Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-05-24

on the 4th day of May, 1861. Some Of the
prlvates-al who applied for them-received
military discharges from the service, signed
oy tneir respective commander, countersigned
by simon Cameron, Secretary OF War, aud in
dorsed approved" by President Lincoln
The following is copy of the correspondents
between the officers Of the Clay Guards and
the Secretary Of War, Endorsed by the Presi-
dent Gen. Clay. deeming his services no longer
needed. having left the city):
WAsHINoroS CLAY GUARDS ARMoRr,
WILLARD HALL, WASHINGTON, ID. c., April a. 81.
To TIE Hon. Simon Cameron, Secretary Of War:
Sir; The undersigned officers of Major Clay's
battalion, organized while the capital Of the
United States was considered in imminent
danger from civil invasion, would most respect
fully represent that the battalion 10 chiefly COM
posed OF non-residents Of this District; that
they were organized on the 18th instant; that
day and night, sleeping on their arms, and have
al all times been ready at Q moments notice to
90 any service required of them.
They number now about three hundred men,
and since reinforcements have arrived here il
10 thought that it might not be necessary to
keep up the organization. should IL be
deemed necessary by the department TO con-
tinue the organization the men composing in
most cheerfully tender their further services.
III such services are not needed we would re-
spectfully ask to be disbanded and honorablv
discharged by the department..
QsigneD JAMES w. NrE, Commanding.
DAVID WEBB, Capt LIST Co.
J. Z. NEWTON, Capt I'd Co.
Major James W. Nye:
Sir: In reply to your letter Of the 9th OF
April stating that IN consequence Of the arrival
OF large numbers of troops in this city the
emergency has ceased which called the bat
talon commanded by you into service, and that
you would be pleased, therefore, to have au.
thority to disband the battalion aud have an
honorable discharge from service. Concurring
fully with You. readily grant the authority
asked for, and in doing so beg to extend you
and through you to the men under your COM
mand the assurances Of my high appreciation
Of the very prompt and patriotic manner in
which your battalion was organized for the de-
Tense of the capital and the very Efficient serv-
ices rendered by it during the time of its eX-
istence. Very respectfully,
(SigneO SIMON CAMERON.
ehserfully concur in the foregoing testi-
(SignedD A. LINCOLN.
/ have a copy Of the muster rolls OF the Clay
Guards, but have not that OF the Pioneer
Guards, consequently / am unable TO give the
names in detail of that command. but know
them to be all men Of very high character and
standing IN the country.
PROPOSED REUNION.
The loyal citizens Of the capital city-psrtic-
ularly the property owners-owe an especial
The survivors are all now necessarily old men
The time will soon come when the last survi, or
can call no one living ''comrade," who stood
shoulder TO shoulder with him in that band of
patriot, strangers in defense of the besieged
capital OF the nation.
hope IL will not be regarded as unseemly
or improper In me, conversant as am with all
the chief occurrences that transpired here dur
ing the progress of the exciting events of our
lnclpient struggles at that period, to respect
fully suggest that q meeting of the citizens Of
Washington be called who will resolve to in
vite these surviving patriots to visit scenes
where they learned to carry q musket to stand
on guard, to defend against the invasion of
hostile enemy, and also to extend to them the
freedom and hospitality Of the city.
This mark Of courtesy and appreciation
would, l have no doubt, be most gratifying to
patriotism.
PRESIDENT LINcoLN's OPINION.
Mr.. Lincoln on more than one occasion said in
my presence, in speaking of the progress Of
war events and the safety of the capital: THAT
language was incapable Of expressing how
great an obligation he and the people all over
this country are under to this little patriotic
band OF men, for their timely services in pre-
venting. as they undoubtedly did prevent this
capital from falling into the hands Of the
enemy.
''Their Names" said he, "should be recorded
In history and ought to be revered by poster
ity." These were the words used by Mr. Lin
coin, as near as l can recollect them at this dis
lance Of time
Let the ''old men" have the proud reflection
that the way is graciousIy paved for them to
mingle in harmonious pleasure together at the
quiet capital, affording them an opportunity
for a more realizing sense of the fact that 1.-The
little difficulty among the brethren" which en-
genered the sectional strife and drove them to
arms in 1861, terminated in more thoroughly
unifying the sentiments and interests of the
whole people and has forever indissolubly con-
solidated the states Of this Union into one
grand. harmonious and powerful sovereignty.
Respectfully, WARD II. LAMoS.