General Wright Warns Against Sedition on the Pacific Coast
Commanding the Department of the Pacific, General Wright issues a stern warning to those in Washington and beyond who might support the rebellion.
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General Wright, commanding the Department of the Pacific, issued a proclamation to the citizens of the Pacific Coast: 'You are far removed from the scenes of war and desolation... but fellow citizens, we must not disguise the fact, that we have traitors in our midst who are doing all in their power to involve this country in the horrors of civil war. To all such persons I say pause and reflect well, before plunging into the yawning abyss of treason; an indignant people will rise in their majesty, and swift retributive justice will be your certain doom.'
“To all such persons I say pause and reflect well, before plunging into the yawning abyss of treason.”
General Wright’s fear of domestic 'traitors' in the Pacific Northwest highlights the paranoia regarding 'Copperhead' influence during the Civil War, a period where loyalty was frequently policed by military authorities even far from the front lines.
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