The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1893-03-30
THE FIRST TROOPS.
Another Comrade Claims Pennsylvania Sent
Them to Washington.

Them to Washington.
N your issue of Feb. 16 my attention was
| z called to an article headed, 1.-The First
- Troops" In your answer to an old sub
scriber who asks you the question,
(Which were the first volunteer troops mustered
into the United States service; at what place
were they mustered and on what date; for the
suppression of the rebellion OF 1861 II" am more
than surprised that you will place yourself on
record by answering the above question in the
way you have done. know you know better.
i am IN position TO know you know better. for
during the grand parade held in Washington
last Summer myself and others called at The
NATIONAL TRIBUNE Office. and you were fully
informed of who constituted the troops who
first came to the defense of the National Capt.
tai, and who were known as the g First Defend
ers." You also know they were accorded the
right of the column on the grand march on
that occasion for the reason that they were the
recognized First Defenders" You also know
they received vote of thanks by Congress, in
which il says:
In THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,,
July 90, 1861.
Resolved, That the thanks of the House due
and are hereby rendered TO the $50 soldiers from
Pennsylvania who passed through the mob of
Baltimore and reached Washington on the 18th
day OF April last for the defense of the National
Capital"
J. Edward Mcpherson. Clerk of the House of
Representatives of the United States. do hereby GER
tify That the above is true and correct COPY of a
resolution agreed 10 by the House of Representa-
lives ii the date above named
Giyen under my hand and The seal Of the House
OF Representatives this 9th day of May, a. -. 1891
EDWARD MCPHERSON,
Clerk House of Representatives.
In spite of ali this, and from your own
knowledge, and the ready access to the official
records which you have, you answer your
questioner: To attempt to answer this ques
tion positively, would be to provoke a far
reaching controversy. for there were a great
many organizations mustered in about the
same time We presume that the honor can
be fairly claimed for the District of Columbia
volunteers, who were mustered in as early as
the Sth day OF April, when it was finally de-
termined that the rebels would open fire on
Fort Sumter. Objections will be made to this
that they do not technically come nnder Lin
coins call Of April -, which formally opened
the war. This is Il question that the comrades
will have to fight ont among themselves"
Now, Mr.. Editor, what rot are you giving
your readers? Please tell me the name of one
organization that was mustered into the United
States service about the same time, other than
the five companies from Pennsylvania, to wit:
Washington Artillerists. National Light Infan-
try. Ringgold Light Artillery, Logan Guards,
and Allen Infantry, who were mustered into
the United States service at Harrisburg, Pa,
by Capt. s. q. Simmons o. S. A., April IS,
1861. You know the District of Columbia vol
untcers were never mustered into the United
States service; there was 10 authority to so
muster them. Mr.. Lincoln's proclamation
calling for $4,000 men was issued April Is,
1861, and specified the time (three months).
The first troops to respond and reach Washing
ton were the above-named five companies from
Pennsylvania, and recognized as The First
Defenders" Notwithstanding the fight made
against them by the 9th Mass. for that honor
Now, for Gods sake, put away your petty
jealousy and accord credit to whom credit is
due. i know it is pretty bitter pill for some
people to swallow to give Pennsylvania her
just reward in the late war; but her sacrifices
were too great to be cheated out of any Of her
glories.-SAM r. Russell, Philadelphia. Pa.
The comrade may perhaps have noticed that
we were not far out of the way in stating that
this was a mooted question, which should be
settled by the comrades themselves, as it would
lead to controversy. He has, without doubt
already read the communication by Comrade
WEIGH claiming the honor for Massachusetts,
and there any number of loyal States yet
to be heard from. You must settle this -ques
ton among yourselves comrades.-EDIToR
NATIONAL TRIgIvSE