The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1911-04-21
MANkATo RESPONDED WELLTo
FIRST CALL FOR TROOPS.
List of Brave Men Who Made Up
Original Number That Entered
Second Regiment.
From Mondays Daily.

y.
Those were times that tried mems
souls.
Wars horrid front was stalking
abroad, and President Lincoln is
sued call for $4,000 volunteers
men in plenty, he thought, to sup
press the rebellion that had mani
tested itself in the south. AS all
know, several times seventy-five
thousand men were necessary to
put down the lOng-drawn out and
bloody contest
Fifty years ago Mankato was but
a hamlet, but she contributed her
quota of brave men who assisted i'm
quelling the disturbance. Patriotism
permeated the village. Everybody,
with the exception of very few
"copperheads," was for the Union
and readily announced their willing
ness to march on to the front. One
or two men in the then small com
munity made themselves obnoxious
by declaring themselves in favor of
secession, but lid was soon put on
their lips. The patriotism that filled
the hearts of men in those days
would not stand for talk in favor
of disunion.
First Company Organized.
Immediately after President Lin
coin had called for volunteers, there
came a response from Mankato. A
massmeeting was held in the James
Shoemaker hall and the work of re
cruiting was begun. M. Hanna, now
quartermaster of Wilkin post, was
among the first to enroll his name
among the defenders of the nation.
Mr. Hanna, while in reminiscent
mood today, told The Free Press
that if his memory was not off the
track, James Cannon presided over
the meeting held in the Shoemaker
hall. Mr.. Cannon was an enthusiast
tic Union man and was instrument
tai in getting organized the first
company that went from Mankato
to join the army of the north. Il
cannot recall the date of that first
meeting said Mr.. Hanna, "but
am sure it was very soon after the
president issued his first call for
troops, and Governor Ramsey had
offered regiment of Minnesotans
to the defense of the government The
roll was signed rapidly, but fourteen
Of those who had attached their sigma
lures, could not stand the delay that
prevented us from at once moving
to the front, SO off they went to
st. Paul and enlisted in the First
regiment Among the fourteen were
James Cannon and w. II. H. Doc
ley"
Company n. Second Regiment.
The first and original company of
volunteers to be made up of Man
kato men was known as Company
II, and it was part of the Second
regiment. 81 think the company de-
parted on July 4, 1861, for Fort
Smelling. We were mustered into
the service on July Is of that year
but we did not leave the fort until
October ID, 1861, when we were
ordered to Washington. However, we
did not reach Washington until four
years later. We were sent to Lee
banon, Kentucky, and later engaged
in battles until the close of the war
Henry S. Hilton and myself went
into the war together and came out
together. We were mates all through
was young man then and could
stand most any kind of hardship.
When the company left Mankato for
Fort Smelling the men presented
motley appearance. A few were
dressed in store clothes, others wore
overalls and bluejeans, minus coats,
and others were barefooted. There
was variety of headgear, straw
hats, caps and 'skypieces' that in
this present day would make one
think of the days of antiquity. But
appearances went for naught. The
men were bent on taking a part in
putting down the rebellion.
The Company Officers.
Captain Dickerson did not re-
main with the company all through
the war. He was a very fieshy man
and was untitled for the severe ser
vice that war entails. After Cap
tain Dickerson came Captain Beatty
and then Captain Holmes. All were
brave soldiers and competent Off
GERS
81 am not so old but what /
would rather enjoy brush with the
Mexicans," remarked Mr.. Hanna,
with smile.
Both Captains Beatty and Holmes
are residents of Mankato, having
returned to this city at the conclu
sion of the war. A number of the
members of the original company
arc living in either Blue Earth or
Nicollet counties. Others have moved
away, and their comrades here have
lost all trace of them.
1t was fifty years ago last Satur-
day that Governor Ramsey, while in
Washington, rendered 1000 men from
Minnesota to aid in the suppression
of the rebellion. The call for the
$4,000 men was made public April
Is, 1861.
.