April 20, 1861. |
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National Government.1 The vigilant Governor Curtin saw the storm-clouds continually thickening, and, in a message to the Legislature on the 9th of April, he recommended the adoption of immediate measures for re-organizing the militia of the State and establishing an efficient military system.
He referred to the menacing attitude of certain States, and urged the immediate attention of the Legislature to the deplorable militia system of the Commonwealth, saying: “Pennsylvania offers no counsel and takes no action in the nature of a menace.”
An Act, in accordance with the Governor's wishes, became law on the 12th of April, and half a million of dollars were appropriated for arming and equipping the militia of the State.
When intelligence of the attack on Fort Sumter reached Philadelphia, the chief city of Pennsylvania, the excitement of the people was intense.
This was hightened by the call of the President for troops, and the manifest existence of disloyal men in the city.
Great exasperation was felt against those known to be disloyal, or suspected of sympathy with the insurgents; and, at one time, full ten thousand of the populace were in the streets, engaged in putting out of the way every semblance of opposition to the Government.
The Mayor managed to control them, and when offending parties threw out the American flag the people were generally satisfied.2 That banner was everywhere displayed over public and private buildings, and a Union pledge was circulated throughout the city, and signed by thousands without distinction of party.
The Governor called
an extraordinary session of the Legislature to meet at Harrisburg on the 30th; but, before that time, thousands of Pennsylvanians were enrolled in the great Union Army.
The Secretary of War (Mr. Cameron), immediately after issuing his call for troops, sent his son into Pennsylvania to expedite the work of recruiting; and within the space of three days he had the satisfaction of welcoming to Washington troops from his native State.
The Legislature authorized the organization of a reserved corps, to be armed, equipped, clothed, subsisted, and paid by the State, and drilled in camps of instruction.
It also authorized a loan of three millions of dollars for war purposes.
Pennsylvania has the honor of having furnished the troops that first arrived at the Capital in the hour of its greatest peril.
These composed five companies from the interior of the State, namely, the “Washington Artillery,” and “National Light Infantry,” of Pottsville, Schuylkill County; the “Ringgold Light Artillery,” of Reading, Berks County; the “Logan Guards,” of Lewistown, Mifflin County, and the “Allen Infantry,” of Allentown, Lehigh County.
At the call of the President, the commanders of these companies telegraphed to Governor Curtin that they were full, and ready for service.
He immediately ordered them to assemble at Harrisburg, the State capital.
They were all there on the evening of the 17th, but
1 See page 210.
2 A secession newspaper, called The Palmetto Flag, was hawked about the streets at that time. It was suppressed, and an American flag was displayed at its office, as we have already observed in note 2, page 358. A large number of medical students in Philadelphia were from the South, and there was much sympathy with the secessionists in that city among a certain class of politicians. Some of them, in public meetings of their party, proposed to have Pennsylvania joined to the “Southern Confederacy.”
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