George T. Ward Secession Broadside

Collection — Box: 158

Identifier: MSS 1965-256

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

This collection consists of a broadside regarding the secession of Florida from the Union and a duplicate of that broadside. The broadside was issued by George T. Ward before the State Convention at Montgomery, Alabama in January 1861. It is addressed "To the People of Leon County," and begins "My name has been suggested as a candidate for the State Convention, from your county..."

Also known as MSS 0-256.

Dates

created: 1860

Conditions Governing Access

Collection is open to all researchers.

Conditions Governing Use

All requests for permission to quote, publish, broadcast or otherwise reproduce from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Associate Dean for Special Collections & Archives. Permission for publication is given on behalf of the Florida State University Libraries as the owner of the physical items and is not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained by the researcher.

Biographical or Historical Information

George T. Ward, of Leon County, sat in the Secession Convention at Montgomery, Alabama. On January 7, 1861 the committee submitted a secession ordinance accompanied by a report in favor of immediate secession. George T. Ward, of Leon County, and Jackson Morton, of Santa Rosa County, both former Whigs, led the opposition in an effort to amend the ordinance to defer action until after Georgia and Alabama had seceded and to require popular ratification of the measure. They were overruled and on January 10, the ordinance was passed by a vote of 62 to 7.

In 1825 George Ward became Register of the Land Office, succeeding Samuel R. Overton. One extraordinary event in his life was a duel described by Col. John S. Beard, which took place between George Ward and Alston just outside Tallahassee. Achille Murat (Prince Murat) was Ward's second and Dr. Randolph of Tallahassee was the attending physician. Alston hit Ward first, breaking his leg. Ward fell while Alston advanced, still shooting. One of these shots broke Ward's arm. When Alston got directly over Ward, Alston had no shots left while Ward still had one. Alston evidently then folded his arms and declared, "I believe he will kill me after all." Ward fired his last shot and missed. Ward demanded more guns and insisted that Murat prop him up so that the contest might continue, but he fainted before his instructions could be carried out. It was later agreed to continue the duel, but before Ward recovered sufficiently to fight, Alston was killed in another duel.

Ward was not to survive long, as he was one of the first of Florida's officers of high rank to be killed in action in the Civil War. As the commanding officer of the Second regiment, he was killed at the battle of Williamsburg. (Source: several volumes of the Florida Historical Quarterly contain articles about George T. Ward and the other persons mentioned above.)