THE STORY OF THK FIRST DEFENDERS. District of Columbia, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts. <« Written and Compiled by OMRADE GRANVILLE FERNALD. ILLUSTRATED. I HI.ISHKK, \ ) m E 501 .F36 Copy 1 THE STORY ()!•' Till. FIRST DEFENDERS. District of Columbia, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts. Written and Compiled by COMRADE GRANVILLE FERNALD. ILLUSTRATED. WASHINGTON, I'. C; Clarence B. Davis, Pi blisheb, 1892. j-|oU" \ • THE FIRST DHFHNDHRS. It is an ll old, old story," yet like the Story of the Redemption of Man, is ever and forever new. It is the story of a people enlightened by the lessons of history and devoted to the cultivation of science and the peaceful industries which rendered them superior to the conditions of the false nobility of the Old World, the sham chivalry of the New, and the forced servility of an}- class or race on the earth. Like the story of the minute-men of Concord and Lexing- ton, the ride of Paul Revere, and the uprising of the infant colonies to meet the attacks of the armies of Great Britain, which is rehearsed in prose and verse with grateful interest and renewed zest in these later years, so the wonderful story of the awaking of the giant to the insidious designs of a hateful element of our political society, the bursting of the bands of contentment and ease, the assertion of the right of free manhood and the leap to arms, the direful conflict, the repulse of liberty's foes, and the conquest of a great, brave people and their restoration to peace, progress, wealth and happiness yet moves the pulse of the patriot with growing intensity, and will fire the free hearts of Americans with zeal for liberty and with love for advancing manhood while the world endures. Pennsylvania and Massachusetts ! What pagans of praise have been sung to thy glory ! How have the historian and the poet immortalized the valor of thy sons and the devotedness of thy daughters ! Shall we ever forget — shall our country ever cease to remember, to its latest generation, the heroic service ye rendered her in the hour of trial and danger? Can the men and women, the boys and the girls of this or any succeeding age fail to value truly the blessing of a saved Union, erst in peril from treacherous foes in her own borders, saved to bless the very enemies of her existence, and to travel onward from glory to glory along the pathway of centuries of increasing Honor? 4 The First Defenders. DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. Who were the " First Defenders" of the National Capital in the great crisis of 1861, in response to the call of the President of the United States for 75,000 volunteer troops? This is a question that has caused not a little controversy, and in the process of making up the records of services ren- dered to the country by patriotic men in different states or sections it is certain that some of the most devoted men in the armed service of the nation, to the number of several thousand, have been ignored or forgotten, and the great obli- gations under which the nation was placed by their active efforts to save the Federal Capital from falling into the clutch of the conspiring hordes of traitors have certainly been lost sight of. There is a reasonable explanation for this fact, which is the occasion of a feeling that unintentional injustice has been done in some directions, and the present time seems opportune for the purpose of restoring to such as have not shared fully in the awards of praise, and the substantial tokens of popular appreciation properly belonging to the faithful servants of the nation, their rightful rank and position in the noble company who hold in so high esteem the title of "First Defenders." In the sudden and pressing mutations of plans and events at the first shock of armed and overt hostility to the govern- ment, a tragedy occurred which in importance at the time had the effect to obscure and overshadow all other movements in behalf of the Union, and to this time has held the mind of our people in emotion of reverential admiration of the heroism and fortitude displayed in one of the most critical periods of the Rebellion. I refer to the march of the Sixth Regiment of Massachusetts Volunteers through Baltimore on the 19th of April, 1861. Of this occurrence and the subsequent correspondence between the authorities of Massachusetts and the city of Baltimore, the touching request of Governor Andrew concern- ing sending home the remains of the martyred soldiers, and P* 4>. S3 MR. R. J. BEALL. Addenda to District of Columbia Sketch. General E. C. Carrington raised eight companies of volun- teers in December, i860, and January, i86i t all afterwards mustered into the United States service as District Columbia volunteers, and known as "Carrington Guards." These recruits and those of other District volunteer companies were almost exclusively residents and natives of Maryland, Virginia and District of Columbia, and constituted a force of 3,500 as staunch, incorruptible, alert friends of Abraham Lincoln and the Union as ever marched and fought under the Union flag. There is incontestable evidence existing in authentic documents and sworn statements that President Lincoln called for ten companies of District volunteers on April 9, 1 86 1, for immediate service as United States volunteers, and these and one company besides were mustered into service, commencing on April 10. Company A, Washington Light Infantry, commanded by Captain Lemuel Towers, was sworn in on that day, and on the nth was on guard at Long Bridge ; and on the night of the 12th the Washington Light Infantry guarded the treasury, state department -and the white house. From the 10th to the 18th, when the first troops arrived from the north, the District troops guarded the public departments and property and every thoroughfare of approach to the Capital by land or water. Among surviving members of District volunteer companies of 1861, to whom reference may be had, are : Captain O. E. Duffy, Captain H. M. Knight, Rev. John D. Bradburn, Charles Lemon, A. N. Thompson, George C. Harris, Thomas Lucas, J. Frank Lucas, M. J. Sauter, S. H. Moore, John T. May, George Seitz, Enoch Edmonston, John A. Anandale, E. W. Davis, M. B. Gorman, Josiah Gray, William H. Hines, Luther H. Posey, James H. Richards, Henry T. Wood and hundreds more still residing in Washington. The Fit st Dcfcndei r. S many othei thiiigs qj £ full reports are given in the first volume of the official records of the War, but as to the service ol any other troops or their armed con- tact with treason and violence of disunionists, at or before this occurrence, no word or reference is found. ( me object of this unpretentious effort is to present the real status of the patriotic associations who each and all are worthy of the unique name chosen to designate them as entitled to a special place in the regards of the nation. Immediately upon the election of Abraham Lincoln the arming and mustering of the militia of South Carolina com- menced, and was followed by similar demonstrations in other states. In no state of the South, however, existed a more dangerous conspiracy against the government than in the city of Washington and among the members of Congress from the southern states. General Winfield Scott, a patriot "with- out fear and without reproach," was well aware of the dis- loyalty that burned in many hearts hitherto trusted and honored. The soul of the grand old man was pierced with sorrow to feel that the flag he had defended and carried into the enemies country in former years was being insulted, ami in danger from traitorous hands. On the 31st of December, i860, the political situation had become so alarming that the Commander of the Army re- solved to take immediate steps to strengthen the armed force in the city for the purpose of sustaining the dignity of the government, preserving public order and protecting the sacred property of the nation. A few enlisted men of ordnance occupied the arsenal, a small force of marines guarded the navy yard and two men had the care of the Columbian Armory. On the evening of the last day of the year a serious con- ference upon the condition of affairs was held between General Scott and Colonel Charles I'. Stone of the regular army. The aged general expressed much solicitude concern- ing the want of military strength in the Capital. It was the opinion of Colonel Stone that two-thirds of the "fighting 6 V7/r First Defenders. stock ' ' of the District would stand for the defense of the government. He suggested the lack of stability of the gov- ernment, the apparent absence of any fixed policy, and that there was no rallying point for such as desired to be of ser- vice to assemble upon. As the conference was about to close, the General said to Colonel Stone: "You say these people have no rallying point. Make yourself that rallying point." On the following morning the President appointed Colonel Stone Colonel on the staff and Inspector-General of the Dis- trict of Columbia. Correspondence with a large number of leading citizens and personali nterviews with others resulted in the raising of many companies of volunteers, ioo men to each company. One of the first and most influential among the pioneer defenders of the Capital was General E. C. Carrington, who raised a company and commanded it through the three months emergency. This action was the first intimation to the people that a "mixture of force 11 was to take the place of the policy of conciliation pure and simple to that time prevailing. The response of the Union men of the District was prompt and mightily stimulated the hopes of the loyal men in Congress and the Union-loving people of the District. The new companies purchased their own uniforms, paid for their armories and rations, the government furnishing only arms, equipments and ammunition. By February 2 2d the volunteer force, consisting in part of the old companies of District militia, recruited to the max- imum number, had increased to twenty-two companies, and paraded through the public streets in honor of the day, giving a good impression of the resources for defense pos- sessed by the government. " It was this force," says Colonel Stone, "which on the 4th of March, 1861, together with a handful of regular troops which General Scott had been able to assemble (two batteries of artillery, one company engineers and about 200 cavalry), rendered practicable and safe the quiet inauguration of the constitutionally-elected President. The First Defenders. 7 U A battalian of District troops guarded, under Colonel Tate, the position where the President took the oath of office and made his inaugural address. District of Columbia volunteer cavalry guarded the carriage in which the two Presidents rode, while the engineer company ( I >uane) marched before the carriage and District volunteers behind it. GENERAL E. C. CARRINGTON. 11 District volunteer riflemen occupied the windows of the Capitol overlooking the ceremony of inauguration and also occupied the roofs of the houses along Pennsylvania avenue through which the procession passed. 11 During the month of March, [861, these volunteers were active in drilling and perfecting their discipline, and, although not yet mustered into the service, most of them held them- selves constantly ready for service in case of need. The case of need soon came. Before the firing of the first hostile shot against Fort Sumter the condition of affairs at the Capital rendered it necessary for the government to have troops for the protection of the public departments and the muster 8 T/ie First Defenders. in of four companies then eight companies and soon all the District volunteers. This muster in commenced on the ioth of April, 1 86 1. "Thirty-five companies, or 3,500 men were organized and mustered in from April ioth to 26th. They guarded the public buildings and property. The}-, at the same time, guarded the bridges and roads giving entrance to the city, holding a line of about 18 miles in length when Washington was cut off from communication with the rest of the country. They seized and guarded the supply of flour which made bread for the people of the District and for the earliest arrival of outside troops. They occupied the Baltimore and Ohio Rail- road between Washington and Annapolis Junction and thus opened the way for the arrival of friendly troops. The)' were the advance guard in the first movement into Virginia when Alexandria was captured. The}' captured the first uniformed prisoners taken from the enemy, and when the Capital of the country had been rendered fully secure by the arrival of masses of troops from man}- great states of the North and Eest, they marched up the line of the Potomac to Harper's Ferry to watch the Capital at a good distance from it, and, although the term of service for which some of them had enlisted expired while the}- were in the field and in face of the enemy, the}' remained without any question as to the time, although I did not insult them by so much as aking them if the)' were willing to stay. "I firmly believe the}' saved- the nation from the disgrace and calamity of an abandonment of the Capital by the con- stituted authorities of the time." The writer has read a diary of one of the officers of a company of District volunteers and it shows a record of con- stant duty for three months of service "all day," or "half day and night," at the Long Bridge, or Navy Yard, or Arsenal, or a trip with a guard of 40 or 50 men, to protect the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, to Annapolis Junction. It was during a turn of night duty at Long Bridge, Lieutenant Magruder being in command of a battery, while the rebel T//c First Defenders. 9 pickets were at the other end of the bridge, the Lieutenant requested Captain LoefRlei and Lieutenant Reese to accom- pany him to a point beyond the center of the bridge when, excusing himself for a few moments, he left his escort and going forward into the darkness deserted his command and was next heard from as a General commanding rebel troops down in Virginia. In concluding onr sketch of the service of the District vol- unteers it is but just that we make honorable mention of several well-known citizens of Washington who were fore- most in inciting the minds of union men to enlist. Mr. R. J. Beall, a comrade and Past Commander of Charles P. Stone, Post No. 1 1, Department of Potomac, and who has filled several honorable and responsible offices in the Department, was one of the very first to respond as a minute-man to the advertise- ment of General Carrington early in December, i860, to raise eight companies to sustain the union. His Company A was the first organized for that object. Captain William Nally's was the second company organized for the defense of the Union. Other companies were raised before the New Year, officers elected, and all under arms as minute-men. Wash. B. Williams, one of General Carrington's lieutenants, en- listed at the first and gave all his energy and influence to the work. PENNSYLVANIA. The people of Pennsylvania, like those of all free states of the North, were reluctant to believe that the political leaders of the South really intended to precipitate the country into a civil war. The menaces and taunts from that section of our people were regarded as so much froth and banter. When, therefore, months before the commencement of real warfare in April 1861, the military forces of South Carolina made imposing preparations to besiege and capture a starving gar- io The First Defenders. rison of about 60 United States soldiers in a government fortress, the public mind became prepared to realize the peril which overt secession was threatening to accomplish in widen- ing the black gulf yawning between the sections and force them to a general contest for supremacy and power. Says Lossing : " In Georgia, as in Virginia, and most of the other slave-labor states, there were 'Minute-men,' ' Vigilance Com- mittees,' ' Defense Committees,' 'Brotherhoods,' ' Knights of the Golden Circle,' 'Southern Rights' and other associations all working in the interest of the conspirators." A leading southern paper said : ' ' Wherever the minute-men have had an organization those counties have voted, by large majorities, for immediate secession." The annals of that period show that the mass of the southern people were forced into rebellion by "dragooning, bullying, threats, jeers and sneers." Said the same journal : "Besides, the towns and cities have been flooded with sensation dispatches and inflammatory rumors manufactured in Washington City for the especial occasion. ' 'There has never been as much lying and bullying practiced in the same length of time, since the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah. The fault has been at Washington City ; from that cess-pool have emanated all the abominations that ever cursed a free people." Washington City is described by a noted writer of that time as "the voltaic pile of active treason, to be found in the persons of the congregated con- spirators in Congress." A conspicuous incident which occurred the latter part of January, i860, illustrates the situation of affairs in Alabama and Louisiana. Secretary of the Treasury, General John A. Dix, had sent a special agent of the Treasury Department to secure from seizure by the rebels, the revenue cutters Lewis Cass at Mobile, and Robert Met lelland at New Orleans. The L ass was already in the possession of the authorities of Ala- bama. Hastening to New Orleans he found the McClelland^ and in a letter to the commanding officer, enclosing one from the Secretary of the Treasury, he directed him to proceed immediately to New York. The order was disobeved. The The First Defenders. i i fact was telegraphed to the Secretary, who was also informed that the Collector of the Port sustained the action of the rebel. The Secretary instantly, by telegraph, ordered the ar- rest of the rebel Captain of the McClelland in connection with which he uttered the famous command : u Ij any one attempts to haul down the American flag shoot him on the CAPTAIN JAMES M'KNIGHT. spot." The conspirators at New Orleans who controlled the telegraph did not allow this dispatch to pass. The revenue cutter fell into the hands of the insurgents, and within two days the National Mint and the Custom House, with a large quantity of of coin and bullion ($536,000), were seized by the state. News of this event and the order of General Dix went over the land like wildfire l>v telegraph and newspapers, thril- ling loyal hearts, and convincing the people generally that the time for temporizing with insane rebellion had, on the part of the government, forever passed by. While these events were transpiring in the extreme South, were the people of the North quiescent and deceived as to the 12 The First Defenders. probable result of such demonstrations ? Let us see. Twelve free states as early as January put themselves on record as re- pudiating the demands of secessionists, and all the others wheeled nobly into line when the guns of Sumter summoned them to the country's defense. Among the first of the loyal Governors to announce his hostilitv to secession was Andrew *t fe. CAPTAIN J. B. SELHEIMER. G. Curtin, of Pennsylvania. His inaugural address delivered on January 15, 1861, " resounded with the ring of the true metal of loyalty and positiveness of character which he dis- played throughout the war that ensued." He pledged "the faith and power of Pennsylvania " to help put down the insurrection, and counselled the strongest and most encour- aging measures of the legislature to give support and assur- ance to the general government, What were the militia of the state doing in the mean time ? The historian has tersely described the events of the time in various portions of the state, showing that the spirit of the fathers of '76 still ani- mated the souls of the children. The First Defenders, J 3 The Ringgold Artillery, of Reading, Pa., organized in 1850 by Captain James McKnight, was still under the command of that officer. It was equipped with four six-pounder brass field pieces and caissons, with full equipments of artillerists, including sabres, and mustered over two hundred men, well drilled — the pride of the city of Reading. It had partici- CAPTAIN EDMUND M'DONALD. pated in several volunteer encampments : one at Easton of a week's duration, where it was entertained by Kx-Governor Reeder and other leading citizens. Early in January Major- General William H. Keim had advised Captain McKnight that the services of his company would probably soon be needed and counselled him to hold them in readiness for immediate service. From that time forward frequent and almost daily drills were practiced An incident connected with the first call of President Lin- coln for troops to save the Capital from the secessionists is a Striking illustration of the military spirit tell by members of this company. On the day the dispatch announcing the at- 14 The First Defenders. tack on Fort Sumter was received by the Ringgold Artillery the company was drilling at a distance from the city. "The effect of the news was electrical. All were impatient for the call to move at once to the defense of the flag. ' ' The Logan Guards, of Lewistown, organized in 1858, com- manded by Captain John B. Selheimer, numbered but twenty- six men, but was meeting for parade and drill once a month and had since its organization participated in annual volun- teer encampments at Lewistown and Huntington, under the command of Major-General William H. Keim, also in the ceremonies incident to the inauguration of Governor Curtin, rn January, and in the reception of Mr. Lincoln, President- elect, on the 2 2d of February, on the memorable occasion of his journey to the National Capital. The National Light Infantry, of Pottsville, was one of the notable military companies of the state, and its organization dated back to 1831. It had been successively under the command of Captains Deane, Shoenfelter, Beard, Bland, Pott, and at the time of which we write was ably commanded by Captain Edmund McDonald. The Washington Artillery, of Pottsville, organized in July, 1845, under the command of Captain James Nagle, had an honorable record for distinguished service in the Mexican War under General Scott as Co. B, 1st Pennsylvania Volun- teers. It had always cherished the esprit rfu eorps and pride of its history, and studiously maintained its organization, being continually recruited from the vigorous young men of the locality. It formed a part of the military column which participated in the inauguration of Governor Curtin in January 1 86 1, under the command of Captain James Wren, who had been elected as successor to Captain Nagle in 1859. ^ * s de- serving of special note that in response to the patriotic address of the Governor the company tendered its services to the government through Governor Curtin, in case they should be needed. The events in Washington and in the South during the winter and spring of that year aroused the military ardor of The First Defenders. i5 Captain Wren and his spirited company to a high degree of anxiety and indignant expectation of the call to arms, which came on the evening of April 15th, the regular night for weekly drill. Immediate action was taken, and a formal tender of service was telegraphed to the Governor early the CAPTAIN JAMES WREN. next morning. At noon on the same day (April 1 6th) the Governor's acceptance was received, with orders to report at once at Harrisburg without arms or uniforms. ( obedience to this order compelled the company to leave in their armory, at Pottsville, ninety flint-lock muskets and an armament of six- pounder smooth-bore cannon and 103 U. S. regulation uni- forms, their only equipment for defense consisting of revolvers and sabres. On the morning of the [8th of April five com- panies rendezvoused at Harrisburg were hastily sworn into the service of the government and hurriedly took the cars via the 1 6 The First Defenders. Northern Central Railroad for Baltimore and Washington, under urgent orders from the Secretary of War, Honorable Simon Cameron, of Pennsylvania, who had promptly accepted their tender of service. This movement of five companies was in response to the President's call for 75,000 troops, and constituted the vanguard of sixteen full regiments, the quota assigned to Pennsylvania in the requistion on the Governor of the state. Two regiments were wanted within three days. The Allen Guard, of Allentown, one of the companies which joined the others at Harrisburg, was under command of Captain Thomas B. Yeager and mustered about fifty men. There have been, and are probably now, persons who in their "innocence" of any correct knowledge of the times of which we are writing — ignorance would perhaps be a better word — profess to believe that all this parade and hastening of armed men from the North to the Capital was unnecessary and uncalled for by any exigency of the time. A coincidence of events between the 15th and 19th of April will show the necessity apparent in the urgent requisition of the Secretary of War for this large bod}- of volunteer soldiers ; a number larger than had ever before been enrolled at any one time in any emergency of the government. On April 17th the Ordinance of Secession was passed by the state of Virginia. On the 18th General Talliaferro, com- mander of the forces in southeastern Virginia, arrived at Norfolk with his staff and at once took measures to seize the Navy Yard and ships of war, being joined by the naval offi- cers who had abandoned their flag. The workmen in the yard, corrupted by disloyal officers and citizens, abandoned their work, and a train of circumstances were set in motion that culminated on the 20th in the scuttling and burning of nearly even' vessel, the destruction of many of the cannon and a large portion of the public buildings and contents'at the station. This was determined and accomplished by order of the Secretary of the Navy to keep it from the possession of the rebels, and because the government had not a force sufficient to protect or defend it. The First Defenders. 17 On the same day a large body of Virginians at Winchester and Charleston, Virginia, under Colonel Allen and Captain Ashley, consisting of infantry, artillery and cavalry, marched on Harper's Fern for the purpose of seizure of the United States Arsenal and munitions of war at that place ; and it was reported at Willard's Hotel, in Washington, that, having CAPTAIN THOMAS B. YEAGER. effected the capture of the Arsenal, it was intended to take possession of the rolling stock of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad and at once, on that very evening, proceed rapidly to Washington, and, aided by secessionists in the city, capture the seat of government, the President and other officials in the city, and seize the public buildings and archives for the Confederate government. But the timely intervention of Lieutenant Roger Jones, of the l\ V S. army, commanding a detachment of sixty unmounted dragoons, in addition to a small number of other guards on duty at the Arsenal, balked the designs of the insurgents, as when a large force from Hall- town were within twenty minutes march of the place Lieu- 'it L I FLAG OF RINGGOLD ARTILLERY, 1861. The First Defenders, 19 tenant Jones ordered the buildings to be set on fire, and they with nearly 15,000 muskets were destroyed. Within fifteen minutes after the firing of the buildings and the escape of Lieutenant Jones and his men across the bridge into Maryland 900 Virginia Militia inarched into town and before the next day nearly 5,000 insurgents occupied the place. These are brief sketches of two important coincidences of the iSth of April, constituting a part of the program already matured for the capture of the Federal Capital by the secessionists of Virginia and Maryland. While Harper's Fern- was burning and the mob of Balti- more were obstructing the pathway of citizens through her midst, the rebel conspirators down South were violently rous- ing the passions of the people and inciting the cry : " On to Washington !" It resounded through all parts of the South and was re-echoed from mountain to plain by thousands who had been incited by lying pretences of leading traitors to arm themselves to strike at the heart of their mother, the government of the union of states. Our study of coincidences has led us away for a time from the theme of our " Story." We left five companies of Pennsylvania volunteer militia on board a train hastening towards an imperilled city. They were impatient of delay and rumors of danger and opposition to their progress caused apprehension and fear to possess some hearts. But the sturdy faith and the determination of the commanders of these companies to dare all perils for the sake of saving a country bore them up above the real belief of possibility of danger in passing through a city professedly peaceful and well disposed towards the friends of the govern- ment. The aggregate membership of the five companies was 530 men and officers. Of the progress of the troops towards Washington, and the passage of Baltimore, a very graphic account is given the writer by Major James Wren, of Boyer- town, wdio commanded the Washington Artillery. "When we were about 18 miles from Baltimore we were informed by telegram that a mob was formed in Baltimore 20 The First Defenders. to stop our passage through the city. The officers of the dif- ferent companies held a meeting in the train with Captain James NcKnight in the chair. It was resolved unanimously to "go through Baltimore to Washington, let the result be what it may." We thought if we stopped for reinforcements, it would make the passage through Baltimore more difficult NICK B1DDLE. and would be an acknowledgment of the rebel strength. It was also decided that we would not go to the regular depot at Baltimore to get off the train, but would get off at the upper end of the city, and we got off a little above the Bolton station. When the mob found we had got off at the Bolton station they came up the street like a lot of wild wolves. There were many desperate-looking characters among them, armed with clubs, stones and brick-bats, all yelling like Indians. They cheered for Jeff. Davis and the Southern Confederacy, and when they reached us there were about 2,500 of them in number. But to their suprise we formed in The Firs/ Defenders. 21 military column. The order 'forward, march,' was given, the police formed a line on each side of the troops. < Mi the march all kinds of insults were heaped upon us. Brick-bats and stones came from every direction, but the men had re- ceived instructions to make no signs. It was difficult to keep the men from using their pistols. On the march Cap- COLONEL O. C. BOSBYSHELL. tain Wren's servant, Nick Biddle, was hit on the head with a brick or stone and received a severe wound above the eye, which bled profusely. The mob raised the cry of "nigger in uniform !" and poor old Nick had to take it. His was the first blood shed in the war of 1861, saving that which was shed under Major Anderson at Fort Sumter. "We arrived in Washington about 7.30 i\ M. on the even- ing of April 18, 1861, and were received by Major McDowell in person and escorted to the capitol by order of the Secretary of War. The capitol was then lighted up and the rumor went out over the city that ' 15,000 troops had arrived from 22 The First Defenders. Pennsylvania and three more trains expected hourly. ' When the news reached the War Department, the Secretary of War, General Simon Cameron, visited us in the capitol that night and gave us a warm welcome to the city of Washington. He said : ' Of all the days of my life this is the happiest, to know that Pennsylvania troops are the first to reach the capital. ' ' ' Our first sabbath in the capitol we were visited by Presi- dent Lincoln and Secretary of State William H. Seward. " The company was formed in open order when the com- mander was introduced to the President and Secretary. The captain then introduced his company to the President who stepped to the front of the company ana* said : ' Officers and soldiers of the Washington Artillery, I did not come here to make a speech ; the time for speechmaking has gone by, the time for action is at hand. I came here to give you a warm welcome to the city of Washington, and to shake hands with every officer and soldier in your company providing you grant me that privilege.' He then commenced on the right of the company and shook hands with all. Secretary Seward was called on to speak, but declined on account of time, but followed the President and shook hands with every one." Colonel Oliver C. Bosbyshell, the present director of the United States Mint, at Philadelphia, was a private in the Washington Artillery during the three months campaign, and, re-enlisting in the 48th regiment, received successive pro- motions to the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel of his regiment. In the first session of the 37th Congress Honorable James H. Campbell, a member of the House of Representatives from Pennsylvania, on July 23, 1861, submitted the following resolution which was unanimously adopted, viz : Resolved, That the thanks of the House are due and are hereby tendered to the five hundred and thirty soldiers from Pennsylvania who passed through the mob at Baltimore and reached Washington on the 18th day of April last for a de- fense of the National Capital. The First Defenders. 23 MASSACHUSETTS. The first movement of Massachusetts towards a preparation for the crisis of war was initiated by Adjutant-General Schouler in December, i860. In his annual report to Governor N. P. Banks, suggesting that companies of militia should be re- cruited to the limit fixed by the law, one hundred men for the infantry. In the following January, Governor John A. Andrew, distinguished as the "war governor" of that state, issued an order which was to the effect that all officers and men who were not willing to hold themselves in readiness to respond immediately to any call which might be made upon them by the President should be at once discharged and their places filled by others. " Thus it was that Massa- chusetts for the second time in her history prepared her 'minute-men' to take the field at a minute's notice." The legislature followed the act of the Governor with an appro- priation of $25, 000 for "overcoats, blankets, knapsacks, 200,- 000 ball cartridges, etc., for two thousand troops." The tocsin of war sounded on April 15th, which was obeyed by the Governor ordering the 3d, 4th, 6th and 8th regiments of infantry to assemble on Boston Common forthwith. This was a severe test of the courage and patriotism of some of the worthy militiamen of the Bay state. Their almost unanimous obedience to the call and their painful sacrifices tell how nobly they manifested their faith and devotion to the cause of the country they were pledged to defend. The first regiment to attest its sincerity with its blood was the Sixth Regiment of Volunteers, Colonel Edward F. Jones, commander. At a meeting called at the suggestion of Maj.- Gen. B. F. Butler, of the officers of the regiment, held at the American House, Lowell, January 21, 1861, a resolution pledging the services of the regiment to the government was unanimously passed. This was one of the first acts of the volunteer militia of the countrv offering its services to the ,3,:" Y ° F CONGRESS 001 361 544 5 ^ 24 The First Defenders. general government. The response to the call is described thus graphically by the historian of the regiment : ' ' When at length the call came telegrams and expresses flew to all parts of the command notifying the members of the regiment, some of the officers — Colonel Jones among them — riding all night on their patriotic errands. The ' Middlesex villages and farms ' then heard the pounding of hoofs and the alarm cry of danger, as in olden time they had listened to the midnight ride of Paul Revere." The regiment was scattered through the counties of Middle- sex, Essex, Suffolk and Worcester, and in more than thirty towns. The call had reached them on the 15th and early on the morning of the 16th the bulk of the members had assembled. The rest reported at the place of rendezvous within a few hours. The city of Lawrence appropriated $5,000 for the assistance of the members of its two companies and the comfort of their families. The regiment left Boston on the evening of April 17th. From. New York at noon of the 18th, in the midst of a popu- lar ovation, the}' took the train for Washington. From Philadelphia at r o'clock A. M. of the 19th, the Sixth, after a brief rest took the train for Washington, to plunge in a few hours into a seething vortex of raging madness ; a mob meeting them with hands nerved by savage hatred, killing and maiming a large number of its comrades. The story has been many times and often told by eloquent pens. The de- tails of the march through Baltimore have become too famil- iar to the reader to need repetition at this time. Four youth- ful soldiers were slain and thirty-six wounded in Baltimore streets. But their blood has been avenged, and as we cele- brate the anniversary of the birth of the Grand Army of the Republic, we greet with feelings of the deepest regard the living remnant of the historic phalanx of First Defenders who came from Massachusetts and Pennsylvania in 1861 to hold up the hands of their loyal brothers in the District of Columbia, all together standing for one Country and one Flag. Washington, D. C, September 20, 1892. •r a ■ss