George Barber Raymond (1822-1870), a Massachusetts Congregationalist recently converted to the Baptist faith, is elected as a selectman (in effect, a member of the board of directors) of Winchendon (in Worcester County)*. He would serve in this post throughout the Civil War, until 1866. Only well-respected men in New England towns attained such a position.…
Mere days after Florida formally secedes from the United States of America, the state’s secession flag (pictured) flies over Tallahassee, the state capital. Meanwhile, shots from the Federal garrison in Fort Pickens on Florida’s western boundary force a Confederate reconnaissance mission to retreat. Fort Pickens would be one of few southern forts to remain in…
In the pages of the Primitive Baptist (the newspaper of Primitive Baptists in south Georgia and north Florida), editor Burwell Temple breaks from the ranks of most of his fellow Primitive brethren by publicly addressing the issue of secession. Temple expresses foreboding for the new year, but remains hopeful that all “true” Primitive Baptists –…