William Schouler, A history of Massachusetts in the Civil War: Volume 1

Resolved by us, citizens of Cambridge, convened under the shadow of the Washington Elm, that animated, we trust, by the spirit of him who, in the clouded dawn of the Revolution which created our nation, drew his sacred sword on this memorable spot, we desire to consecrate ourselves to the services of freedom and our country.

The meeting was addressed by John C. Park, ex-Governor Banks, George S. Hillard, and Thomas H. Russell in speeches filled with patriotic sentiments and earnest appeals to the judgment and conscience of the people.

We now return to the State House, where the work of fitting out regiments, organizing new departments, listening to various propositions, answering innumerable questions, receiving and writing letters, pressed upon the Governor and his personal staff, the Adjutant-General and his assistants, the Quartermaster-General and his clerks, from early morning until midnight. An abstract of a portion only of the correspondence will show the nature and extent of a part of the labor performed.

April 18.—The Governor writes to Miss A. J. Gill, also to Miss Anna M. Clarke, also to Mary A. G. Robinson, who have offered themselves to be nurses; to Robert B. Forbes, acknowledging the receipt of his ‘Address to the Merchants and Seamen of Massachusetts to organize a Coast Guard;’ to Dr. Winslow Lewis, who offered to give medical advice and attendance to soldiers' families free of charge. Thanks Leopold Morse, of Boston, for a gift of one hundred pairs of readymade pants for soldiers. To Secretary Cameron, asking for more muskets.

April 19.—Governor telegraphs to the Secretary of War, ‘Would you like another regiment composed of Irishmen enlisted specially?’ Writes to Arthur Hanley, who had inquired ‘if unnaturalized persons would be accepted in the militia,’ to ‘go ahead.’ Acknowledges ‘with gratitude the devoted and benevolent offer of Mrs. Harriet M. Gibson;’ also a letter from Miss Hannah E. Stevenson, who offered her services as a nurse. Telegraphs to Secretary Cameron that “the steamer ‘State of Maine,’ with the Fourth Regiment on board, is detained at New York; depends on his providing a convoy from the capes of Virginia, if necessary. Writes to William Gray, ”