Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1864-05-03
THE CITY.
THE MILITIA.
The Assembling of National Guards
for One Hundred Days. Servico-.
The nay Disasreeabtc-.scehe
About Town.

TAe nay DtDaSTeoaDrcesocen
About Town.
Yesterday the second of May, was ar
unhappy period for those who belonged tt
volunteer militia companies recently en-.
titled "The National Guards" The at.
mosphere was cold, the sky was gloomy
and the showers of chilling rain were fire.
quent. No cheerful sunlight PInced amid
the bayonets of the unwilling guards, no
soft or gentle breeze fluttered DER their
dropping colors-nothing but pitiless rain,
dismal depth of mud, and n disheartening
day welcomed them to active service; and
they assembled at their quarters, many OF
them as sullen as the sky, all of them shorn
of every pretense of enthusiasm. War is
no longer such festive affair as it was three
years ago, when, at the tap of drum,
thousands leaped joyously to arms; three
months campaign is no such holiday affair
as thousands then anticipated. We have
come down to the rugged issue, and in the
sad and bitter school of experience, learned
that war hath its disasters, its defeats, its
-disappointments; that it is not free from
humbugs and hypocrisy, shams and per-
versions; that its glory begins and ends
with the triumph of shoddy; and hence
there is no such enthusiasm now as was
witnessed three years ago.
No persons are better acquainted with
this state of affairs than our loyal citizens
now involved in the mesles of the hundred
days call. The loyal journals may endeav-
or to convince country subscribers and for
eign readers that there is q perfect earth
quake of enthusiasm to 60 into the service,
but scores of loyalists in the militia do not
''see it" through those spectacles. Many of
them are melancholy and refused to be COM
forted. Several individuals, noted for the
fervor of their loyal and vigorous prosecu-
tion sentiments, absolutely refused to 'join
their commands" until a squad with fixed
bayonets was detailed to escort them. One
of the loyal candidates for a city office at
the late election was thus gobbled
up, in his place of business, and UNI
cereIhoniously marched away to Town
street headquarters. The distinguish
ed author of the ''Book of Martyrs" who
has been on the "anXious bench" for sever
al days in regard to the call, was among
those who did not respond at roll call. lie
Is in favor of the war, but he is also in ia
vor of somebody else doing the fighting
An armed squad was sent after him. and al
though informed that the laws prohibited
Stag hunting at this season, the detailed
men persevered until they captured their
man. 1t is said that the author of the "Book
of Martyrs" went into Camp looking as
lugubrious as one of his subjects.
All day long there was an unusual COM
motion on the streets, occasioned by the as
sembling of the militia. The headquarters
appeared to be on the streets about the city
building. Here the men stood and loung-
ed, shivered and swore, during the day,
without any apparent notion of what was
to be done next. Scattered among them
were many anxious female faces, wives and
mothers who awaited the departure of the
stalwart supporters of their lives with sad
and sorrowful hearts and moistened eyes,
Among those who were 10th to 60 there was
a deal of bitter complaint, and it was re-
ported that those who had not yet taken
the oath would refuse to do so, in the hope
of thereby escaping the service. But this
feeling, if it exists, will doubtless wear off
under the persuasive influence of those who
desire to go. r
Towards night the various companies in
town were marched off to Tod barracks
and Camp Chase, where many of them
passed the ordeal ofthe initiation of soldier
ing. There is an impression prevailing that
the call for thirty thousand militia will ter
inmate as did the panic call of Gov. Tod
last year, when the elephant was found to
be too large TO be managed by the current
militia genius of that executive, and 1t was
found necessary to dismiss them after few
weeks of expensive boarding in State
camps; but it is to be hoped that the present
call has not been made without the necessa-
ry preparation for the maintenance of the
troops after they are assembled.
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