Following orders from Governor Thomas O. Moore, who wanted to secure the city for the upcoming secession convention, Louisiana militia surrounded the Federal Arsenal in Baton Rouge and demanded its surrender. The U.S. Army commander, Captain Joseph H. Haskin, threatened with "a rash sacrifice of life" amongst his small force, complied. Louisiana now controlled a massive amount of small arms, ammunition, and artillery pieces, enough to supply neighboring Mississippi immediately with 9,000 weapons and 200,000 cartridges. (By John Osborne)
Source Citation
Edwin C. Bearrs, "The Seizure of the Forts and Public Property in Louisiana," in Arthur W. Bergeron, Civil War in Louisiana, Vol. II (Lafayette, LA: University of Louisiana at Lafayette, 2004), 401-404.
Record Data
Date Certainty
Exact
Type
Battles/Soldiers
