Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1902-09-24
SAVED THE. CAPITAL.
Emergency Companies Organized on
: Spur, of Moment.
Their Services Recognized by secre-
tary of War and President
Lincoln nfede rates
Afraid of Them.
Especial WASHINGTON Letter.

~ Ills is the story OF TWO heroes.
They are almost the sole sur
- vivors of as brave a band as
! ever defended any lofty principle.
Their deeds have not yet been
blazoned upon shaft, architrave or
monument, but history shall not per-
NIT them to be forgotten.
Seeds of dissension had been sown
for many years. Ambitions of I'M
worthy men cultivated and developed
them. The qualification of treason
| marked the Inauguration Of Abraham
Lincoln. The national capital was a
hotbed of secession, The govern
ment itself was not loyal to the peo-
pie which sustained it. The execu-
tive departments were depleted by
the designations CT clerks who went
forth to aid those who would destroy
the government.
Lieut.. Gen. Scott, venerable and
feeble, was one of the few upon
whom President Lincoln could posi-
lively rely. The old general re-
ceived reliable informa ton about the
middle of April, 1861, that on ce,~
tain night an attack would be made
upon this city by confederates then
encamped at Alexandria, Va, only
five miles distant. The city was
practically defenseless. There was
battalion of men at the arsenal, but
their commander was suspected of
disloyalty, and Gen. Scott could not
trust him. Afterwards he demon
strated his loyalty. President Lin
coin was greatly disturbed, and Gen.
Scott could devise no defense until
soldiers from northern states might
arrive, and they were exceedingly
slow, their movements having been
delayed by reasonable articles.
Gen. Scott at last devised the plan
which saved the capital, and proba-
bly, prevented the immediate recog-
milton of the confederacy by foreign
governments. The old general sent
for Ward II. Lamon, formerly Lin
coins law partner, but then the new
ly appointed United States marshal
for the District of Columbia. He re-
quested Lamon to organize, arm and
equip a military force to be known
as the marshals guard, and to re-
port to army headquarters for or.
ders.
Marshal Lamon went to old Will
1ard's hotel, selected ten reliable
men, invited them into private
room where he unfolded the plan of
the lieutenant general, and they
heartily approved the plan. Each
one of them agreed to select ten
other reliable men and assemble at
the hotel at eight o'clock that night.
Lamon secured the keys to Willard
hall, an adjunct of the hotel, and at
eight o'clock 100 determined men
assembled. Lamon had made requi-
sition on the war department for
arms, ammunition and sabers. The
men were told the purpose of the
gathering, they accepted arms and
solemnly vowed to stand together
for the defense of Washington until
the long-expected troops should ar
rive. Lamon offered the command to
James W. Nye, who declined it, say
ing that Cassius NJ. Clay, of Ken
lucky, had just arrived, and that he
was a military man of experience.
Requesting the men to await his
return, Lamon went at once to Clay's
room, stated the object of his visit,
the capitals peril, SCOTS desire, and
then, without waiting to hear more,
Clay ran to his trunk, took from it
his old uniform, sword, hat and sash,
put off his travelling clothes, and
said: 81 came here ready for serv-
ice. This uniform 1 wore in the
Mexican war. This sword shall al
ways be found flashing beneath the
stars and stripes while live
They returned to the hall, where
Clay, in uniform, made a speech