Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1863-08-06
Morgan's Raid--What it will Cost
Ohio.


Ohio.
EDs. GIN. CoM-When the rebellion
broke out, the Ohio Legislature was in ses.
sion, and several military bi Is were promptly
enacted and aD unsuccessful effort was made
to pass an efficient militia bil.
A new Legislature convened the follow.
ing January (lS62), and during the entire
session efforts we're made To- procure the
passage of a Militia Law. General Buck.
ingham, then Adjutsnt General Of the State
an educated military man, proposed and
submitted to the General Assembly an eff
cient aud well considered bill for the organi,
zation of the militia, involving nearly hall
million of dollars.
This bill met with no favor on account Of
It's expense. Several other bills were sub
mitted and urged by the Governor and 9th
ers, but all were defeated, mostly through
the opposition of a certain 5 officer, who,
from the beginning, opposed every measuic
Ter the suppression of the rebellion involving
the expenditure of money.
The Threatened invasion Of our State by
Kirby Smith aud his aruiy last fall, and the
demonstrations by guerrilla bands along our
border. prepared the public mind and mem
bers of the General Assembly for little ex-
penditure and effort for militia system at
the next session; and after great exertion,
and constant entreaty by the friends of the
measure, the Legislature, at the very close
of the session, in April last, passed the bill
which is now in force; and feeble though it
be in the appropriation Of money, the sys-
tenn is good and practical when once put in
operation.
The Legislature, in its wisdom and econ.
omy, ordered 1908 extra copies of the law
printed for circulation. The first order from
Cincinnati, upon the A lltant Gene ,al.
was for 5000 copies for circulation in this
city.
immediately upoti the passage of the law,
and before it could be printed, steps we're
taken by the Governor to inform the people
as to its provisions Many counties in the
State were visited by the Adjutant General
and Quartermsster General, and public
meetings held, and warnings and entreaties
made to induce organization under the law.
Every county through which Morgan and
his marauding band has passed was visited,
and public meetings held, before the 18th
of June
The Legislature fixed the Fourth of July
as the day for the election of officers, and
| fifteen days from that time as the day for re-
| turns to the Adiutant General.
Morgan's S raid began on our western b6r.
der on the l2th. On the evening Of that
day, near midnight. the Governor received
a telegram from Major Geiieral Burnside,
| asking that 20 600 militia fnen be called out.
The fiiorning papers of the 9th contained
the proclamation Of the Governor, calling
out all the militia force in the thrty-twO
southern counties Of the State (which had
been organized into companies"
How many companies had been organi-
zed, or what force this call would bring out,
it was impossible tor the Governor to know,
as but few returns of elections, and not twelve
complete company organizations had been
made. The promp. and patriotic response
| to the call was not the result of organiz itiOn,
as many of the companies held thier election:
after they went into camp. 1t was the re.
suit of that good common sense and patriot
ic impulse of the people that teaches them
to defend their own homes and institutions
against robbers and assassins, and to repe
fdyce ,oith force. Il was glorious demon
stratiop, for which every lover Of his coun
try NAV well be proud and thankful.
Let the petty croakers and fault finder.
who condemn the Governors call, hane
their heads with shame, when we know an,
can clearly see what Morgan mi1M hav,
Gone and what would have been his route
but for the PROMPT cali and liberal rcspon.,
TO il by the peopie.
He ATTEMPTED to DESTROY Camp Denni
son. where were MANY convalescents, a val
uable camp. and much public property. :
His repulse there warned him that yisi
to Camp Chase. where were a THOUSAND
rebel prisoners; among them his Adiutau
General and Chief Of Staff, would be at
tended with greater risk and probably cap
ture.
Our beautiful Capital, with its VALUABLE
archives and thousands of treasure, paid i,
bv our rich and prosperous people. was
tsmnting nrize for The daring raider and hi
band of robbers. -
All praise to our gallant and patriot
Govsrpor. who had .sback bone" To prom Mt
" anneal to the people Whose faithful ser
want he ;sl 10 come 10 the rescue: who mad
the cali without knowing what il would pro
Snce or how much II wonld cost. and VIII
never for moment stopped to inquire il
Influence unon the next election. or whethe
!. il might. for the time being. iucommod
the editors of weak. partisan presses. VIII
could only see an elephant" when a Jus
and uniform rule, recurring every man sub
iect to military duty TO report AZ oamIf en-
y daneered the failure of the next issue of hi
sheet. which might, with a grand ionris
\ ID