, 1861-05-11

!, IN Aceosdtn& czedittc Massachusetts, for her
readiness md patriotic energy In this crisis
and though much has been said, too much
cannot b spoken In her pratse--it should not
be overlooked, TINT to the militia system Of the
State is the country indebted for the hrat
| troops under the Presidents call. Other statea
had either abo1ished their militia or had suE.
fered Its death by decentralization. And Mas-
sachusetts was in fair way to follow the gen
eral example when Gov. Banks entered upon
his office, four years ago. Under hi admInis-
trat'on the system was wholly reorganised,
and, from being richly and conglomerate af-
fair, 1t became N effective army corps Of
asout 600 men, With the proper proportions
/ OF infantry, ARTILLERY, rifles, cavalry, ssppers,
etc. The number Of companies were limited.
The dnt'ee and compensation Of the 7olnr-:
tsers were defined. -,
The Stste encampment Of these troops, at
Concord, In 1859, Was the croAning act In
Governor Banks's efforts In their behalf. His
successor, Gov. Andrew, was then in posses-
sion Of corps, ready for its finishing touches
1t his hands, and ready to be employed An
ticipating what has sinea happened, the Gov
ernor caused general orders to be served se7-.
er&l months aiuce, that no further resignstions
Of either officers Or men should be received
without good canse therefor. And at hia sug-
geshon, the companies very generally filed
up their ranks with picked men, expressed by
formal action their willingness to answer any
demands upon them, and at once commenced
their laborious and almost daily drills. It may
be said, then, that even as early as tbs 1st Of
March there rers from 5000 to 1900 men in
Massachusetts under arms, and bound BY a
selEinspired obligation to serve their country.
Furthermore, Gov. Andrew, BY his own per-
suna1 7exertion, and agslnst opposition not
unmingled with tho toers of leading party
Hends, obtatped a small appropriation, which
he expended for military overcoats, blankets
anne shirta- And these he had in readiness In
Boston when the telegraph announced the
fall Of Sumter and foreshadowed the official
requisition for ttuops. It was thus that the
Massachusetts Quota, nahde up and more than
filed by troops who assembled on Boston
Common despite the cold rain. storm Of Tues
day this 16th, were On their rwny to. Washington
ere tho details Of this requIsition had been
served by Secretary Chase. They hesitated
neither for the official signature nor for the
official rendezvous. The future historians Of
these times will find no parallel for such
promptneas save in the Massachusetts, minute
men of'7e, Glorious " Old Put, y who left his
pillow inthe aeld at ths neKs from Lexington,
has An imit&tor In The Ma1blehead captain,
who lett the steaming carcase Of hog that had
Just been drawn from the scslding tub, and.
throwing down his knife, gave no other word
Of parting than" Dunn the hogr' Another
captain, informed Of Gov. Andrews call by
Telegraph 1t ten o'clock on Tuesday morning,
had his company on Boston Common IN three
hours distance Of some forty miles. -.
The troops thus farsent from Massachusetts
are, with the exception Of one company from
Pittsheld, taken from the eastern counties !;
and the 1000 regulars who remained and still
remain under arms, were no less feady or anx-
ious to 60 than their more fortunate com
| radea. No special volunteer enlistments were
| cecessay, a. has been the ease with other
States, aud the cause Of thalr delay. And no
comparison betHeen communities in Massa-
ehusetts would be just to those who have not,
as jet, furnished men, since the Governor, and
NOT the nnilltia.men themselves, had the chos.
Ing whom of should 60. While, therefore, the
Stats has not called upon its people to enlist
for the War, they have been and are moving in
their own way, forming local encampments
for camp duty, drill in the manual OF aras,
under tbs authority Of the towns ind support
cd By the local authorities. Hardly a town in