New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1871-05-21

| armed and equipped. and well drilled anC
disciplined, among the best citizen soldiers
| from State whose militia laws were in ex
| cellent working order; cool, brave men, a.
| had been shown in their conduct when in
! Baltimore, earlier in the dav, they had
been called upon TO endure threats and in
| suits from the mob until they could endure
no longer, and had then resolutely fought
! their way through the rebel city. and con
| tinued their journey 10 Washington. Upon
/ their arrival they were quartered in the
! Senate chamber. Thus, under the roof OF
| the Capitol. were sheltered the meu who
( first marched to save ii, and in whose
! ranks the first blood had been shed. and
/ the first lives sacrificed in ito defense
After the outbreak in Baltimore on the
nineteenth, no mail reached Washington
until the twentv-seventh. In the meantime
the greatest CONSERVATION prevailed Har-
pers Ferry had been occupied on the
eighteenth by some three thousand Virginia
militia, and General Bradley johnson was
organizing the rebel forces in Baltimore.
Rumors were aieat through the city that
with the troops which had taken Harper
Ferry IL was intended TO attack the capital.
and that a column from Baltimore would
join in the movement. The gravest fears
were entertained by loyal men; and traitors.
who before kept silence, could no longer
conceal their joyful hopes.
Ol the dlIFIuoUN nI Tue IWtDfV-nftn, tine
Seventh Regiment New York Militia. Colo
left New York on the eighteenth, and com
munication through Baltimore being inter
rupted, went from Philadelphia via Havre
de Grace 10 Annapolis, where thew Joined
the Eighth Regiment Massachusetts Voluu-
teers, Colonel Monroe. who were accom-
panied by their brigade commander. Gen
eral Butler. AT Annapolis these regiments
found their march again interrupted bv the
partial destruction OF the Elk Ridge rail
road. The Massachusetts regiment was.
however. composed mainly OF practical
workingmen. A disabled locomotive was
soon found; maChInists were there 10 re
pair 1t. Engineers were wanted; nineteen
of them offered their services. Railroad
men were needed: there were scores OF rail
road builders ready for duty.
Working parties, strong ' guarded by
both regiments. and a tieldpiece mounted on
a platform car, which was kept well up with
the pioneers, marched aud worked all day
and all night relaying the track, rebuilding
bridges. reaching Annapolis Junction, TWEEN
tv-one miles distant, early next morning.
Here the Massachusetts men were left 10
guard the way, and keep open communica-
tions, while the Seventh New York went on
by rail that evening.
80 far as Washington was concerned, the
crisis was now passed. The way being
open, other troops came forward RAPIDLY
from all parts of the North. so that BY the
first of May a general feeling of security
prevailed. II had intended To note the ar
rival of all the regiments which reached
W ashlngtOn at that early day. but at the
last moment Twas surprised 10 find so much
conflict of authorities, as 10 DAYS and dates.
I a. | q compelled 10 abandon il for want
OF time.
1t was now evident, however that the
war was assuming daily grander proper
tons, and that the regiments of State mi
litia in the field under the Presidents first
call would be wholly inadequate to the
work OF sustaining the authority of the
government On the third day of Nav.
therefore, the President issued another
proclamation calling for volunteers to
serve for three years or during the war
On the next day were issued two general
orders by the War Department. extraor-
binary i'll their dictiOn. and marking the as
OF extraordinary powers by the
chief executive. The one begins: The
President OF the United States having
called for a volunteer force" the other.
THE President of the United States having
directed an increase of the regular army
of the United States" With no power |
rested in him by law, and with no
under the constitution 10
take these steps. the President had /.
risen TO the occasion, and had authorized /
the increase of the regular army, and had /
called upon the Governors of the loval /
States for volunteer force. Save that they /
spoke the great wish of the people and were 4
authorized by the source of all government
al power in this country. these acts were |
simply revolution. But the emergency was /
great the motive pure and the need vital /
All justified the President. even the most
conservative We're sincerely if silently CRATE
.ul for these measures. 1t is not. however
70 discuss any questions OF constitutional
as Involved that have called attention to
hese orders. 1t is because they present the
plan OF company, reglmental. brigade and
division organization which was then
adopted by the War Department and at
erward substantially adhered to through
tut the war. They mark the birth so to
peak, of the grand army of the Potomac
ts small beginnings were soon atterward |
organized under these orders.
| am admonished that | must not dwell
onger upon details, unless | would exhaust
our patience. | shall, therefore. glance
nut hastily at the events OF the next two
months.
10 a correct understanding of these how
yer, and much that followed. it is neces-
airy that l should say just a word as to the
iyision OF counsels which had already
rOwn up at w ashlngtOn.
Among those high in power there were
ONE who still hoped that the State OF Viz
mia would not join in the rebellion. and by
hem it was insisted that there should be no
rmed occupation of her soil until after the
lection, 10 be held late in Nav. when the
eOple were TO vote upon the ordinance of
ecessiOn already submitted TO them by
heir State Convention. To this party Gen
raj Scott gave the countenance of his SIM
ort, adding weight to his opinion on this
oint, by the scheme of campaign which he
dvocated as best adapted TO the sup
ressiOn OF the rebellion This was to !
ave in the East only troops enouob to /
uard the capital from capture. and the
Orthern States from an invasion. CON ;
dered barely possible. and 10 concentrate
le whole available force of the ;
Orth at Cairo. and send them in over
helmlnS numbers down the Mississinni
yer. 10 this plan he clung tenaciouslT, !
hen, late IN May, the rebels We're threat
ling TO plant hostile batteries upon the
e1ghts OF Arlington. and were Hauntino
leir flag at Alexandria. within pIain - &.
ON the White House, he consented RI tba
OF the south bank of the Po+n- .
dc, at these anu intervening points. pureIy :
: defensive measure. 1t was not untiI .
le capital OF the Confederate States had -,
cen removed to Richmond and the South -,
'nerS themselves, by word and act, an !
ounced that Virginia was to be the battIa.
round OF the war. that he would conser+ d
such au advance to the south of Wash q
gton as would lead to a collision. tbs
'ubtless had much to do with the deIaT. |
making brigade and division organiza.
onS' ana IN supplying trains to the force =
'utA OF the POtolnac, while Difference m 7
e puDhG dlstaste for parades of all sorts .
'evented reviews which wouId have I Loan .
great; service in perfecting organization :