Cedar Falls gazette. [volume] (Cedar Falls, Iowa) 1860-1895, 1861-05-24

III
safely, to the patriotism Of the people for the
removal of the other, and on the 18th day of
April issued my proclamation calling for the
requisite number of troops.
The Geographic dispatch of the Secretary
of War informed me that it would be sufficient
if the troops required of this State were in
rendezvous at Keokuk by the Goth inst. The
prompt and patriotic action of the people en-
abled me to place them in uniform on the
9Th, twelve days in advance of the time fixed,
and they would have been there week
sooner had not the action of the mob at Bal
timore cut off all communication with the
seat of Government, and left me without any
instructions for two weeks.
/ recommend that you make suitable ap-
preparations, covering expenses thus incurred.
Tender of troops were made altogether be-
yond the amount required, and learning from
the newspapers and other sources, that an
other requisition would probably be made
on this State, took the responsibility of Or
dering into quarters, in the respective coun-
ties where raised, enough companies to form
a second regiment in anticipation of such
reuuistion, that they might acquire the nee
essary discipline and drill:
The second requisition has not yet reached
me, but am expecting it daily, and am pre-
pared to respond to it promptly when made.
The officers and men composing the first reg
iment were in quarters for some time before
being mustered into the service of the United
States, and those called out in anticipation
of second requisition, will have been in
quarters considerable time before they will
be called into service, if at all. 1t is but just
that provision be made for the payment Of
the men who have thus promptly and patri-
otically stepped forward in the defence of the
country, for the time lost by them before be.
ing actually received by the United States,
and recommend that you make the necessa-
ry appropriations for that purpose.
In addition to the two regiments thus &C
cepted by me, have already received tenders
of companies enough to make up five regi-
ments more, and have been strongly urged
by them, and by many other good citizens,
to accent the whole, and place them in quar-
tiers at the expense of the State. In view of
the fact that all had done was without au-
thority of law, and the further fact that you,
the w-making power Of the State, were so
soon to assemble, did not feel justified in so
doing, but have recommended in all cases
that all such companies should, if possible,
keep up their organization, and should devote
as much OF their time as possible to the drill
without interfering materially with their or
binary business, thus keeping in reserve a
large organized and partially drilled force, to
emergencies.
In several localities patriotic citizens have
at their own expense furnished subsistence
to companies thus organized and not accept
ed, and they have been in quarters drilling
daily. Whether any of the expenses thus
incurred shall be paid by the State, or wheth-
er any compensation shall be made to the
men for the time thus spent in quarters, is
peculiarly within your province to deter
mine.
In addition to the passage of laws legaliz-
ing what has thus far been done, and provi-
ding for expenses thus far incurred, it will
be your duty carefully to examine what fur
ther the State should do to meet present ne
cessities, and future contingencies.
In my judgment there are two objects
which in your deliberations you should keep
steadily in view and which recommend to
your serious consideration, viz: the protec-
ton of our State against invasion, and the
prompt supply to the General Government of
any further aid it may require.
Our State is supposed by many to be ex-
posed to attacks, on two sides-our Southern
and Western borders-on the South by rcck-
less men from Missouri; on the West by In
dams. Missouri is unfortunately strongly in
fected with the heresy of Secession, which is
hurrying so many of the Southern States to
ruin. What may be the ultimate result in
that State, we do not know. Should she I'M
fortunately attempt to dissolve her connec-
ton with the Union, serious troubles may,
and probably will spring up along our South
ern borders. Even in that event can hard
ly anticipate an armed invasion by regular
military forces from that State. Surrounded
as she is by Kansas, Illinois and Iowa, such
invasion by her would be sheer madness, and
it seems to me we are guarded against such
danger if not by her calm judgment and her
neighborly good will, at least by her instinct
of self preservation. But unless reckless men
within her limits may take advantage of the
unsettled condition Of public affairs to organ
ize a system of border warfare, for the pur-
pose Of plumber; it is your duty to properly
guard against this danger.
The known facts that the troops have
wholly or in great part been withdrawn
from the forts in the territories west of us,
and the restraint Of their presence thus re-
moved from the Indian tribes on our border,
that the Indians have received, probably, high
colored statements in regard to the war now
Upon us, and that since the Massacre at
Spirit Lake in our State, some years since,
which went wholly unpublished, they have
shown an aggressive disposition coupled with
the fact that they may tempered with by bad
men, render it in my judgment, matter Of
imperative necessity that proper measures
be taken to guard against danger from that
quarter.
have already done what could, with the
limited means at my command, to furnish
arms on both borders.
The modes for the protection of the State
and furnish further aid, if needed, to the
General Government, suggest themselves to
me- One is the mastering into the camp, to
acquire discipline and drill, number of
regiments of volunteers. The advantages of
this are, that we would have at hand disci-
plined force, ready to meet any emergency,
State or National. The disadvantages are its
great expense and its insuficiency, by reason
Of the great extent Of our border, to protect
our frontier against the lawless bands to
which we are exposed. The other plan is to
organize along our Southern and Western
frontier, arm and equip, but not muster into
active service, sufficient force of minute
men, who may be called upon at any mo.
ment to meet any emergency that NAV arise