Contary
to British and European agreements- which required British citizens
to remain neutral during civil wars - Liverpool came out in open
support of the Confederates.
Background
to the Civil War
The war divided America between the Northern and Southern States
(known as the Confederate States).
There are many causes to the war although they centre on State rights.
War broke out in April 1861.
At
this time 60% of the Confederate States' cotton was coming through
Liverpool - once the Northern ships began blocking their passage
this had a huge impact upon trade within Liverpool.
Liverpool also made a large amount of money directly from the Slave
Trade which the Confederates supported.
The
offices in Rumford Place had a direct connection to the Confederates.
George Trenholm & Charles Prioleau who handled their financial
affairs worked from there.
The buildings today have been given Confederate linked names:
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Named
After:
The Liverpool branch of the Charleston cotton firm, John Fraser
& Co., who became the European bankers for the Confederacy.
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Named After:
The man employed to captain the CSS Alabama
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Named After:
³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖr Winslow who became a reknowned war reporter.
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Named After:
The name originally given to the CSS Alabama.
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Other Confederate Connections:
The
first shot of the civil war was fired by a gun built in Duke Street
and the last surrender was made in the Mersey when the CSS Shenandoah
surrendered to the British Government rather than the American Government.
THE
TIMES,ÌýÌý Friday 7th October 1864
BAZAAR in aid of the SOUTHERN ÌýPRISONERS’ RELIEF FUND
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Lady
Patronesses H. I. H. the Princess Murat
The Marchioness Of LothianÌý
The Marchioness of Bath
The Marchioness of Allesbury
La Marquise de Montmort
The Countess of Chesterfield
The Countess of Tankerville
Lady Mildred Beresford Hope
Lady Rosa Greville
The Countess Bentivoglio
Lady Georgina Fane
Lady Eustace CecilÌý
Lady WarncliffeÌý
La Vicomtesse de Dampierre
La Baronne de Langueil
Lady de Hoghton
Lady AnsonÌý
Lady EardlyÌý
Mrs Horsefall, LiverpoolÌý
Mrs Laird, BirkenheadÌý
Mrs Akroyd, Halifax
Mrs Collie, London
Mrs Hannan, Glasgow
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It
is intended to hold a BAZAAR in St. Georges Hall, commencing
on Tuesday, October 18, in aid of the Southern Prisoners’ Relief
Fund.
Many ladies, in addition to those named, have promised their
active aid. The suffering of the Southern prisoners of war in
sickness, wounds, and deprivation of every comfort of life;
the multitudes of widows to whom nothing remains, and of orphans
unable to help themselves, form an amount of woe which some
who are blessed here with an abundance and peace have felt a
desire to alleviate. Efforts have already been made, and not
without success, through reliable friends in the Northern States,
but unhappily the field is wide that aid is now required to
replace the means already provided and exhausted. It is hoped
that assistance will not be refused in this work, which is wholly
one of humanity - of sympathy for the great sorrows and suffering
that now afflict a people of our own race. |
The
stalls of the Southern States will be held by the following
ladies:
Virginia: La Vicomtesse de Dampierre. Mrs.Patterson. Mrs M.
G. Klingender
ÌýN. Carolina: Mrs. Spence. Mrs Wothington.
S. Carolina: The Lady Warncliffe. Mrs. PrioleauÌý
Georgia: Mrs Bulloch. Mrs Patrick
Alabama: Mrs Malcomson. Mrs. Pratt.Ìý
Mississippi: The Countess of Chesterfield. The Right Hon. Mrs
Sliddell.
Louisianna: Mrs. Byrne. Mrs. T. Byrne. Mrs. F.Rodewald.
Texas: Mrs. A. Forwood. Mrs. W. Forwood. Mrs. W. Heyn.Ìý
Arkansas: Mrs. Sillem. Mrs. J. Wilklink.
Tennessee: The Lady M. Beresford Hope. Mrs. F. Hull.Ìý
Kentucky: Lady de Hoghton. Mrs. G. W. Oliver.
Treasurer: CHARLES K. PRIOLEAU.
Hon.Sec.: JAMES SPENCE Liverpool |
Confederate
Bazaar - In October 1864 Liverpool staged a bazaar at St George's
hall called the 'Southern Prisoners' Relief Fund'.
It lasted for 5 days and raised over £20,000.
The stalls included a raffle for a donkey!
A modern day connection to this is that the present secretary of
"The Friends of St. George's Hall" is a direct relation of Lady
Mildred Beresford Hope, one of the patronesses of the Grand Southern
Bazaar.
The
last offical Confederate Flag was lowered in Liverpool on 6 November
1865 when CSS Shenandoah, captained by Lieutenant Waddell, arrived
in the Mersey. He lowered the flag and his ship was ultimately turned
over to American authorities.
President
Lincoln was assassinated by John Wilkes Booth in l865 just days
after the surrender of the Confederates. Booth's father, Junius
Booth, a Shakespearean actor, came from Liverpool.
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