, 1861-05-16


We re permitted to publish the following
graphic letter from tn illinois Lady no" IN
Rhode Island, picturing the scenes in Provi-
dence when Cor. spragIe's glorious regiment
was ordered to r1araA:
Providence, r. L, April ~. 1851.
You will have seen by the papsrk what " Ut
tie Rhody" has been doing, and as Pro9i-
dence is the gathering point for the State, we
Every heart seems to breathe ont gratitude
for the lulI OF these few days in which it
seems question what is brewing,-it is such
relief 10. to hear, every honr, new story,
ling int .ljigehe3 from the Seat of War;
Gov. Sprague, Of Rhode Island, is q young
man not over tElrty--and the representative
Of an old manufacturing taHily Of great
wealth Many Eaid he bought his election
that he was man Of inferior parts for auch
etation-that he oould net do himself or the
State any credit. But he has Invariably been
OF the right side In any emergency, and during
bis first year, earned the titls Of the tplucky
little Governor" He was again elected By the
Democrats just as the question Of secession
began to be agitated. hera were all his mRu-
utecturing interests controlled by King Cot
ton the 8onth made sure of mis- co-opera-
tion, and toe Democrats thought he would op-
pose the Administration. Bat no-Govetnor
Bprague eaN, before any other man, the dam
ger which threatened The Capital, and offered
the President thousand men from Rhode
Island, for Its defense, volunteering to lead
them in person. The Offer Was accepted at
once, t e Governor holding klusef subject to
orders.
When the requjsitlon came from the Prezi.
dent, 1t took but four days to put the one
Thousand men in marching order. They were
delayed little by the scarcity ofarms, but =
regiment Of infantry (ritles) and a company Of
one hundred and thlrts.tve spiendldly drliled
marine artillerJ-aoy. Sprague's own COM
pany-with six Of G:n. james, projeetile
guns, each projectile (which bursts as it
touches the ground throwing einhty balA-
were all under way In less than week
These men we're the very flower Of tha city
an6 S1ate-not less than seven hundred were
from Providence-the stuHents from the Uni
versity, the clerks from the stores AID banks,
the sonB Of the most luxurious homes, the
fathers Of young and lovely familiee, the hus-
bands Of heroic KiVes and noble mothers.
Said * Governor Dyer In the aTmory the
fret evening they were enrolling vol1nteerG-
Ether my eon or will join goB." Tbs son
has &ona
A lAsher telegraphed to bis aon in flourish
Ing business in Boston, s'Eithsr you or 1
must go." 4 friend Of mine was taking taa
with tho family when the son came home.
After tea he asked his father to introduce him
st the armory as be e<wehea to enlist that even
mother" said the father.
He was very tall handsome young man,
and as he came back to the parior, and stoop
ing over her shoulder, said to her. tMother,
1aatst CO." She drew his head down agsinst
her cheek, and shut her eyes, in one moment
Of struggle, then said, Be az faithful sol.
der - you have been son, and your country
can claim no more Of you," and kissed him,
accompanying him to the door calmly closing
1t upon him With little probability Of seeing
him at home again, Is The volunteers were
.ept On ;ig'd d'l' ali t1t while till they left
every ehutter clossd, as if death had made It's
frequent visits along our streets, but the door
plate explains thAs these were homes Of offi~
eern or volunteers whose n2mes eh3ve hesrd
90 often
I xas taken BY = frind to the ArmoEy to see
the drill Of the Second Company Of Infantry,
On the morning they left
It was the most touching sight ever saw.
They were the representatives, OF the most
cultivated and elegant families here, ths ten
derly reared sons Of opnlence, petted das;ings
Of society taking the rough sioe OF Me--wilh
blistered fingers aud aching limbs going
through that rigorous discipline, with no
previous preparation Of this muscles, md the
whole physical organization shocked by the
sudden change Of habits. But not one I'll ched-
The least alluBion to the ''star Spargled Ban
ner" brought forth the BRme thrilling putbuTst
from their ranks IS though thera were no
such thing IS pain or labor. When the drill
WAS internlitteQ for q little season Of rest and
they threw themselves On tbs lounges about
the hall, eae1 waA at cnee surrounded by q
little circle Of friends, parents, sisters, Sc
all trying to do some LAST thing for their com
fort, and to throw off the emotion that would
continually rise I could scarcely stt still and
See them. There were several girls about "a
years ole, sweet looking girls-andit wastoueh-
knees and select lock Of hair or exchange
rings, with quivering lips, and often with
teArB dropping unnoticed from the cheek into
the heavy boards
Week before Last Wa1 one succession Of par
AIDES, exercises, mrfhalling Of companies, DC
The ladies' worked bnsily preparing the uni
forms or dress red flannel shirts, over calico
ones, aud over there tunics Of blue flannel, to
be worn with belts, and scarlet MaekinAc blank
et4. They had soft b1Aok hats, the rim fasten.
ed up on tbs right side with gilt eagle II
made a very simple, SD AtsntiA1, eursest looking
uniform-is much better adapted to their easy
work than coats, and is said to be better pro-
lection against shot and balls. 4 Thousand
tunIcs were made hers In thirtyssix hours.
Another regiment Is ready to leaTe when the
orders ArT1ve, and We sha1l soon be called to
prepare their outfit. At present al the ladies'
are knitting rocks Of soft yarn, as they are
much better for marching than tho thin stock
fngs gentlemen generally wear. An old lady
In the country, ninety yeArs old, sent In for
sons Of the yarn, with the message that heE
mother taught her to knit stockings for tho
knit for the soldiers now called out in defanse
~ %hair