The National tribune., 1906-01-18

President Lincolns proclamation call
ing for the services of $1,000 volunteers
for the term Of three months to recover
and protect the property Of the Govern
ment, already seized, or I'm danger OF
seizure. by the rebel forces, immediate.
ly followed the fall Of Fort Sumter. The
quota Of troops from Ohio under this
call was 1900, and the Governor made
his call upon the State accordingly. In
the meantime offers Of services were
being rendered the Governor from every
conceivable source. Ambitious aspfr-
ants for military renown and useful
ness offered their services in the ca
pacity Of Brigadier-General and Major
General. At that time the positions OF
Northumberland and General were
unknown, or had been forgotten by
these aspirants, else these would have
been claimed also. Added to such
claims was generally the assurance that
they also possessed the ability and in
f1uence to raise the whole quota OF
troops as the law provided for. Others
Of a less demonstrative disposition made
a tender Of their individual services for
the suppression Of the great rebellion
leaving position and promotion to fu-
turity.
These incidents of that great uprising
are merely mentioned as the eccentrici-
ties and oddities Of individuals. More
sober and serious thoughts, more prac-
tical and unselfsh purposes, pervaded
the masses, and rapidly these responses
by the loyal people assumed shape and
began to be felt throughout the entire
North.
Companies were determined upon as
the unit Of organization, and in this
form only would volunteers be received
by the State authorities. No call or
preparation was made at that time for
either cavalry or artillery, as infantry
was deemed more available for the short
term Of three months, that being the
time for which such troops woud be
accepted by the United States. Every
where throughout the North, in village
town and city, the organization Of vol
unteer infantry companies was COM
menced. The form was short and SIM
pie. Volunteers signed their names to
certain written articles, and when go
signers were obtained the members met
at some convenient hall and elected
the most enthusiastic and martial of
their number Captain, and then by the
same procedure selected the subordi-
mates. This ceremony completed the
organization upon their part, which was
duly so declared, and then through
the Captain tender OF their services
was made to the Governor, and they
awaited orders from the State authori-
ties.
OF course, there was great strife
among companies to be among the first
organized, as 1t was already evident
that under the call OF 1900 from this
State there would be many more COM
panies offered than could be accepted,
and volunteers were fearful that If they
could not be in the command that was
soon ready (without arms or uniforms)
to move by rail for the defense of our
National Capital, why, the grandest hol-
iday excursion Of the age was gone and
gone forever. 1t was presumed that
the rule would be observed, in accepting
companies, first come, first served. So
all were stimulated to action.
A Satisfied Retrospect.
With satisfaction and interest we can
look back TO those first preparations for
the war, to those first efforts for the
maintenance of this Union, to those
voluntary offerings, not Of good will, of
sympathy or of money. but of self, as
this was what that crisis called for.
First the public meeting, the official
announcement by the presiding officer
that Fort Sumter had been fired upon