New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1864-01-13
INADVERTENTLY.

detail an account Of the contributions of soldiers
by Massachusetts to the National service. That
is a subject on which persistent efforts have
been made by Northern Pro-Slsvery journals,
and by titled cavaliers like Gov. Seymour TO
misrcpresent and conceal the facts. To
all such, Gov. Andrews Message is a sui-
fcient answer. The State has done her
whole duty-has done il promptly aud generous
ly, aud from the beginning of the war down to
very recent period has urged upon the National
Government more men than it could be pre-
vailed on 10 accept
On the 18th of April, 1861, the Government
called on Massachusetts for two regiments, and
on the next day for two more. By the time the
second call was received, three were already IN
route for Washington and Fortress Monroe.
Two days afterwvrd another started, and By the
10Th five regiments and o battery Of artillery
had gone. In what circumstances they went
and what service they did at a moment when
delay had been fatal. the country and the world
well know. On the Sd of May three more regi-
mcnts We're asked for. By much persuasion on
the part of Gov. Andrew, the Government con-
sentci to take siH, aud then seven. On the Eth
of July, Massachusetts offered ten more reg'-
ments to serve for three years or the war.
and they we're accepted. Between the Goth OF
judy and the 9Th Of October these regiments were
all put Into the field. in addition to these were
two companies Of sharp-shooters and three bat
teriss OF artillery also enlisted for three years.
Within the next eight months ten other regi-
ments and eight companies OF all arms bad been
added 10 the forces ia the field. Z" ~ far from
leaving any requisition untitled says Gov.
Andrew, " this Commonwealth was urgently
pressing on the Federal Government during
large part of the first year Of the Rebellion, for
permission to extend her military contingents.
During tho whole of the month of May, 1861,
and until the 18th day OF June. We were embsr-
rasscd by having several thousand troops under
arms in the State, which the Federal Govern
ment was unwilling TO accept" And II was
finally found necessary TO dsband large por-
ton of the forces that had been raised
If We we're to stop here--if we were to con-
fess that the flame of Massachusetts, patriotism
which burned thus ardently had been stitied and
he. zeal cooled by the breath OF constant dis
couragement from Westinghouse shonid still
say that the State had done more than enough
10 shield her from future criticism. Her ser
vices are not to be measured by the number OF
men she had given, but more truly by her
promptness in answering The cry OF alarm which
went up from the Capital. That twas which
made her contribution OF incstimable value. /
Suppose she had been u week later-where I
would have been the Capital, and Fortress !
Monroe, which WIS more than the Capital |
Their safety was due to the foresght-the wise /
OF the Puritan Commonwealth !
which sac the coming Storm. and prepared ior II 7
while elsewhere all was doubt. and unreadiness, .
and mere blind drifting on the current which /
was resistIessly sweeping the Government and
the country into the opening abyss OF sue
cesslul Rebellion. Massachusetts brains saved /
the nation and tits only just to add that the two
Massachusetts, men who more clearly than any /
other looked into that doubtful future, and who
worked most efficiently to arm the State for
war, were Gov. Andrew and Gen. Butler.
But the record does not stop here. Spite Of
all discouragemcnts from Washington. the en-
thusiasil for volunteering continued More
than 5000 Massachusetts men whom the War !
Department refused, joined organizations in |
other States, and went to the war. In Fcbru- /
AIRY, 1862, another regiment and company of
were offered, but declined. On |
the ID of April, the War Department issued its |
celebrated order to stop volunteering. Still the !
Governor persisted, aud obtained leave to re-
crut up to their full numbers the Massachusetts,
regiments in North Carolina which had been |
thinned in the battles of Roanoke and Ncwbern; |
and again June, torepairthe heavy losses ofthc
well-known Second in the desperate fights of
the Shenandoah retreat. And az last on the 7th |
of July, Sin apparent compliance with the
united request of the Governors of several
of the loyal States" the President called
for 100000 additional volunteers for the war.
Up to that time Massachusetts bad furnished
% regiments and IL unattached companies OF
different arms, amounting in all to 81, H7 men.
Under this call she at once raised and sent 49,
600 more to the field. On the 4th of August
900. 900 nine months men were called for. 1.-The
quota of Massachusetts was fixed at $3.50.
Although that uamber Of ni9e moashs pe0 was