The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1903-03-05

| Regiment of State Militia arrived in
Washington on April 10. after hard fight
ing in the streets of Baltimore, and was
quartered in the Capitol
Finally, on April D. the famous 18th
| Regiment of New York reached the Cant
tai and the blockade was broken. Con
corning this regiment it may be added
that on April 10. the Presidents call for
io,oO0 men had been issued and two days
later this unrivaled body of citizen-sol-
dlery marched down Broadway on their
way to Washington. On arriving at Phil
adeiphla they learned of the attempt to
prevent the passage of the 9th Mass.
through the City of Baltimore and ac-
cordiEgly chartered steamer for AMMAN
oils. from where. they reconstructed the
railroad track TO Annapolis Junction and
soon reached Washington, where the COM
panIes were quickly formed and the col
umn marched lin correct 7th Regiment
style up pennsylvania avenue to the Pres
idents Mansion, where they gave a march
salute to the President"
1t must not be forgotten. however that
The mnster-in Of the District volunteers
was begun on April 10. in the inclosed
space on the north side of the War Office
and thus it was that the first citizen troops
called into the service Of the United States
10 oppose secession were those of the
District of Columbia,
From day to day regiments of yo!un-
teers came from the North and from the
Northwest to Washington. until it was
soon strong enough to resist the attack
of any force its enemies cOuId send
against it.
Capt. Thomas NJ Woodruff, who was
IN Washington at that time, has described
SOME OF THESE REGIMENTS.
as follows:
Il remember the list X. l., under COM
mand of Gen. Burnside, which was quart
cred at the Patent Office, and we soon
found that it was largely composed of col
lese students, who often came around to
our house and sang their college songs
and several times brought their regimental
band to serenade the young ladies' in the
neighborhOod. The I'd Il. l., with light
battery attached. soon afterward came,
ana Gov. Sprague accompanied these for
the purpose Of commanding all the troops
from his State. These regiments were
well drilled, and had dress parades at the
Patent Office. They wore the service
blue. and two companies of the LIST Regi-
ment were armed with a Unloading
carbine. Later they were moved out to
the northeastern limits Of the city and
encamped in a beautiful grove called
Gales's Woods, where their tents were nut
up on frames with wooden sides and doors.
The 9TH n. Y. (which was originally quar-
tered at the Capitol also had beautiful
camp out north of the city at the old Stone
estate on Columbia flights, the mansion
Of which is now known as the home of the
late illustriOus Gen. John a. Logan and
still occupied by his widow. The list
\. Y. Light Infantry was likewise
fine regiment, and uniformed much in the
same style as the It'll, in cadet gray 1t
is said that these two regiments and the
1st X. /. came back after their 80 days
service in great part as officers of other
organizations. The 18th n. Y, under
Gen. Butterfeld, arrived without any uni
forms and looked very shabby with their
equipments buckled over their varicoIored
citizens clothes. They were put into camp
in the central part of the city at Frank
lin Park. They shortly obtained the ser
vice uniform, and in few weeks were
called Butterfelds Regulars: their man
ual of arms was faEltless, and they de-
veloped into one of the finest regiments in
the city. Another handsome regiment was
Elisworth's Fire Zouaves Q1th n. ".
They were quartered in the Capitol; they
marched and drilled well, but were rest
less and somewhat unruly. On the occa-
sion of fire in the Owen House, next to
Wizards Hotel, they broke out and ran
pell-mell to the fire, where they worked
like salamanders. running in and out of
the names, bringing Oat all kinds of fur
niture and utensils. There were three reg
iments whose uniforms were particularly
handsome and gay-the Both, Goth, and
18th n. Y. The first was the GaribaIdi
Guards. uniformed as is the Italian light
infantry or Bersaglieri of the present
time-a very dark greenish blue cloth,
with fat-brimmed round-tOp hat set off
with cocks feathers. The Goth was the
Irish regiment, commanded by the gal
liant COrcOran, who was wounded at Bull
Run. They have kept up their Organiza-
ton and wear the same uniform as then
worn-coats rather conspicuOusly set off
with crimson and green; they carry a
green flag with the harp of Erin embroid-
cred thereon. The 10Th was the Highland
regiment, commanded by Col. Cameron. a
brother of Simon Cameron, then Secretary
of War, who was killed at Bull Run.
They were very snowy in their kits, and
were fairly drilled. l remember some
regiments from Wisconsin and from Min.
nesota, the gallant historic LIST, two from
Connecticut, and some from other New
England States, that came about this time,
fully armed and splendidly equipped,
some Of the latter bringing full regimentai
wagon trains. Many Of these regiments
wore most serviceable gray uniform,
which, however, was subsequently put
aside for the National blue. These or
CARNATIONS were composed Of fine mate
rial-hands0me, stalwart, intelligent men,
who couM turn their minds and hands to
any occupation, and who few weeks af-
terward surrounded the city with COM
plete Gordon Of field Notifications"