Re: Little Rock Arsenal
Doyle, another thought about Woodruff's rather laid-back account of the Arsenal incident. He describes the appearance of the force under Cleburne as being "unexpected." Further, he states that Totten and his officers were on friendly terms with the citizens of Little Rock. Finally, unlike the excitement associated with the Fort Smith incident, Woodruff says nothing about any unusual excitement or agitation in the city up until the actual seizure of the Arsenal. All of this leads me to believe that there was no hysteria or "war fever" sweeping the city at the time. Therefore, it seems to me that there was some thought and planning involved in the seizure -- hardly what one would expect from an hysterical, feverish mob.