On May 23, 1861, despite Ohio County and Wheeling being predominantly pro-Union, 81 men from Wheeling voted in favor of Virginia's Ordinance of Secession, which formally repealed the state's ratification of the U.S. Constitution and declared Virginia's secession from the Union, and their names were later published in a broadside titled "Traitors in Wheeling."
Today in Wheeling History: March 23--Despite Ohio County and Wheeling being predominantly pro-Union, 81 men from Wheeling voted in favor of Virginia's Ordinance of Secession, which formally repealed the state's ratification of the U.S. Constitution and declared Virginia's secession from the Union, and their names were later published in a broadside titled "Traitors in Wheeling" (1861).
The Virginia Secession Convention of 1861 was a crucial event in the state's history, where delegates debated whether to secede from the United States and join the Confederacy. The convention was deeply divided, with about one-third of the delegates favoring secession and two-thirds being Unionists. The Unionists were further split into Conditional Unionists, who would support staying in the Union if Lincoln did not use coercion, and Unconditional Unionists, who were steadfast in their loyalty to the U.S. government.
The decision to secede was influenced by various factors, including the preservation of slavery, the protection of the Southern way of life, and the unique economic and political interests of western Virginia (now West Virginia). While the convention initially voted against secession on April 4, the fall of Fort Sumter and Lincoln's call for troops to suppress the rebellion shifted the momentum. On April 17, the convention passed the Ordinance of Secession by a vote of 88 to 55, with Virginia officially joining the Confederacy after a statewide referendum on May 23, 1861.
In Ohio County, where the city of Wheeling is located, the majority of residents were pro-Union. However, a list of 81 men from Wheeling who voted in favor of the Ordinance of Secession on May 23, 1861, was published in a broadside titled "Traitors in Wheeling." The men named as voting for secession were:
John Hunter, Nicholas Crawley, J. W. Mitchell, George Wheller, Eugene Zane, R. A. Stansbury, John H. Towers, Aaron Kelly, John Knote, Edmund P. Zane, Aber Keyes, Dr. Alfred Hughes, Coorod Goldsborough, A. F. Hullihen, T. E. Askew, James M. Bulger, Thomas Hughes, Charles W. Seabright, Rodolph Over, Wm. Wharton, Michael Riley, J. B. Riley, John W. Orr, J. Updegraft, John Freeze, J. L. Faunce, Ira Sanger, Ebenezer McCoy, Walter G. Scott, Wm. Miller, Robert Ibertson, John Bulger, W. B. Miller, John Webb, Wm. Goudy Sr., James Sweeney Sr., Joseph Caulwell, William C. Phillips, Phillip W. Moore, Tom Strain, Jerome Pool, J. H. McNash, Thomas M. Riley, Phil Riley, John L. Bonham, James Hanlin, Dr. James W. Clemins, Miles Riley, Andrew White, Peter Letcher, Henry Dunlap, Henry Moore, George Henry, Jobe Stansbery, Andy A. Gillespy, A. M. Phillips Jr., Harrison Saylards, Thos. J. Gardner, H. W. Phillips, C. W. McKinstry, A. M. Phillips Sr., A. J. Pannell, W. G. Goshorn, Alexander Pannell, Daniel Steenrod, Hon. Lewis Steenrod, Wm. P. Wilson, John W. Betz, William Stewart, Maddis Ruse, Dan Dunbar, Wm. MCoy, Daniel Zane, John L. Fry, D. J. Dores, Peter Francis, S. D. Woodrow, William Switzer, William Purcell, and William Otterson.
Given that they were publicly named as "Traitors in Wheeling" in a broadside, it is likely that these men faced social ostracism, political backlash, and possibly even legal consequences for their actions, as their vote went against the predominantly pro-Union sentiment in Ohio County and Wheeling.
To learn more: (https://tinyurl.com/236sbyjp) (https://tinyurl.com/6sxawckv) (https://tinyurl.com/5e93eywd) (https://tinyurl.com/5fz9k6u7) (https://tinyurl.com/2a9ubken) (https://tinyurl.com/yn7bc839) (https://tinyurl.com/mr2nuhfm)
Photo credits: University of Virginia
Today in Wheeling History: March 23--Despite Ohio County and Wheeling being predominantly pro-Union, 81 men from Wheeling voted in favor of Virginia's Ordinance of Secession, which formally repealed the state's ratification of the U.S. Constitution and declared Virginia's secession from the Union, and their names were later published in a broadside titled "Traitors in Wheeling" (1861).
The Virginia Secession Convention of 1861 was a crucial event in the state's history, where delegates debated whether to secede from the United States and join the Confederacy. The convention was deeply divided, with about one-third of the delegates favoring secession and two-thirds being Unionists. The Unionists were further split into Conditional Unionists, who would support staying in the Union if Lincoln did not use coercion, and Unconditional Unionists, who were steadfast in their loyalty to the U.S. government.
The decision to secede was influenced by various factors, including the preservation of slavery, the protection of the Southern way of life, and the unique economic and political interests of western Virginia (now West Virginia). While the convention initially voted against secession on April 4, the fall of Fort Sumter and Lincoln's call for troops to suppress the rebellion shifted the momentum. On April 17, the convention passed the Ordinance of Secession by a vote of 88 to 55, with Virginia officially joining the Confederacy after a statewide referendum on May 23, 1861.
In Ohio County, where the city of Wheeling is located, the majority of residents were pro-Union. However, a list of 81 men from Wheeling who voted in favor of the Ordinance of Secession on May 23, 1861, was published in a broadside titled "Traitors in Wheeling." The men named as voting for secession were:
John Hunter, Nicholas Crawley, J. W. Mitchell, George Wheller, Eugene Zane, R. A. Stansbury, John H. Towers, Aaron Kelly, John Knote, Edmund P. Zane, Aber Keyes, Dr. Alfred Hughes, Coorod Goldsborough, A. F. Hullihen, T. E. Askew, James M. Bulger, Thomas Hughes, Charles W. Seabright, Rodolph Over, Wm. Wharton, Michael Riley, J. B. Riley, John W. Orr, J. Updegraft, John Freeze, J. L. Faunce, Ira Sanger, Ebenezer McCoy, Walter G. Scott, Wm. Miller, Robert Ibertson, John Bulger, W. B. Miller, John Webb, Wm. Goudy Sr., James Sweeney Sr., Joseph Caulwell, William C. Phillips, Phillip W. Moore, Tom Strain, Jerome Pool, J. H. McNash, Thomas M. Riley, Phil Riley, John L. Bonham, James Hanlin, Dr. James W. Clemins, Miles Riley, Andrew White, Peter Letcher, Henry Dunlap, Henry Moore, George Henry, Jobe Stansbery, Andy A. Gillespy, A. M. Phillips Jr., Harrison Saylards, Thos. J. Gardner, H. W. Phillips, C. W. McKinstry, A. M. Phillips Sr., A. J. Pannell, W. G. Goshorn, Alexander Pannell, Daniel Steenrod, Hon. Lewis Steenrod, Wm. P. Wilson, John W. Betz, William Stewart, Maddis Ruse, Dan Dunbar, Wm. MCoy, Daniel Zane, John L. Fry, D. J. Dores, Peter Francis, S. D. Woodrow, William Switzer, William Purcell, and William Otterson.
Given that they were publicly named as "Traitors in Wheeling" in a broadside, it is likely that these men faced social ostracism, political backlash, and possibly even legal consequences for their actions, as their vote went against the predominantly pro-Union sentiment in Ohio County and Wheeling.
To learn more: (https://tinyurl.com/236sbyjp) (https://tinyurl.com/6sxawckv) (https://tinyurl.com/5e93eywd) (https://tinyurl.com/5fz9k6u7) (https://tinyurl.com/2a9ubken) (https://tinyurl.com/yn7bc839) (https://tinyurl.com/mr2nuhfm)
Photo credits: University of Virginia
RSS Feed
