Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1911-06-06

FlIly years ago lOudy there was a.
washington. quartered in the patent Of
fee building, a regiment of Rhode Island
infantry, commanded by Col. Ambrose e
Burnside With them was William
Sprague, governor of the state.
No better evidence of the spirit Of
the north in the early days of the war
is to be found than in the action Of the
state of Rhode Island and its governor.
In both some degree of .lukewarmness to
the cause of the union might have been
looked for, yet nowhere was there more
complete and effective patriotism or a
more prompt response to Lincoln's call
The state of Rhode Island had had a
more intimate relation with the south
than most of the northern states At
Newport had been the summer homes of
the wealthy families OF Charleston and
Savannah, and Rhode Islands great
cotton industry had brought its manu-
facturers into close relations with the
southern planters and factors.
Chief among those manufacturers was
William Sprague, the young governor
of the state. who, though but 80 years
old, was the active head of the house of
A. & w. Sprague, with its nine mills,
the richest and most powerful firm in
the state.
Governor Sprague had first been elected
in 1850 by the combined votes of Demo-
Gratis and Republican "bolters," who
thought the regular Republican nominee
too radical, and again in 1861 it was
the Democratic vote which made him
governor.
Thus, although he called himself
Republican, no such course of conduct
had been expected from him as from
John A. Andrew, the radical governor
of neighboring Massachusetts. Elected
by conservatives, by a peace party. a
conservative and peace-loving policy
might be looked for.
SPRAGUE AND BUCHANAN.
Yet no northern state executive, not
even Andrew himself, had more quickly
declared for unfolding the union by
force of arms or had more fully pre-
pared to meet war when it should come
than this same young Governor Sprague.
As early as January, when it became
rumored that the secessionists were
planning to seize Washington, he had
offered the forces of Rhode Island to
the government for the defense of the
capital
The people of Rhode Island" wrote
his secretary of state to Secretary Holt,
ARE anxious to do their utmost to as
sist the government in its execution of
the laws, and this government will re-
ceive with much satisfaction the wishes
of the war department in view of any
assistance Rhode Island can give in this
matter"
Sprague himself wrote in like vein to
President Buchanan and late sent a
member of his military staff to Wash
ington to see General Scott and put the
state troops at his disposal Ito aid in
-
Although his offers were not then
accepted, and the temporary crises
passed, the governor determined TO
maintain his policy of preparedness and
Instructed the officers of all the active
militia companies in the state to keep
up drill and be ready at minutes
notice.
READY FOR WAR.
Lincoln was inaugurated. March
passed and April came, every day
seeming to bring nearer the beginning
of the hostilities that Governor Sprague
considered inevitable.
April IL, the day before Sumter was
fired on. he wrote to- President Lincoln
renewing mis- previous offer of troops.
Il should not now be correctly repre-
senting the public sentiment Of the
people of this state" he wrote, did 1
not assure you of their loyalty to the
government of the union and of their
anxiety to do their utmost to mann
tain it.
81 have just returned from New York,
where had an Interview with Governor
Curtin Of Pennsylvania and now take
pleasure in saying that we have a bat
terry Of light artillery, six pieces, with
horses and men complete, and a force
of 900 infantry. completely disciplined
and equippeun unequaled, or at any rate
not surpassed, by a similar number In
any country, who would respond at
short notice to the call of the govern
ment for the defense of the capital"
Four days later Lincoln Issued his cali
for troops. Rhode Islands quota being
set at one regiment.
Immediately upon receipt of the call
the governor issued general orders No.
/. calling on the various militia COM
panies Of the state to, assemble at head
quarters in Providence the next day
ready to proceed TO Washington.
The command Of the regiment he Of
fered 10 Ambrose e. Burnside, treas
urer of the Illinois Central railroad.
then in New York, a former officer in