Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1863-08-05
From the Cincinnati Commercial.
Morgan's Raid-What It will Cost
Ohm

out, the Ohio Legislature was in session.
and several military bills were promptly
enacted, and an unsuccessful effort was
made to pass an efficient militia bill.
A new Legislature convened the fol
lowing January (lSG2). and during the
entire session efforts We're mace to pro.
Ire the passage of n Militia Law. Gen.
eral Buckingham, then Adiutant General
of the State, an educated military man.
proposed and submitted To the Genera.
Assembly an Efficient and well considered
bill for the organization of the militia,
involving nearly half a million of dol
lars.
This bill met with no favor on account
of its expense. Several other bills Were
submitted and urged by the Governor
and others, but all were defeated, mostly
through the opposition of a Ger tain State
officer, who from the beginning, oppos.
ed every measure for the suppression OF
the rebellion involving the expenditure
of money.
The threatened invasion of our State
by Kirby Smith and his army last fall,
and the demonstrations of guerrilla bands
along our border, prepared the public
mind and members of the General As.
semby for a little expenditure and effort
for a militia system at the next session.
and after great exertion and constant en-
treaty by the friends of the measure, the
Legislature, at the very close of Its SEES
sion 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
into operation.
The Legislature in its wisdom and econ
omy, ordered 1000 extra copies of the
law printed for circulation. The first or
der from Cincinnati, upon the Adjutant
General, was for 5000 copies for ~circula-
ton in that city.
Immediately upon the passage of the
law, and Lefore it could be printed, steps
were taken by the Governor to inform
the people as to its provisions. Many
counties in the State were visited by the
Adjutant General and Quartermaster
General, and public meetings held, and
warnings and ~entreaties made to induce
organization under the law.
Every county through which Morgan
and his ~marauding bands has passed was
visited, and public meetings held, before
the 18th of June.
The Legislature fixed the Fourth of
july a. ~ ud1 lOI lAlC CACClAOh " OLlNNAS
and fifteen days from that time as the
day for returns to the Adjutant General.
Morgan's raid began on our western
that day, near midnight, the Governor
received a telegram from Major General
Burnside, asking that 10000 militia men
be called out. The morning papers of
the 18th contained the proclamation of
the Governor, calling out all the militia
force of the thirty-two southern counties
of the State (which had been organized
into companies"
How many companies had been organ
lied, OF what force this call would bring
out, it was impossible for the Governor to
know, as but few returns of elections, and
not twelve complete company organiza-
lions had been made. The prompt and
patriotic response to the call was not the
result of organization, as many of the
companies held their election after they
went into camp. 1t was the result of that
good common-sense and patriotic impulse
of the people that teaches them to de-
fend their own homes and institutions
against robbers and assassins, and TO re-
pei force with force. 1t was a glorious
demonstration, for which every lover of
his country may be prond and thankful.
Let the party croakers and fault-tind-
ers who condemn the Governors call,
hang their heads with shame, when we
know and can clearly see what Morgan
might nave done and would nave been
his route, but for the prompt call and lib
eral response to it by the people.
He attempted TO destroy Camp DENIM
son, where were many convalescents, a
valuable camp and much public proper
ty. His repulse there warned him that
a visit to Camp Chase, where were a thou
sand rebel prisoners, among them his Ad-
%jutant General and Chief of Staff, would
be attended with greater risk and proba-
bly, capture.
Our beautiful Capital, with its valuable
archives and thousands of treasure, paid
in by our rich and prosperous peOple,w was
q tempting prize for the daring raider
and his band of robbers.
All praise TO our gallant and patriotic
Governor, who had the backbone To
promptly appeal to the people (whose
faithful servant he is)to come TO the res
cue; who made the call without knowing
what it would produce, or how much it
would cost; and who never for an instant
stopped to inquire its effect on the next
election, or whether it might, for the
time being, incommode the editors of
weak, partisan presses, who could only
see an elephant" when q just and uni
form rule, requiring every man subject to
military duty 10 report at camp, endan-
gered the failure of the next issue of his
sheet, which might, with a grand flourish
of wisdom and independence, c%riticise
and ridicule the honest and faithful eff
forts of a public officer, who would make
no exception in favor of printers and ed
itors over any other citizens.
People of Ohio! how long will you con
tinue blind to the real issue involved ,
Have done with party chickering's and
s%trifes, and stand by your country; stand
by the Executive, and every honest, true
man who is devoting his life and energies
to the salvation of this glorious Govern
ment, and the crushing out of this occurs
ed rebellion, which can never be done
except by force.
Organize organize at once, and adopt
the present militia system, especially
the volunteer provisions of it. Had you
done so one month ago, Morgan and his
band of marauders would never have
gone through our entire Southern border,
carrying destruction anu sorrow IN his
train.
Doubtless this raid will cost the State
and General Government Sl,000,0 900,
saying.nothing of the lives of our brave
and gallant men who have fallen by the
way, and whose places in our hearts an d
homes no worldly goods can ever fill.
The cost of this one raid would have
established a militia system and main
tanned it for years, which could bid def
ance to a raid fifty miles into our State of
four times Morgan's force. Others will
be attempted. VIII you prepare for
them and thus prevent their future occur
renee? I pray you sleep no longer.
Thank God, Morgan has been routed
and his forces captured and dispersed,
and guerrillas and marauding bands have
been taught a lesson while we, the suf-
ferers may well take warning. and in flu