The Emporia weekly news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1881-1889, 1882-11-23

on all sides, moved quickly about, if
with blancbed cheeks, yet with
steady purpose and firm re-
solve. On the day following the attack
upon the 9th Massachusetts, Major
David Hunter, then on Gen. SCOTS
staff, called upon Gen. Lane and Informed
him that by direction Of Gen. Scott and
Secretary of War Cameron he was in
structed to inform Gen. Lane that owing
10 the turbulent condition of the poPu'
lace and the very few troops then in the
city, as we'll as from secret information,
there were serious appTehensions
of an attempt 10 siCze the presi-
dent aud overturn the government,
and therefore General Lane was asked to
Immediately form a company of Kan
sans for the especial protection of the
president. He also said that as the men
of Kansas had been tried "under fire, '
and were known to be true and brave
that they, with Gen. Lane at their head
would be tower of strength in the
crisis then existing at the capital, Lane
with his wonderful energy and fiery
soul unhesitatingly assumed the task
Immediately runners were sent out in
every direction requesting all Kansans
to report at once at General Lanes
rooms. Within twelve hours one hun
dred and eighty names were enrolled
and the frontier Guard was or
ganized with Lane as captain
That night at about O'Clock the COM
pany marched out of Wizards hotel aud
proceeding direct to the White House
filed into the east room. In few min
utec case after case of Enfield rifles with
sword bayonet, ammunition and &C.
coutrements were placed in the blue,
rcd and green rooms, and the work OF
arming commenced. Many amusing Incl
dents occurred. Senator POmeroy
who was large of girth, was in great per
turbatlon about belt long enough to
reach around his aldermanic proper
tions, and many laugh was had at his
expense until the writer came 10 his re-
lief with bit of leather which enabled
him to look as true a soldier as ever
was Sir John Falstaff.
BY 12 O'Clock at night the company
was fully equipped, and after surround
ing the White House and its grounds
with trusty sentinals the men stacked
arms in the east room, each member
lying down with head to the wall, touch.
ing elbows, without covering, TO dream
of "war and rumors of war" Sentinels
were placed at each door. The
writer was stationed at the nortl
door of the east room. At abou
O'Clock in the morning thert
was n rap on the door. 1t wal
opened and President Lincoln and the
secretary of war walked In. Silence
rcigned; it was a wierd scene. The
lights turned down, were dim, and shad
dows of gloom seemed to fit over tina
historic room. The men were asleel
and breathing heavily; the glisteninl
of the polished steel under the sombr
light; the tramp OF the sentinels in tn,
halls and on the outer flagstones, gave
ominous token of the great drama o
blood then coming on. Not I
word was spoken for som,
minutes. The president wa
wrapt in his own thoughts and Their
passed across his face a sad, weary look
an expression of deep but trouble,
thought, as ifhe were trying to solve tn
great problem before him. He stood il
the midst of a military camp in the Ex
ecutive Mansion of the nation; bu
while there was dread portent in thes
surroundings, he seemed to feel sens
of security in the presence of these 10y
al Kansans on whom he had places
his reliance and confidence in calm
them so near to his person.
The spell was broken by Gen. Ian
coming forward. A short conversatio
was held by these three men, and th
president and secretary withdrew. TIL
next morning the company retired from
the white house and IN the afternoon wa
again marched to the east room wher
the president made short, felicitou
address and the company was formall'
recognized as in the military service 70
a temporary emergency. That night W
were assigned to the Winder building
opposite the war department, where W
had our rendezvous until We were dis
charged.
A day or two after the organization
of the Frontier Guard, Cassius NJ. Clay
of Kentucky, organized similar com
pany, nearly equal IN numbers.
Our company was the first to captur
a rebel flag 1t came about in this way
A report came that the rebels woul
make an ATTEMPT to capture III
bridge across the East Branch of tn
Potomac. We we're ordered out on,
night in April. Marching down Penn
sylvania avenue we were Joined b
Clay's company aud marched thence I
the navy yard. ACIer short halt tn
Frontier Guard filed out of the east gat
across a ravine, and soon came in sigh
ofthe bridge, Tue moon WAS shining
brightly and in the distance could /
plainly seen brass cannon near tn
draw. The writer happening to be l
the front ranks went forward with pa
plating heart expecting every momer
to be cut down with grape an
canister, but pride kept US all 10 lin
although our knees smote together. A
last coming full on the cannon we di
covered 10 our immense relief that
was a gun of a Pennsylvania batter,
and it was pointing toward the Mary
land shore. This inspired us with cou
age. We urged Lane to have the dra
lowered so that'we might cross the riv,
and scout for the enemy. Finally /
assented apd detail of twelve or fftee
was sent across. Dividing the squad y
pushed out on different roads and scout
ed the county for three or four hours
No hostile foes were found. One squa
led, think, by Harry Fields, discovere
rebel flag flying on pole in front of
house. The owner was arouse
and ordered to haul the flag down. Til
he refused to do. but doggedly gave ihel
permission to take it down if they wan
ed TO do so. The flag was Immediate
hauled down, brought back with COZ
siderable exultaii6n, and the next da
it was stretched across the avenue OF
posite WilIsrd's hotel. with great pll
card inscribed: Captured by the From
Ter Guards" The proves was not grea
but the thing captred was a trophy.