Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-04-10
THE EVE Of CIVIL : STRIFE
ANNIVERSARY OF AN EXCITING DAY
IN WASHINGTON.
Muster-In of District Troops Thirty
Nine Years Ago for Defense
of Capital.

Thirty-nfne years ago-Wednesday, April
10, 1SG1-was a day Of intense excitement in
Washington, made so by the mastering into
the service of the United States of the
various companies of uniformed militia of
the District and the volunteers, and the
many stories, true and untrue, which were
afoat, together with the guarded action of
ohcers of the government. What 1t had
been feared for months would happen-the
outbreak OF war-was now near at hand,
the efforts of the peace congress and num-
bers of the public men OF the times to
avert it having proved to be futile.
Inc sentiment at the capital of the ma
ton, naturally, was not wholly one way.
Netghborhoods, and even households, were
divided. and to some the national colors
mad become d1stasteful and many were
wearing the insignia of their states From
charleston had come the news that Major
Anderson and his command in Charleston
naroor mad been shut IN and were then
threatened by batteries manned by state
troops. Wild rutnors were in circulation as
TO what was intended to be done by the
enemies of the Union
The Call for Troops.
In this condition of affairs. with but a
small body Of regular troops, some of whom
mad participated in the Inauguration of Mr..
I>incoln over a month before, to depend
upon, Mr.. Lincoln called for volunteers
from among the volunteer companies of the
District to protect the capital Gen Peter
i. Bacon. whose funeral took place today,
was then the br1gadier general Of the Dis
trict troops, and through him Col Charles
r. Stone. the inspector general, had notified
the companies to appear for inspection the
evening OF the 9th. Subsequently orders
we're given TO report the following day.
consequently the 10th of April was a busy
one, the various armories We're scenes of
activity, and while for political and family
reasons many declined to obey in the large
majority of the companies there was not
one who asked to be excused
Inc company drafted from the Light In
1antry: capt. Lem: Towers. and Company
handing. led the way to the War Depart
ment, and these We're quickly followed by
other companies. some in their eaRerness
gong up on doubie-quick, the Infantry,
National Guard, Washington Rifles, Com
panies and B. Darlington Home Guard
OF Georgetown. and Potomac Light Infan-
Try reporting in quick succession. Here
Major Mcdowell afterward general, in
spected the companies, and the oath was
admins tered by Gen. George H. Thomas,
then an officer OF militia and notary pub
lie in the department.
Arrival of Reinforcements.
Other troops. regulars and state, arriving
the muster of District troops closed later In
the month, and the forces organized were
at once put into service guarding the public
buildings. roads and wharves, and some of
them putting in the most of their time up
the Potomac. The term Of enlistment was
Tor ninety days, and the understanding was
that the service was to be in the District,
but 1t was construed that the purpose was
the protection of the District and but little
question was raised when the District line
was crossed in the up-riyer campaign.
In July following the companies were
mustered out, some having served a few
Gays over time and some being short Of the
term OF enlistment net through fault of
theirs but through the action OF the gov
erhnent In ordering them mustered out to-
Scther