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prepared for war. He and
Governor Andrew worked in unison to this end; and on the day before his appointment, he was instrumental in procuring from the Bank of Redemption, in
Boston, a temporary loan to the
Commonwealth, for the use of the troops, of the sum of fifty thousand dollars.
It was determined that the Sixth Regiment,
Colonel Jones, which was a part of
Butler's old brigade, should go forward at once to
Washington, by way of New York,
Philadelphia, and
Baltimore.
It consisted of eleven companies.
To these were added the companies of
Captains Sampson and
Dike, making a corps of thirteen full companies.
They were addressed by
Governor Andrew and
General Butler, in the presence of a vast multitude of citizens, and, in the afternoon,
departed for
Washington by railway.
At about the same time,
Colonel Wardrop and his regiment embarked on a steamer for
Fortress Monroe, in
Virginia, then defended by only two companies of artillery, and in imminent peril of seizure by the insurgents of
that State.
These were followed by
Colonel Packard and his regiment.
The Eighth, under
Colonel Munroe, accompanied by the
General, departed for
Washington on the evening train.
Rhode Island and
Connecticut, through which these troops passed, were in a blaze of excitement.
Governor Sprague, of the former State, had promptly tendered to the
Government the services of a thousand infantry and a battalion of artillery, and called the Legislature together on the 17th.
That body promptly provided for the
State's quota, and appropriated five hundred thousand dollars for war purposes.
The banks offered adequate loans to the
State; and large sums were tendered by individuals.
Within five days after the call for troops, the Rhode Island Marine Artillery, with eight guns and one hundred and ten horses, commanded by
Colonel Tompkins, passed through New York on their way to
Washington; and the First Regiment of Infantry, twelve hundred strong, under
Colonel Burnside, was ready to move.
It was
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Rhode Island Marine Artillery. |
composed of many of the wealthier citizens of the
State, and was accompanied to
Washington by
Governor Sprague, as
Commander-in-chief of the forces of
Rhode Island.
