Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1907-10-12

we are coming, Father Abraham,
three hundred thousand more" So ran
the song, and II has an inspiring ring in
1t even now. But when 1t was written,
in the anxious days of July, 1862, the
public situation was gloomy and full of
cause for alarm.
The ardor of the peoples first re-
Spouse to the need of the nation had
worn off. The grim realities of war
had become known to the people. There
was lull in the whirlwind of patriot
ism, but 1t proved TO be but the calm of
gathering strength and force.
President Lincoln made his call for
100000 volunteers on the 9Th Of July,
1862. For ten days the enlistmeuts fell
below expectation in all parts of the
country. But the people were only
thinking and planning.
Three hundred thousand men were
making up their minds to give up their
lives for their country. Tor although
every soldier has many chances of liv-
| ing through his term of service, he has
to look death in the face on the day
when he signs the enlistment roll--to
look, and say, well, I'll take my
chances."
July 10 ten members signed request
10 the president of the Chicago Board
of Trade asking him to call meeting
of the board TO pledge money and inhu-
ence to raise a battery to be known as
the Chicago Board of Trade battery
Although his name was not signed to
the call for the meeting, Sylyanus H.
Stevens was tie prime mover of the en-.
terprise, the man who originated the
idea of the Board OF Trade battery and
who circulated the call and made all
arrangements for the meeting.
He was the first to Sign the enlist
ment roll at the meeting held in the
board rooms, then on South Water
street, corner of Wells, now 9Th avenue
on July 81, 1862, $1,000 was pledged
and at the adjourned meeting on tn,
morning of the 23d, the muster rol
was increased to sixty-three names, an,
at 4 D. m. on that day the Vice presiden
Of the board and his committee tele
graphed the President that the Chicag,
Board of Trade had pledged $15,00'
bounty money and raised n full com
pany Of artillery. This fund soos
reached $4,000.
The whole country took fire ut the ex
ample Of commercial Chicago Recruit.
focked to the enlistment offices, ant
Lincolns 100000 were soon swinging
southwark armed and equipped for the
war Illinois alone sent 10000 troops
under this call.
The Board Of Trade battery got into
shape, drilled NTH horses for the frs
time Sept. 0, and moved south to Louis
Vile on the 10th.
Its first engagement was with de
tachment Of FORESTS cavalry. In 0cto
her. and then followed three years Of
| fighting in the Army OF the Cumber
| land.
The battery took part in many en-
gagements and fiercely fought battles
whose names are now famous-~St Stone
\ River. Elk River, Chickainauka, Farm
ington Dallas. Decatur, Atlanta. Love
joy, MONDAY Creek Nashville and Sci
ma IL participated in Wilson's raid
In the spring of 1865 ana came home
covered with glory at the end Of the
| war.
The total membership of the battery
counting recruits ana all was 24s
There are now living and known to the
| Chicago Board Of Trade Battery Me
mortal Association. sixty-fotU members
or these twenty-five were present at the
latest reunion IN Chicago Ada G.
Sweet, In Chicago Journal