Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1864-06-02
Ohio,s National Guard.

From the Columbus Journal May 27'l
We have no recollection Of ever finding,
in the course Of our historic reading, any
instance comparable with that of calling out
and eoupping our National Guard, for ce-
lerity and efficiency Of military action. In
the short space of about ten days the Gov
ernor of Ohio placed an army OF about 35;
900 infantry troops in the field, oflcered,
armed, equipped and ready tor action. Our
belief is that military history furnishes no
parallel to this. Thirty-e'ght regiments of
as fine soldiers as ever marched to the tent
ed field sprang up almostlikc cnchantment,
and stood at once within our entertainments,
prepared to do battle with the rebel foe:-
And this, TOO, lie it remembered, after more
than one hundred thousand Of other brave
men had gone to the field from the same
State.
Fortunate was it for the country that the
Governor of Ohio held in his hand this re.
served thunderbslt Of war. The crisis OF
the rebellion was upon US. The rebel foe
were insolent and sanguine. They we're
gathering their whole military power, and
preparing to hurl it upon the Union columns
in one deadly and decisive conflict. The
hearts of even brave men throbbed with un-
wonted anxiety as they looked upon the
formidable array of the rebel hosts. They
saw that the impending coufict must speed
ily occur. They knew that failure to our
arms would be an inexpressible disaster to
the national cause; and all wanted the as
surance of our success made doubly sure by
giving additional strength to our armies in
the field, TO render that strength effective
it must be added at once. The exigency
permitted of no delay. The reinforcements
must come then. or their coming would be
useless for the critical moment OF the cam
naiep. 1t was at this moment of public
anxiety-a moment pregnant with the rate
of our nations futuIe-that Governor
Rrouph sent forth that reserved power o
Of IS, 600 brave and gallant National Guards
At the very moment when most needed
that Ohio army stepped into the place o
veterans. and thereby enabled the Govern
: ment to send that many veterans forward t.
sustain General Grants advancing columns
: This NAV have turned the scales in eur ia
: yor. The contest was fierce and bloody
i but the swelling columns of Grants arm
J have compelled the rebel host to flee t
their capitol, whose entrenchments are
: proye their ''last ditch"
d m her of the Western States have patr
d ot;cally proffered their proportionate quot
}, 10 ra,se The aggregate NUN Der to one hui
a dred thousand foi the one hundred days.
1t Rut the regiments froic those other Stat
ir are but just beginning to come forward
x Our State military organization was mac
Sc the means for meeting tho emergency; on
ie most nobly and CALAMITY did the menbe
10 10 Of that organization respond to the call
he ii the Governor. 8; /.
ke Impressed with the important servi
m thus rendered by Ohio and her gallant N
, tional Guardl to the common cause OF Il
he country, the President ofths United State
II, by his Secretary Of War. most cordially al
nd Gracefully returns the Nations thanks
no s.the patriotic people Of Ohio" for this gre
ied service thus rendered the country IN
!. The following Is the Official Dispatch 4
Az warded by the Secretary of War to Gov
for Brough. communicating the thanks OF
for Chief Executive Of the Nation, dated
sed Washington yesterday:
nr. WASHINGTON, May 20
N To His Ercslleacy Gov. Byoagh.:
This mcrning's report Of the Adjuts
- General shows that since the date OF
'eu proposition made by you and other Go,
ina nors Of Western States, to the Presid,
hey Of IS regiments Of infantry troops,s a,
20 berirg over 32,e0g hays hSsn called