The National tribune., 1903-12-03
CHAPTER 1.

CHAPTER 1.
: Nearly four months had passed since
the Declaration of War, when the military
company which furnishes the incidents for
this story was organized. On April 10,
1861, President Lincoln called for 15,O0c
volunteers to serve for three months The
number required frem the. State Of Ohio
was little more than 1900, but nearly
twice that number were enlisted and Or
ganized for field service The most OF
them experienced active service in East
ern campaigns. 1t was soon discovered
that an army for superior, both in strength
and length of service. would be required
TO successfully cope with the ehemy that
threatened the destruction of the Union.
Hence, on May 3. the President made the
- second call, which in total was for 5OO.-
coo volunteers, to serve an enlistment of
three years, or during the war. In this
Z call the Quoto designated for Ohio was
! $1,000.
2-;sr This call, from the strength designated
and length of service required, awakened
intense anxiety and war excitement
through the whole North 1t opened the
way for many to show the character of
their patriotism who hitherto had been
deprived of that qualification in cOnSe-
Quence of the limited number required in
the first call. With the exception of the
anti-warites, few of whom were found
i'll a1InOSt every nelRHDOTHUOu. Tue pfcNdH-
Ing sentiment throughout the North was
= OF. intense loyalty, patriotism and devotion
to the Union. Everything said, or seemed
to say. or to want to say:
TAKE YOUR GUN AND GO. JOHN"
-. Fathers and mothers said, "Go!' Sisters
and brothers said Cor Friends and
: neighbOrs said CO.. Sweethearts said
Co. and the fellow that did not go. and
H0uld NOT furnish a pOod rea son for STAY
. ing at home, would be very likely to soon
find that his favorite girl was watching
the post Office and longing for Il letter
from some one that had gone at his coun-
try's call.
1 feel sure that would be safe in say
Ing this one influence was an incentive
for far more enlistments than would be
credited. Not only did sweethearts do good
service as recruiting agencies. but when
the boys were in front nothing did more
to dispel the rigors of camp life, or to
make the dangers of war less dreadful.
or the hardships of campaigns more easily
endured than did the letters that were re-
ceved from the thousands of kind girls
left behind
It will be readily recalled by all who
had at that time attained an age to re-
member that in less than 30 days after
the first call had been made every village.
city. hamlet, and crossroad town gave un-
mistakabie evidence of war fever of an
epidemic type. The voice for war was
heard from the church. the school house,
, the street corners. the groves and hill
sides throughout the country. Military
camps, for drill and discipline, sprung mp
through the State.
I'VE rallied from the hill side,
= We rallied from the plain.
Shouting the battle cry of freedom"
SHORT WAR EXPECTED.
- Notwithstanding the Government had
called half million men to arms. it was
generally believed that the war would be
brief and that its termination would pre-
serve the Union. The superiority of the
North In the forthcoming conflict was so
certain in the North. that many foolish
and ridiculous remarks Became common
expressions in the current war talk of the
day. This war will only be breakfast
spell;" The Southern people don't know
how to fight" J" "One Yankee can whip two
rebels;' Il could take a brigade of women
down there and clean out the whole Con-
federacyr'
On the other hand, the South was as
intense and as confident, holding the men
of the North as only ''mudsills," incapable
Of war: believing most confidently that
one Southern soldier surpassed in war
strength five Yankees.
We went: we suffered; we conquered.
But we did not conquer until 2.500,000
men had been called to arms, and 100000
Of that number had given up their lives
The first battle of the war vas fought
at Big Bethel, Va, June TO- which re-
suited in Union defeat. Then came the
great disaster at Bull Run, followed by a
similar Northern defeat at Wilson Creek,
Mo-, early in the month of August Each
brought in its turn a new wave of in
creased war excitement, and developed
more and more interest in behalf of the
Union.
NORTH UNPREPARED.
Although the call for 100000 was made
May 3, it was not until the beginning of
1867 that the troops were ready for field
service: Perhaps the principal cause for
the delay was shortage OF arms and
army supplies. There was no lack of
men willing to enlist, and, in fact their
eagerness did much to impede progress.
The manner In which recruiting was
done in the beginning of the war will ex-
plain why regiments were not more readily
organized. In every locality some one
either is, or thinks he is, the only one
qualified TO become q commissioned officer
in the company that is TO be recruited in
his neighborhood. He is a man that is
well known. perhaps a doctor, perhaps
preacher, or a school teacher, or a store
keeper. perhaps Justice of the Town
ship Court, or perhaps good fellow.
1t was no detriment to be rich mans
son in this case; but almost anyone who
felt that he had sufficient prestige in his
community TO raise n company, could do
so if he made a plucky effort War pluck
or military qualifications We're unimpor-
tant until later on.
RECRUITS RALLY.
When notice was given that a recruiting
rally would take place at some stated
place men and boys by the hundreds
would rally from radius of miles. with
: their ideal leaders from perhaps half
dozen separate neighborhoods, all full to
the brim with loyalty, with patriotic
hearts that beat in rythmic accent TO the
music of the fife and drum.
The recruiting roll was ready and the
names Of volunteers were written in rapid
succession, of far to exceed the required
number.
While the roster was being filled. the
ffers aud drummers discoursed fayorite
and marital airs. such as my Daddy and
Nanny were Irish,' "Jaybird. Jaybird )"
or "Bonyparte's Retreat from Moscow,
Missouri"
Some one chosen as the speaker and
generally it was the aspirant for corn
mand, engaged in oratory TO entertain the
crowd with Fourth of July, spread-ea gle
speech, impressing upon all their duty Ia
serve the country, and he, for one. wa 6
willing to serve his country at the head of
company or as private in the rear
rank.
Following this came the vlva ri -coro 4