Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-12-30

w. w. Greenland, Adjt. Gen. Pa. n. G.
brigade was called out, and by daylight
next morning. the 18th. was on duty at
Buffalo. But these forces still being in
adequate, additional troops were called for
on the 18th. Before daylight on the 18TH
seven more regiments, chosen chiefly from
the first and second brigades IN New York
and Brooklyn, and seventeen separate COM
panies from the third brigade at Albany
came later in the day. Thus of the 1000
men engaged, aprroximating two and
half brigades. all turned up in from six TO
eighteen hours. The expense incurred by
the state in this movement amounted to
500, 600 but the troops acquitted themselves
with infinite credit proving equal to every
emergency and demonstrating their capac
lily to respond to summons instantly.
At Homestead.
The historic descent OF the Pennsylvania
National Guard upon Homestead in the pre-
vious month was an achievement even mort
brilliant. No such rapid concentration OF
like body OF volunteers from far distant
parts, with such full ranks and without
previous notice, was ever accomplished be-
fore or since. The muster OF the Sheridan
troop, whose farmer members left their
work, unhitched their horses, mounted them
and galloped to the rendezvous, rivaied
similar scenes of the revolution. The men
OF two infantry companies in the Schdylkin
anthracite region were miles underground
mining coal when orders reached them, yet
they dropped their tools instantly, assembled
to the surface, cleansed themselves of the
CRIME. donned their uniforms and entered
the ranks. The captain or another company
was i'll in bed. His wife arose in the night,
herself harnessed his team with a ian.ern's
AID. drove to town and personally summoned
the privates Officers and men hurried from
all parts OF the country, as far away as
New Orleans, Boston, Maine Texas and
California, and some abroad cabled their
willingness to come.
The governors order calling out the Key
stone troops was given the division COM
mander at Harrisburg at 1880 Sunday night
July ~. At II 80, 12:30 and a. m the
transmitted order had been received by the
commanders OF the first, third and second
brigades, respectively, living in widely
scattered sections of the state. No more
unfortunate and trying season, day or hour
could have been deliberately selected for the
success of the movement. Being Sunday
night, the country telegraph Offices were
closed. But telephone and railroad tele-
graph wires were resorted to instead and
when necessary. messages were sent to the
nearest railway block and thence carried
through by couriers to destinations. with
these imperfect facilities the orders were
conveyed by the brigade commanders to
colonies, captains, sergeants and privases In
turn, but the great majority of regi nents
and companies received no orders until y
o'clock Monday morning Meanwhile the
skillrul stan worked necessarily. The quar-
termaster general, who happened to be
superintendent OF the middle division OF the
pennsylvania railroad, and experienced in
the details of army transportation, awaited
himself Of the railway telegraph service
and with the aid OF military and railway
maps anticipated acquisitions by sending
empty cars speeding all night to the points
where they would be needed in the morning
One hour before noon the first brigade Was
on the cars and by O'Clock IN the after
noon reached the point indicated for concen-
tration-Mt. Gretna-in readiness for Home
stead or elsewhere, as occasion might re-
quire. The other two brigades were hurried
westward and, to mystify the public and
mislead the strikers as to the point whence
the approach was to be made. in case they
meditated resistance, the final point OF con-
centration was kept secret even from the
colonies Of regiments on the cars. Before
midnight Monday both brigrades. number