The Saint Paul globe., 1901-04-14
FORT SUMTER RECALLED
FIRST SHOT IN CIVIL WAR WAS
FIRED FORTY YEARS
AGO
TIME OF GREAT EXCITEMENT
Former Gov. aeRhmsey OFered
First Regiment of Troops
to secretary of
War.

Forty years ago last Friday Fort Sum-
ter was fired upon. So much has been
crowded into years that lie between that
April of long ago. and the April of to-
day, so much Is still crowding it is
doubtful If many paused to think-if in
deed they remember the date at all-of
the Importance Of the reckless bullet
that hurled itself defiantly against the
grim old fortress. And yet forty years
ago is not a long time measured by
years. But the age of a nation like the
age of an individual must be reckoned
by the amount lived, not by the number
of years that have passed over it's head,
and the United States has lived rap div
in the last forty years. That defiant
bullet was the gauge thrown down to
test the strength of a new nation. Tie
nation took up the gauge fearlessly A
contest was waged relentlessly for four
years, and the United States came forth
a victor.
There are few people now living in
st. Paul who distinctly remember the
consequences of that bullets impetuous
flight, the startling effect produced by
the hurting of a bali of lead against Fort
Sumter. Ex-Gov. Ramsey, who was at
thatt ime governor of Minnesota. and
who is the only surviving war governor
Of that period, was in Washington when
Fort Sumter was fired upon. The VEN
erable governor. in a chat with the
G o yesterday grew reminiscent over
that exciting time forty years ago ana
gave vivid picture Of the effect of the
news in Washington.
'I happened to be in Washington just
at that time, F" said the governor, "and
I very distinctly remember how sur
charged with excitement the very air
seemed to be justgafter the firing of that
shot. Before I left ST. Paul the people
were confident that trouble was coming
and companies were being drilled On
vacant grass plots, of which there were
many about st. Paul in those days. AL
ready enough companies for one regi-
ment had been organized and when the
news came that the fort had been fired
| upon I Immediately waited upon the sec
retary of war, zSifliom Cameron, and ten
dered him the service of Minnesota's
troops. Minnesota was thus the first
state to offer It's services to the nation,
for it just happened that I was the only
governor at that time in Washington.
AS soon as possible I returned to
Minnesota, and throughout my journey
which was a lengthy. one in those days
all the people we met were anxious to
know the news. What did congress ex-
pect to do? Woald ithe war last long?
Would many troops be called out? The
questions were wild ones, but what could
you expect? News travelled slowly lin
those days. Everything was dark un-
certain, mysterious.
I'm the West besides the anxiety of
the war, the people had another reason
for worry The Indians were being
stirred up by certain of their restless
brethren, who plansibly told them that
now, that the Great Father was at war
with his children in the South the West
erners were practically defenseless, and
it would be good chance to strike a
blow to clear their hunting grounds of
the hated, whites. Fortunately, there
was no uprising though many a night
the citizens were0 aroused by the en-
trance of terrified settlers on the out
skirts Of the out towns who declared
the redmen were rising.
EXCITING TIMES IN ST. PAUL.
'tAfter the declaration Of war by the
president, St. Paul began to seem like a
military post, Companies of soldiers
were constantly being drilled. The most
exciting time was during the departure
of the First Minnesota. St. Paul pre-
sented the regiment with a flag. My
wife, Mrs. Ramsey, made the presenta-
tion speech. Out at Fort Smelling all was
hustle and excitement There were many
affecting leave takings. Many of the
soldiers who left never came back, and
in the good-byes that were uttered some
presage of this seemed to fill the air with
sad ferebodings
The four yearStthat followed were eX-
citing ones. / remember in a journey
took from Washington to New York, we
could not go through by way of Balti-
more because that city was being bonn
barded. devious route was selected
and most Of the way I had for my fell
low traveller Gen. Scott met many of
the prominent men Of the war, both the
military and the administrative people.
II well recoIlect my first meeting with
l1aVo aOlr1 Inr1 %11%
fore the war, somewhere in the early
forties, when I was a member of the ma
tional legislature. 4 boarded on Capitol
hill, in Washington. The members of the
legislature did not live at hotels or In
apartment houses as they do now, but
went to ordinary boarding houses. Where
1 boarded there were twenty-five others,
and one night after supper there walked !
into the dining room tall, rather un-
calmly looking young fellow, who was
introduced as Abraham Lincoln. He was
then a member of the house of repre-
sentatives, representing a district in llli- |
nois. Even at that time was impressed
with the lack of assumption of the man.
Though he was a man who commanded
respect by a certain dignity of manner,
he was exceedingly democratic and was
pleasantly familiar with everybody he
met
'fWell, those days are far behind now
/ often wonder if the people Of ST. Paul.
the people Of the whole country for that
matter, realized the significance of that
shot fired at Fort Sumter. Had the
United States not been successful in that
conflict verify believe that instead of
one flag over us there would be almost
as many different kinds of flags as there |
are states
COOpers' Strike Is Compromised.