclock to-morrow, m. Your Excellency will please cause to be prepared, or permit me to do so, the final papers embodying the conditions upon which I retire from this arsenal, as already understood between us, which is necessary for my protection with the Federal Government.

I am, very respectfully,

JAS. TOTTEN,

Captain, Second Artillery, Commanding Post.

Governor Rector gratefully accepted the opportunity offered by Totten to get control of the arsenal, avoid a bloody clash, and allow the federal troops to withdraw with honor.

EXECUTIVE OFFICE,

Little Rock, Ark., February 7, 1861.

Capt. JAMES TOTTEN,
Commander U. S. Arsenal, Little Rock:

SIR: I am in receipt of your communication of this instant and announce that on to-morrow, at 11 a.m., the Executive, by conference with yourself, will prepare the stipulations agreed to touching the U. S. arsenal under your command, and at 12 o'clock he will receive from you that post, with the privilege on your part to remove any articles belonging to your command, at such time as you may find convenient.

Respectfully,

HENRY M. RECTOR,

Governor of Arkansas.

A collision had been narrowly avoided, but civil war seemed just a matter of time. Total haul of weapons at the arsenal included about 9,000 muskets or rifles and 40 cannon.