Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1907-07-26
THE BOOMING CANNON
RECiTALS OF CAMP AND BAT.
TILE INCIDENTS.
Survivors of the Rebellion Relate
Many Amusing and Startling Incl
dents of Marches, Camp Life, ForaE-
ing Experiences aud Battle scenes.

Many Amusing and startling 1ncf-
dents of Marches, Camp Life, Forag-
ing Experiences aud Battle scenes.
of this be war may it end.'
This was he sentiment that was drunk
In more than one camp of the troops
first called in service during the war.
The camps of the battnlions of District
three months men in July, 1861, We're
nearly all along the banks of the Poto-
mac, extending as far as Seneca, and
as their term of enlistment was about
to close the Fourth Of July was cele-
brated with considerable eclat.' Taken
from their avocations in the profess
sional, mercantile and mechanical
branches, the duties of 4 soldier were
novel to them. and so agreeable was the
general experience of the men that the
sentiment above was the commo ex-
preston. They had not hen expert
enced much Of the hardship of war.
and few thinking the war would ex-
tend over many months were ready to
re-ehter the service when two full regi-
ments and several troops Of cavalry
represented the District. The popula-
ton of the District was not in 1851 IN
full accord on the questions Of the day,
and much concern was felt as to the
Inauguration Of President Lincoln, who
1t was freely predicted. would not be
permitted to be sworn In as President.
Indeed, open threats had been made
that he would never reach Washington.
Military companies were formed for
the express purpose Of seating the
President, and one Or two with the
avowed purpose of taking the part Of
the south.
1t needed no prophetic eye to see the
approach Of the conflict, and it was ap-
parent to all that to seat the President
a show of military force would he
necessary, and that arms should be in
the hands of loyal men. General Win
field Scott resided here, but the regu-
lar army, aggregating 10000 men, was
scattered far and wide over the coun-
try, the nearest stations being Fortress
Monroe, Va. and Fort McHenry, Balti-
more. The militia Of the District was
under Major General Weightnan, then
very old, and Brigadier General Peter
f. Bacon. Colonel Charles P. Stone of
General SCOTS staff vas made Inspect
or general of the District militia, and
he not only saw that the companies
were properly armed and equipped, but
that the men were loyal to the govern.
ment. Several States having seeded
and United States property having
been seized, the flames were famed
and public meetings in the interest OF
enlistments were held in different sec
tons of the District. General E. G
Darlington raised several companie.
for the Union regiment, and some OF
the cvolunteer fire companies, for the
time being, became military organ!za
lions. General Bacon's brigade of Dis
trict militia consequently embraced, or
March 4, over twenty companies. the
Washington Light Infantry, Nationa.
Guard, and Union regiment each hay
ing a battalion. General Scott had or
dered here for the Inauguration a de
tachment Of United States engineers, +.
troop OF cavalry, two light batteries o
the ARTILLERY and one or two foot bat
teries, who with a handful OF ordnance
men made up the army contingent. II
addition there were a few hundred ma
rines at the navy yard and barracks
These We're so disposed about the city
that the Inauguration was successfully
accomplished.
The signs of the times pointed t.
war, while many were hopeful fol
some honorable solution of ali difficult
ty. News was daily received Of the
seizure of some fort, arsenal OF public
| building in the south and Of warlike
| preparations in that section. The pro
lection Of the capital was determined
upon. On the night Of April 8, 1861
Colonel Stone visited the various ar.
mories and stated that the Presiden;
had asked or troops to defend The
capital and they would be mustered ir
the United States service on the fol
lowing day. Before 10 o'clock on the
next day several companies appeared
on the north front Of the department,
and the work Of muster commenced
Colonel Stone inspecting the compa
MES, Major Mcdowell being the mus
tering officer, and General G. c
Thomas, as notary public. administer
ing the oath. They were sworn for tn.
defense Of the District of Columbia
and it was explained that they would
not be called beyond 1t. But, as stated
above, when the time came they made
no objection to service beyond the Dis
tr1ct lines. Under Colonel Stone they
were organized into b~attalions and pu,
in service guarding the public build
ings, roads and bridges, aad that par,
OF the Baltimore and Ohio south of An
napolis Junction. Thus, when the
troops landed In Annapolis were repair.
Ing the Annapolis and Elkridge Rail.
road which had beer torn up, tina por
ton Of the Baltimore and Ohio souti
Of the junction was kept intact, ant
enabled the New York Seventh Regi
ment to reach the city on April 25 ant
others to follow. Some Of the friend.
Of the south had about this time plan
| ned to derail the first train with troops
aboard and fire into the wreck with al
| old cannon bHt some one told, anc
neither broken rails, wires nor old can
non interfered with the movement u
troops fran the junction.
Cne OF the companies was actually
in service some days before the muster