Nevada in the American Civil War facts for kids
Nevada became a state on October 31, 1864, right in the middle of the American Civil War. People who supported the Union wanted Nevada to become a state quickly. They hoped Nevada would vote for President Abraham Lincoln in the 1864 election. This made Nevada one of only two states to join the Union during the war. The other state was West Virginia. Because of this, Nevada earned the nickname "Battle Born," which you can still see on the Nevada state flag today.
Nevada had less than 40,000 people when it became a state. It sent about 1,200 men to fight for the Union Army. Confederate forces never really threatened Nevada. So, Nevada stayed firmly in Union control during the whole war. Even though it was far from the main battles, Nevada was important for political and money reasons. Its biggest help was its growing mining industry. Over $400 million in silver ore from the Comstock Lode helped pay for the Union's war effort. Nevada also had several Union military bases.
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Becoming a State: Nevada's Fast Track
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Before the Civil War, the land that is now Nevada was part of different U.S. territories. This area had strong money ties to northern businesses. This was especially true after gold and silver were found in the Sierra Nevada mountains in the late 1850s. Most people living there supported the Union and were against slavery. They wanted their area to become a territory or join California. Many early Nevadans also wanted to be separate from the Mormons living to the east. They often disagreed with them.
Most of what is now Nevada was separated from the Territory of Utah. It officially became the Territory of Nevada on March 2, 1861. This happened just as southern states were leaving the Union to form the Confederacy.
The Nevada Territory did not last long. Its journey to becoming a full state was sped up in 1864. President Abraham Lincoln wanted another Northern state to support his re-election. He also wanted help to pass new changes to the United States Constitution. He especially wanted the 13th Amendment, which would end slavery.
Union supporters were so eager for Nevada to become a state that they sent its entire state constitution by telegraph to the United States Congress. They did this before the 1864 presidential election. They worried that sending it by train would not get it there on time. The constitution was sent on October 26–27, 1864. This was less than two weeks before the election on November 8. The message took two days to send. It had 16,543 words and cost $4303.27. At that time, it was the longest telegraph message ever sent. This record lasted for seventeen years.
Lincoln and Congress quickly approved the constitution. Nevada officially joined the Union as the 36th state on October 31, 1864. It had fewer than 40,000 people when it became a state. This was much fewer than any other state had when they joined the Union.
Nevada's Brave Volunteers
The Nevada volunteer groups were made up of people from Carson City, Virginia City, Reno, and Dayton. At first, these groups were thought to be part of California's volunteers. But they were actually organized and run in Carson City by Charles D. Douglas. The officers and members were regular citizens. They often used their own guns in battle. Many officers were veterans of the Mexican American War. Many also held elected public jobs before joining the volunteers.
As the volunteer groups grew, they got more training. In 1863, at Fort Churchill, California helped train Nevada Volunteers. They learned to be officers who met the U.S. Army's standards. Most of these groups served without pay. Sometimes, they received small amounts of money from local governments or businesses. The volunteers did this work out of thanks and loyalty to the Union. In total, Nevada sent 1,200 men to fight for the Union.
In May 1863, Nevada formed the 1st Battalion Nevada Volunteer Cavalry. In the summer of 1864, a group of infantry, the 1st Battalion Nevada Volunteer Infantry, was also formed. Nevada's adjutant-general reported that 34 officers and 1,158 enlisted men from Nevada had joined the U.S. service. These troops did not fight against the Southern armies. Instead, they protected the central overland route and frontier settlements from Native American tribes. They worked with California Volunteer units doing the same job. They explored new areas and had frequent small fights with Native Americans. Today's Army and Air National Guard in Nevada can trace their history back to these volunteer groups and military posts.
Nevada's Big Help: The Comstock Lode
Nevada's biggest help to the war effort was the Comstock Lode. This was a huge silver mine. The silver found there, totaling $400 million, helped pay for the Union's war against the Southern states. Many people think Nevada became a state early because of its silver. However, its statehood was more about political reasons than money.
Some people in Nevada supported the Confederacy during the war. In fact, among the Pacific Coast states, Nevada had the most Southern supporters. In Virginia City, opinions were split evenly. However, Union army soldiers quickly stopped any strong pro-Confederate feelings. They arrested supporters and jailed them at Fort Churchill.
Only once was a Confederate flag flown in the state. It was at a stone saloon. One of the owners defended it with a gun. But his partner convinced him to change it to the United States flag. This happened before troops from Fort Churchill had to force the issue. This event might have made the commander of Fort Churchill more worried about pro-Confederate feelings in mining camps. Because of this, Nevada was under martial law (military rule) for the entire war.
The Virginia City Fire Department was very pro-Union. Many of them were from New York. They felt strongly about the New York Fire Zouaves, a famous fire department unit they knew from back east. When news arrived that the Union lost the First Battle of Bull Run, and the New York Fire Zouaves had many losses, the Virginia City firemen were angry. They made sure no one celebrated the Union defeat. They even fought any Southern supporters they met that day.
Helping Soldiers: The Sanitary Commission
During the Civil War, there was no big organization to help wounded or sick soldiers. Later, the Red Cross would do this. But during the war, the Sanitary Commission was created to help. This group started in 1862 and ended in 1865.
The Sanitary Commission in Nevada raised the most money per person in the Union. They collected about $163,581. This money came from donations and other ways people helped. They created excitement and raised money through different events. One special event was called the "Sanitary Sack of Flour." This event alone raised about $10,650.
The "Sanitary Sack of Flour" event brought both Democrats and Republicans together to help raise money. It started as a bet between a grocery store owner, Reuel Gridley (a Democrat), and Nevada's tax collector, Dr. H. S. Herrick (a Republican). The loser had to carry a 50-pound sack of flour from Clifton to Austin, about one mile. If the loser was a Republican, he had to march to "Dixie." If he was a Democrat, he had to march to "John Brown's Body."
Dr. H. S. Herrick won the bet. So, the Southern supporter, Reuel Gridley, marched through the streets carrying the flour sack. The sack was decorated with American flags and painted red, white, and blue. This drew large, curious crowds. It brought a lot of attention and money to the commission. In total, the Sanitary Fund collected about $275,000 to help sick and wounded soldiers. Even though not everyone in Nevada supported joining the Union, this program helped bring the state together. It focused their efforts on a cause that both sides could agree was good for the nation. It also showed the rest of the country how generous and community-minded the people of Nevada were.
Military Posts in Nevada During the Civil War
- Mormon Station (1849–1910)
- Fort Churchill (1860–1869)
- Camp Schell (1860–1862)
- Fort Schellbourne (1862–1869)
- Camp Nye (1861–1865)
- Fort Ruby (1862–1869)
- Camp Smoke Creek (1862–1864)
- Camp Dun Glen (1863, 1865–1866)
- Fort Trinity, 1863–1864
- Antelope Station, 1864
- Fort Baker, 1864
- Deep Creek Station, 1864
- Quinn River Camp, 1865
- Fort McDermitt, 1865–1889
- Camp McGarry, 1865–1868
- Camp McKee, 1865–1866
- Camp Overend, 1865
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