The Cadiz Democratic sentinel. [volume] (Cadiz, Ohio) 1854-1864, 1861-08-07
General wOoI to the Union Defense
Committee.
HEADQUARTERS, Troy, n. Y.
.f.# July "a, 1S6l.{

present you with statement oi the doings o
your Committee, and the part performed ia
connection, which led to my being placed in my
present position. hope that you will give Il
an attentive perusal.
The causes may be found In the following con
densed history Of the services rendered in tie
execution of important and responsible duties
assumed on my part at moment of great per-
Il to the country, and when the Federal Capt.
tai was in imminent danger Of being taken pos
session of by rebels from Virginis and Mary
land. .... .. ..
You will recolect the attack upon Massa.
ohusetts regiment passing through Baltimore,
which resulted in destroying several long
bridges between Baltimore and Philadelphia
Of divers railroad tracks, and cutting the tele-
graph wires leading from Washington to
the North, preventing for six days any com
rnunication with the latter city and the North
ern States. 1t was under these circumstances
visited Governor Morgan. found him in q
state OF alarm for the safety Of the capital,
which he was spprehensive would be taken
possession Of by the the secessionists. While
with him be received teIegraphic dispatch to
hurry troops with all possible haste to Wash
ington. He also received dispatch rendering
the services of Colonel Ellsworth's Regiment
with request to accept oft, which he complied
with at my earnest recommendation, when
gave orders to Col. Tompkins, United States
Quartermaster at New York, to furnish tran
sportation, and Major Eaton, Ccmmissary Of
Subsistence, thirty days rations to each soldier
for as many regiments as might be ordered by
the Governor to Washington ordered that
number OF rations because the troops could only
reach Washington by either the Potomac or
Chesapeake Bay. ......u.s-
Gov Morgan left the same evening, Satur-
day. April 90, for New York. Informed him
would Iellow On Monday. On the next day
the Governor transmitted by telegraph the fol-
lowing letter; @ ras
NEw YoRE. April 81, 1861.
General John e. Wool, Troy. New York;
au, glad to learn that you will proceed 10 ~
York to morrow 10 superntend the forwarding
of troops from this and other States, mustered
into the service Of the General Government -
1t is eininently proper that high officer OF the
army ofthe United States should discharge this
important duty.
ED. MORGAN.
On the same day received the following
letter by telegraph from Thuriow Weed:
New YoRK, April 81, 1851.
General John tG. Wool, Troy, New York;
Understanding you are TO be here, deem it
advisable, from instructions have fNtu the
Secretary Of War, General Cameron, that you
should be at the Astor House with me.
THURLOW WEED.
By MIR. Weeds letter you will perceive that
was expected to be with him at the Astor
House, which could not assent to from the
circumstance that [ had already engaged quar-
ters At the st. Nicholas Hotel, to which place
had directed all letter, dispatches, etc, intend
ed for ME, to be sent
On Monday, 22d April, proceeded to New
York and took quarters at the st. Nicholas
Soon after my arrival Mr.. Weed called on me
and urged me to take quarters at the Astor
House, precious to which had been earnestly
requested to do so by Mr.. Stetson, to which I
declined, and ftom the fact that it would pro.
ducs confusion, as teiegraphic dispatches were
constantly being received from the Governors of
States and other persons.
On the 23d the Union Defense Committee
called on me, amoug whom were General Dix,
Chairman; Mr.. Draper, Vice Chairman; Ex-
Governor Fish, Messrs. Evarts, Wetmore, Dehn,
Grinne Clatchford, Marshall, Sloan and others.
They desired to know what was prepared TO
do in this hour of great peril to the country
the capital being in imminent danger Of being
taken by the rebels? replied, anything that
would save the capital, for the preservation of
the Union depended on its safety. A prosrame
was soon arranged, which | approved Of in be-
half Of the United States, and Immediately set
about carrying it into effect. In this place it
may be proper to say that remned the COM
mttee that had assumed fearful responsible
ty and that probably would be the only vic
tim, but under the circumstances was prepar
ed to make the sacrifice, If BY 1t the capital
could be saved.
1t must not be forgotten that at this time the
citizens Of the whole North, East and West
were in the highest state Of excitement, from
apprehension that the capital Of the Union
would fall into possession Of the rebels Of the
South; and in the city Of New York they were
ready to denounce the administration, and even
threatened to overturn the government and
elect d Dictator, because OF the loss Of Nor olk,
with the navy depot-which had cost many
miliions---and Harper's Ferry, where we had