Kennebec Courier
VOL. V – No. 226 SATURDAY, APRIL 27, 1861 PRICE FIVE CENTS
====================================================================================
Lincoln Calls for 75,000 Troops
WAR is declared. President Lincoln's proclamation is an absolute proclamation of war against the Gulf States. The die is now cast, and men must take their sides, and hold to them. No one who knows any thing of the Southern people supposes for a moment that, having gone so far as to bombard a United States fort and capture it, they will now succumb without a fight. No one who has seen the recent manifestations of popular sentiment in the North can doubt that the Northern blood is up, and that they will listen no more to talk of compromise, truce, or treaty, until they are fairly beaten.
Let us then forbear puling, and look the situation in the face. There are some among us still who whine about the evils of civil war. These are they who, with a burglar in their house, his hand on the throat of their wife or daughter, would quote texts on the loveliness of Christian forbearance and charity. Nobody —outside of lunatic asylums—doubts that civil war is an enormous calamity. On this point all are agreed. But as it has actually begun, and exists, what is the use of deprecating it? What should we think of a doctor who, summoned to visit a half dying patient, should wring his hands hopelessly and bewail the malignancy of disease?
The United States Government has called into the field 75,000 militiamen, who, added to the regular force, will swell the effective army to nearly 90,000 men. It is understood that further calls are to be made upon the States, to the extent of 200,000 more. The plan, as understood by military officers, is to form three camps: one at the Federal capital, consisting of 50,000 men, who will constitute an army of observation on the Border States, and will be commanded by Lieutenant-General Scott in person; another of 75,000 men, which will be located in the vicinity of Cincinnati, with a view to an ultimate movement down the Mississippi; and a third, of over 100,000 men, which will be situated in the suburbs of New York. Rumor asserts that General Wool will command the New York army and General Sumner the army on the Mississippi; but of these matters of course nothing is known. In the mean time, the navy will be occupied in closing the ports of the seceded States. It seems to be expected that by August next there will not be a port in South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, and Texas, which will not be hermetically sealed by United States ships of war.
This is the Government programme. On the other hand, the Seceders are gathering soldiers vigorously on their side. It is stated that at the siege of Sumter over 7000 men were engaged, and that, simultaneously, 5000 were on duty opposite Fort Pickens. Letters from Montgomery say that 32,000 additional men are being mustered for an attack on Washington. As the population of the eight seceded States, exclusive of Negroes, is over 2,000,000, it should be possible for Mr. Davis to collect 100,000 able-bodied troops on one point. With such a force, secretly if not openly favored by the Border States, a very formidable movement might be made on Washington.
A Declaration to Fight For National UNION !
By the President of the United States:
A PROCLAMATION
Whereas, the laws of the United States have been for some time past and now are opposed, and the execution thereof obstructed, in the States of South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Florida, Mississippi, Louisiana, and Texas, by combinations too powerful to be suppressed by the ordinary course of judicial proceedings, or by the powers vested in the Marshals by Law:
Now, therefore, I, ABRAHAM LINCOLN, President of the United States, in virtue of the power in me vested by the Constitution and the laws, have thought fit to call forth, and hereby do call forth, the Militia of the several States of the Union, to the aggregate number of 75,000, in order to suppress said combinations, and to cause the laws to be duly executed. The details for this object will be immediately communicated to the State authorities through the War Department.
I appeal to all loyal citizens to favor, facilitate, and aid this effort to maintain the honor, the integrity, and the existence of our National Union and the perpetuity of popular government, and to redress wrongs already long enough endured.
I deem it proper to say that the first service assigned to the force hereby called forth will probably be to repossess the forts, places, and property which have been seized from the Union, and, n every event, the utmost care will be observed, consistently with the objects aforesaid, to avoid any devastation, any destruction of, or interference
with property, or any disturbance of peaceful citizens in any part of the country; and I hereby command the persons composing the combinations aforesaid to disperse and retire peaceably to their respective abodes within twenty days from this date.
Deeming that the present condition of public affairs presents an extraordinary occasion, I do, hereby, in virtue of the power in me vested by the Constitution, convene both Houses of Congress. The Senators and Representatives are therefore summoned to assemble at their respective chambers at twelve o’clock, noon, on Thursday, the fourth day of July next, then and there to consider and determine such measures as, in their wisdom, the public safety ad interest may seem to demand.
In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand, and caused the seal of the United States to be affixed..
Done at the City of Washington, this fifteenth day of April, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty-one, and of the independence of the United States the eighty-fifth.
ABRAHAM LINCOLN
BY THE PRESIDENT
________________
Bombardment inside Fort
General Thomas swears volunteers in as U.S. Federal Troops in Washington
THE CALL FOR VOLUNTEERS
THE Secretary of War has addressed the following circular to the Governors of States:
Militia to execute the laws of the Union, suppress insurrections; repel invasions, etc., approved February 28, 1795, I have the honor to request your Excellency to cause to be immediately detached from the militia of your State the quota designated in the table below, to serve as infantry or riflemen for the period of three months, unless sooner discharged.
“Your Excellency will please communicate to me the time at or about which your quota will be expected at its rendezvous, as it will be met as soon as practicable by an officer or officers to muster it into the service and pay of the United States. At the same time the oath of fidelity to the United States will be administered to every officer and man.
“The mustering officer will be instructed to receive no man under the rank of commissioned officer who is in years apparently over forty-five or under eighteen, or who is not in physical strength and vigor.”
AND FROM MAINE
Governor Washburn, of Maine, telegraphed the Secretary of War in response as follows:
“Your dispatch is received, and your call will be promptly responded to.
“The people of Maine, of all parties, will rally with alacrity to the maintenance of the Government and the Union.”
Bombardment of Fort Sumter by the batteries of the Confederate States
Co B, 20th Maine Volunteers, Simile for Educational purposes elements drawn from Harper’s Weekly April 27, 1861
Note: the 20th Maine formed as a volunteer regiment in response to a another call for 300,000 additional men made sixteen months later in August 1862
____________________________
Put together by: Darlene Coltart
Note: Triple columns were taken out and picture sizes were changed, for ease of installment on the web-site. ~SFX
