The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-10-14
\ CUnroUs STORY.

It is . queer story that a Boston his- torian claims to have dug up from the musty records of one of the most sx- citing periods of American history. In brief. the statement is that in the early days of the war between the States Secretary Seward. for the Lincoln ad- ministration. wrote or sent an appeal to Garibaldi to come over from Italy and take command of the Union ar mics. It was sort of Help me. Cas- sius or sink" appeal. judging from the tenor of the communication as given out.
 This is the purport of the story. whether there is any truth in it is an- other matter, but 1t Is not so very un- reasonable. We have not seen the date of the alleged appeal. but as 1t is said to have been made in the early period of the war we might safely assume that it was soon after the battle of Bull Run. As Is known to those posted
 
 was in condition of terrible excite ment and uneasiness at that critical time. In fact, it would hardly be too much to say that consternatfon was almost universal. The idea which had taken deep hold on the Northern mind that the Southern people would not or could not fight had received a shock that was almost paralyzing. The, South had shown in the most convinc- ing manner that her sons were not only ready and willing to- fight. but that they could fight with deadly ef- feet. The effect was to spread dismay and terror over the North. There was apprehension and loss of confidence in many instances amounting to despair. In fact. there were strong men in the North who were ready to abandon the conflict and let secession triumph. 4
 These were some of the conditions prevailing at the North in the summer of 1861. Added to all other causes of uneasiness was the fact that the Union armies at that time were almost or quite without any man looked on as competent to take command. General Scott. who was at the head of the ar my was old and unfitted for the great responsibility resting on him. Those who were best fitted to judge had awakened to the fact that the war was to be bitter and protracted one. and that the North had to. contend with foe not to be despised or discredited The best officers of the regular army had gone with the South and the gov ernment knew not where to turn for 8 man qualified to take command.
 All this was plain to President Lin coln and his advisers and they looked about them for way out of 1t. Gari- baldi had made a great reputation as leader. strategist and a fighter. It would not be without precedent to take him. During the great war of the Revolution some of the best officers un- der Washington were foreigners, ana why not have one to lead the Union forces? True, such q course would have been a reflection on the Ameri- can officers but saving the Union was paramount to all else in the estima- tion of the government. If a comman- der-in-chief from Italy could accom- plish the desired object why not get him?
 And so, viewing the times and the circumstances we need not feel very greatly surprised to learn that lne appeal to Garibaldi was actually made. Then we are led to speculate on the probable result if he had accepted. What might have been" is always an uncertain quantity in human problems. What has been may be known and what is now may be knowable. but what might have been Is speculative. Garibaldi was not a stranger, to the American people or to their manners, customs and capabilities, but as the commander of the American armies he would have found many and perplex- ing problems confronting him. He might have failed to get to Richmond at once. as some of the other comman- derse failed, and been discharged or su- perceded as they were, or he might have succeeded and thus have gotten ahead of those who finally carried the conflict to a successful termination. No one can tell. but 1t is a queer story.
 COTTON POSSIBILITIES.