Joseph T. Derry , A. M. , Author of School History of the United States; Story of the Confederate War, etc., Confederate Military History, a library of Confederate States Military History: Volume 6, Georgia
Clement Anselm Evans, Ed.

[10] the ordinance of secession was adopted, and the president of the convention, ex-Gov. George W. Crawford, briefly and impressively announced that the State of Georgia was now free, sovereign and independent. As soon as the result was announced to the great throng assembled outside, the people applauded, the cannon thundered a salute, and that night Milledgeville was brilliantly illuminated. Similar demonstrations occurred in all the large towns and cities of the State.

Having resumed its original position as a sovereign, independent republic, Georgia began preparing for the maintenance of independence by force of arms. The presence of troops of the United States within the State's borders became inadmissible because they were a menace to its freedom. The United States property within the State was a question for settlement between the governments, but soldiers in arms, subject to the orders of the United States, must be withdrawn.

The arsenal, situated near Augusta, consisting of a group of buildings on the summits of salubrious sand-hills, contained a battery of artillery, 20,000 stand of muskets, and a large quantity of munitions, guarded by a company of United States troops under command of Capt. Arnold Elzey, of Maryland. The occupation of this arsenal was necessary. The sentiment favoring the seizure was increased by the arrival, on January 10th, of an ordnance detachment, which had been ordered by Col. H. K. Craig, chief of ordnance at Washington, to report at that place after it had been ejected from the Charleston arsenal by the State authorities of South Carolina. Captain Elzey, in his report to Washington of the transfer, said:

This movement on the part of Colonel Craig I believe to be wholly unauthorized by the war department. It was injudicious and impolitic, added much to the excitement in Augusta, and was very nigh producing serious difficulties in this quarter, the people believing it to be