The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1905-10-12
EARLY DAYS
OF CAVALRY.

OF CAVALRY.
the following telegram was sent from
Washington TO Springfield:
Gov. Yates: In reply to yours of
the I'd, l am again obliged, at the So
licitation- of Gen. Scott, to decline ac-
ceptance of cavalry. Adjt-Gen. Thomas
is clear in his opinion that they cannot
be Of service adequate to the expense
incurred in accepting them tSiSned)
Simon Cameron, Secretary of War.
This did not daunt the plucky Illi-
noisanS. They simply renewed their ef-
forts. and on the 21st day of June, 1861.
the General Government decided to &C
cept one regiment OF cavalry from Hi
nois and it was at once mustered in,
and known as the 1St Regiment of Hi
noiS Volunteer Cavalry.
Need of Cavalry Around Washington.
About this time the Confederates in
Maryland were most active i'll their
demonstrations against Washington and
other points, and the feeling of SuS-
penSe throughout the North was in
tense All of the more popuious cities
were strenuous in their efforts 10 induce
the General Government to accept bod
les of cavalry recruited within their
borders. but the Government persisted
in refusing. \ remarkable document
now on file in the War Department
in May it became evident that d decided
movement on the part of those in SYM
pathy with the ConsoI--acy was about
to take place, and the center of this
activity appeared to be Annapolis. Posi-
tive orders were issued from Washing
ton, which We're repeated almost daily
to keep all roads open for military pur
poses. especially the road from An
napolis Junction To do this work some
cavalry was called for, and in response
to the requisition, Lieut.. Col. Schuyler
Hamilton, who was Gen. SCOTS Mill
tary Secretary, responded as follows:
MAY IL. 81.
cit has been represented that there
are Quartermasters' horses at Annapo-
lis, or others available for such services
(patrol is meanD, also saddles and
brides sufficient to mount so men; it
has been suggested that If so mounted
men could be posted at Millersville, half
way from Annapolis to Junction;
guard of infantry at Annapolis depot;
q guard at Beltsville, also of infantry,
you could be able, by causing mounted
patrols, say, of 10 men each, passing
from Millersville to Annapolis, and from
Millersville to Annapolis junction, to
secure the police of the road, especially
as ii has to be passed over by working
parties after each heavy train, to repair
breaks, etc.
Gen. Scott does not desire horses to
be purchased for this service, but If not
already at Anna polls, horses may be eX-
pected to arrive from day to day: or the
men attached to the 9Th and 8th n. Y.
Batteries might be detailed for this
service"
This extraordinary communication, at
time when each moment was tense
with expectancy, lest Washington should
be seized, is one of the most remarkable
documents associated with the early
of no hai no
q proposition to take both men and
horses away from their batteries. when
there was reason to believe that they
might be called into action at any mo-
ment, for the purpose of doing mounted
patrol duty. in order that the Govern
ment might save the cost of so horses.
Surely this evinceS a failure to grasp
the situation as it then existed; and it
was at this time that cavalry was being
urged upon the Government by the sew
eral States. some of the troops being
mounted and equipped at their own ex-
pense, 50 that the only cost to the Gov
eminent was the transportation of the
troops to the scene of military activity.
The Danger and the Need.
point is made clearly apparent by a
communication from Cen Butler to
Gen. Scott, dated May s, 1861. The
troops with Butler were then camping
not far from the residence of Gen. Car
roll, who was bitterly hostile to the
United States Government. 1t was he
who ordered out the militia to oppose
the passage of the United States troops
on their way from Baltimore to Wash
ington. Gen. Butler said in his COM
nunication: Two companies of cav
airy alone have responded to the call
(Carroll's) from this vicinity. They
were commanded by Capt. VIM H Dor
sey and Capt. George w. Gather, both
violent rebels. who have more than
once put themselves in hostile attitude
to the United States Government. They
have conducted themselves with great
violence, and in fact are now i'm arms
against the Nation, although nominally
holding commissions from the Governor
of Maryland"
These very troops, in connection with
Infantry raised thereabout, were to be
used in the assault upon Annapolis then
contemplated.
There was no lack of opportunity to
secure cavalry for the defense of Wash
ington and neighboring places. Among
other cavalry troops being pressed for
muster-in was an Independent company
recruited under Pennsylvania State
laws. and mustered in May Is, 1861,
for three months. 1t numbered - men
all told. They were known as the Nc
Mullen Rangers. and after muster were
sent to West Virginia, where they did
good service, the muster-out order stat
ing that they had performed their duty
with much credit, both officers and
men," This troop took part in the en-
eagement on July 2, 1861, at Martins
burg, with the Philadelphia City Troop,
both organizations being spoken of in
the highest terms by the commanding
officer.
From the headquarters of the troops
guarding the Potomac there were con-
tinual calls for cavalry to act as videts
and scouts Gen. Chas. T.. Stone who
then had command In and about Wash
fngton, endeavored to secure other cav
airy organizations. besides that already
mentioned under the command of Capt
Owen; but his appeals were in vain;
Owens company was required to per-
form patrol duty from the Point OF
Rocks to Alexandria, about 80 miles
including all that territory adjacent to
the Great Falls of the Potomac, al
which point repeated attempts to cross
the river We're made by the Confeder-
ates. They also patrOlled the neighbor.
hood Of Tennailytown. Rockville and
other places north of the City Of Wash
ington, and between there and the Re.
lay House.
The four companies of cavalry sta.
toned at Carlisle under Mai Thomas
had not yet been moved.