Before shots rang out on a distant South Carolina shore, talk of secession occurred throughout the antebellum United States. These talks grew to a fervent yell in Little Rock, Arkansas. On the eve of a statewide election to determine a secession convention, pro-secession militia descended on Little Rock in February 1861. They closed in around the Federally controlled arsenal in the hopes of seizing the weapons stores. A standoff began between the Federal troops and secessionists, with the citizens of Little Rock caught in the middle. The ensuing political debate set the stage for Southern secession, and the arsenal weapons became integral to the Confederate cause. Join author David Sesser in an exploration of the fascinating political drama and prelude to the bloodiest war in American history.

David Sesser is the special collections curator at Huie Library at Hendrix State University and was the museum curator at the Nevada County Depot Museum. He has a BA in history, a MA in social sciences and is completing a MA in public history from the University of Arkansas, Little Rock and a MA in library sciences from the University of Southeastern Mississippi.