The national Republican., 1861-05-01
AN EPOCH IN OUR HISTORY
For tho National Republican.

has found the eliminating point, and from this
often the summit Of her glory, ra.
dates the light of her progress, or shadows the
decline of her greatness.
Empires and republics, the majesty of whose
progress has struck with wonder the civilized
world, have faded away, their mighty works
have crumbled into dust, and We find irag.
ments alone where we naturally look for some
The epoch in the history of our Republic is
now before us, after eighty five years Of unex.
ampled prosperity, when from thirteen feeble
colonies we have risen to count thirty four pow
eriul United States. and the position of the
richest and most powerful nation of the earth,
with commerce whose sails whiten every sea,
and territory so vast that the product Of her
fruitful bosom can feed all the inhabitants of
the globe with o Government so tolerant, SO
Just, based upon Constitution acknowledging
the inherent rights ofevery man, it would seem
strange indeed to find disafected member Of
such coniederacy.
But small cloud arose at FIRST no larger
than a mans hand, but now threatening to
overshadow the whole of our Southern bori
zon, basing their grievances upon a fabric so
trail that they did not dare to commit their
nefarious plans to the people, with the acknowl-
edged design of overthrowing the Government
which has cherished, nourished, and protected
them they have seized the forts, pundered
the Treasury deposits, and ou,lawed and mur.
dered peaceable citizens, maltreated and drove
from their homes others who could not sym.
pathize with their plans, aud threaten to seize
the capital and destroy the archives Of the na.
ton.
April 18th, 1861, General James Il. Lane,
the Senator elect from Kansas, arrived ut
Washington; feeling that the greatest danger
which ever threatened the country was now at
hand, he hurried from his home to throw him
self into the thickest of the fight; known and
feared through all the South Tor his hostility to
their traitorous schemes, outlawed, prescribed,
price set upon his head by the myrmdons of
slave olignrchy, yet from bis indomiiabe
courage almost respected by them; he was the
man and his the FIRST voice which proclaimed
in the city Of Washington defiance and war to
the traitors Of their country. At this time
Washington was full of secessionisis, who
openly avowed their treason, advised concert
OF action with the South, and expressed their
determination to possess the capital at all hsz.
ards. Meetings Of the conspirators were held
nightly, and it was hardly safe for an unarmed
man known to be q Republican to 60 into Ger.
tain quarters Of the city; but their triumph was
|
their track, and they trembled at the sound of
his name. Immediately upon his arrival, he is.
sued call TO the Kansas men who had been
by his side in many bloody conflict upon the
plains Of Kansas, to meet at his room to form
a military company to assist in guarding the
city. There were but about seven hundred regu
lar troops and a few compares of District mill
tia who had been recently sworn in at this time
and he saw with military eyes that then wa:
the time, the only time, when successful attack
could be made upon the city. 1t was indeed al
hour Of peril; God only knows what imminen
danger hung over the capital of this nation likt
the sword of Damocles suspended only by
thread, and that thread so frail.
Upon the 18th of April, military organiza
ton was effected, called the Frontier Guard
Of which Gen. Lane was chosen captain !; Col
Delahay and Capt Stockton, lieuenants.
This company was composed, for the mos
part, Of the tried veterans Of the border war
! fare in Kansas-Northern men, who had lef
their homes and all the associations of earl
life, to emigrate to the fertile plains of u ne,
Territory, and to build up in the far West al,
other star to adorn the constellation emblazon
ed upon the flag of the nation. They wer
men who not only stood up for their constitu
tional rights, but they had principle to main
, tain, winch God had given them, and they wen
, out to do battle for the right, they were victo
rious, because the God of battles was on thei
, side, and Gen. Lane their leader.
Men known to be true, and coming we'll rec
ommended were invited to enrol themselve
) among the company, until lG2 men, every Oh
! of whom was willing to die for the defence {
t his country, had signed the roll. The compau
a Immediately reported themselves to the Wa
y Department, aud we're ordered to guard tn
y White House and as they filed into the ma,
!, niicent rooms Of the Executive mansion, ever
!, man registered vow in Heaven, that so lon
|, as he had drop of blood u his veins, not on
. hair Of the Chief Magistrate of the land shouI
be injured. The company were then supple
d with arms, and their military organization va
e completed.
i The day succeeding, the Department tende
,e ed to the Guard two rooms in Winder's bloc
for an armory where the members met dai
te for drill, and at night were detailed TO guar
ie the Execptiye mansion and to perform seer
n and dangerous service. Every man was arr
ed to the teeth, and prepared to start at al
moment to go as scouts into Maryland and V
y ginia. They sent members to Baltimore, A
Ie napo!is, Alexandria, and other places, in v
,, rious DISCUSSES; learned their plans, and pr
:. ., pared for them at all points. Certain inform
~ ~ tion having been rendered at headquarters tn
~ ~ an attack was apprehepded upon the navy yar
ar the Frontier ''pard aud Clay Guard were d
ns n tailed for its defence. The Frontiers were Sc
- to the Anacostia bridge, upon which howilz
was planted, and guarded by the regular trooI
in The soldiers went back to quarters, and Ge
Ie Lane sent scouts through the djacent fores
. who learned that force had crossed The rv,
with the evident intention Of coming up t
:, bank and crossing the bridge; but they h
~" w. evidently ascertained that the hero of Bue
20 Vista, who now sustains the proud position
~. ~. U. s. Senator, waiting for them, aud tn
s- patriotism waned.
~ G. ,,onu g he voluptaar tronna Lo,;,,