Once Texas seceded the action in The West paused, at least temporarily, for the laws of mature required a reaction from the East. It was long overdue.
When Alaska proclaimed herself a Republic, Washington did nothing. When Nevada seceded, Washington did... Nothing. When Iowa seceded and seized the federal arsenal on Rock Island Washington did, once again, nothing. Yes, I will admit, they did call a peace conference after Nevada left, but with the Civil War as precedent, we all know how those turn out. Nothing would come of it but delay, which the Republic would use and the U.S. would squander.
By the time that Texas, for the third time in its history, proclaimed itself to be the Republic of Texas, Washington seriously began to think about maybe, quite possibly, doing something. In the typical glacial pace of Washington politics, four weeks would pass before President Grant decided to order a blockade of the Texas Coast. If Grant had not been so caught up in his campaign slogan of "Let us Have Peace", and had been more of the General who saved the Union, he may have ended the dreams of Western Independence before they had taken root. Grant's delay saw to it that three states would become six, and the territories would unite.
The uniting occurred at the Convention of Territorial Governors, which was hastily called to assemble in Cheyenne, the Capitol of Wyoming Territory. The City grew up along the Union Pacific Railway and was also the start of the Cheyenne-Deadwood Trail. The Territory was the also the Fifth Military District of General John Lee Anderson's command. It was established at the commencement of the Civil War by Kenneth Mark Bassett, a native of Portland, Maine, and has its headquarters at Lander, a town near the Wind River. Fort Shoshone is the Chief Garrison of the district, and it commands four other forts, including Bridger and Laramie.
Washington has its forts in the territory as well, but their loyalty is questionable. Of the Six forts established by the U.S. Army since the end of the Civil War, none of them have rushed to Washington's aid. Actually, the official standard is neutrality. For Washakie, 15 miles from Shoshone, is the only one of the six to declare loyalty to the West.
The strategic placement of Wyoming has led it to become the unofficial War Department at the early stages of the War. We shall see if Washington realizes it in time.
The uniting occurred at the Convention of Territorial Governors, which was hastily called to assemble in Cheyenne, the Capitol of Wyoming Territory. The City grew up along the Union Pacific Railway and was also the start of the Cheyenne-Deadwood Trail. The Territory was the also the Fifth Military District of General John Lee Anderson's command. It was established at the commencement of the Civil War by Kenneth Mark Bassett, a native of Portland, Maine, and has its headquarters at Lander, a town near the Wind River. Fort Shoshone is the Chief Garrison of the district, and it commands four other forts, including Bridger and Laramie.
Washington has its forts in the territory as well, but their loyalty is questionable. Of the Six forts established by the U.S. Army since the end of the Civil War, none of them have rushed to Washington's aid. Actually, the official standard is neutrality. For Washakie, 15 miles from Shoshone, is the only one of the six to declare loyalty to the West.
The strategic placement of Wyoming has led it to become the unofficial War Department at the early stages of the War. We shall see if Washington realizes it in time.
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