commenced. In all portions of the State the watchfires of patriotism were kindled, blazing with an inspiring brightness, and the cheering illumination spread all over the land, as this lyric will testify: Trumpet, and ensin, and drum-beat are calling, From hillside and valley, from mountain and river, Now o'er the prairie, now wide o'er the billow, The knell of the soldier, who rests 'neath the willow. Banner triumphant! though grand is thy story, Wise were our fathers, and brave in the battle, From hillside and valley, from mountain and river, Fortunate in her Executive and Legislative departments, and equally so in the management of her interests at the National Capital, having men of influence connected with several Departments who loved the reputation of their State, and ever ready and anxious to advance her cause, especially so in her representatives in both houses of Congress, Michigan fearlessly launched her bark on the turbulent sea of rebellion and war. On Tuesday, April 16th, Governor Blair arrived in Detroit, and in the afternoon met a large number of leading citizens and capitalists of that city at the Michigan Exchange. The State had been called upon to immediately furnish to the General Government one infantry regiment, fully armed, clothed, and equipped. It was estimated that $100,000 would be immediately required to defray the necessary expense of organizing the regiment, but the treasury was empty, and State finances so situated, that this pressing call could not be immediately met. Upon the laying of these facts before the meeting by the Hon. John Owen, State Treasurer, a resolution was passed pledging Detroit to loan the State $50,000, and calling upon the people throughout the State to make a like advance. A subscription paper was also circulated upon the spot, and the sum of $23,000 pledged by those present. Commitees were also appointed to solicit further subscriptions in the city, and to aid the Governor in his undertaking. This liberal and prompt action at this opportune moment furnished the sinews of war for the time being. With these pledges of the people in hand, and his own good credit, Mr. Owen succeeded in raising a sum sufficient to enable the Executive to commence the clothing and equipment of troops, which sum, and all others obtained in like manner for this purpose, were assumed by the State on the assembling of the Legislature. During the same day a proclamation was issued by the Governor, calling for ten companies of volunteers, and ordering *Flag song of Michigan troops in 1861.-By D. Bethune Duffield. the Adjutant-General to accept the first ten companies that should offer, and making it the duty of that officer to issue all the necessary orders and instructions in detail. The movement thus inaugurated did not slacken in impetus nor lessen in ardor. The State responded to the call of its autho rities most promptly. The patriotism of the people was in a blaze. War meetings were held in every town, and the tenders of troops from all points in the State far exceeded the requisitions yet made by the General Government. The necessary loan was readily taken, mostly by our own people, and all the duties of the hour were promptly met and discharged. On April 23d the Governor issued his proclamation convening the Legislature in extra session at Lansing, on the 7th of May. On the following day, April 24th, the order was issued from the Adjutant-General's office for organizing the 1st regiment of infantry and appointing its field officers; its rendezvous was fixed at Fort Wayne, and the immediate assembling there of its various companies ordered. Authority had also been given for the raising of the Coldwater Battery, afterwards known as Loomis's. The battery was rapidly recruited, and the horses therefor were purchased with funds loaned to the State by the citizens of Coldwater. It was at once ordered to Fort Wayne, where its equipment was completed. The 2d regiment was also hurriedly recruited, and its companies concentrated at Cantonment Blair, Detroit. On May 2d the companies of the 1st regiment were mustered into the service of the United States. Meanwhile two other regiments, the 3d and 4th, had been formed, and were accepted by the State conditionally, it being apprehended that they would not be needed. The 3d went into camp at Grand Rapids, and the 4th at Adrian. The Legislature met, pursuant to call, on the 7th, and the Governor addressed to them a stirring message, in which he detailed the work already accomplished, and asked the Legislature to legalize what had already been done, and invest the State authorities with sufficient power for the future. Within a session of four days laws were passed, clothing the Governor with power to raise ten regiments and a war loan of one million dollars. Fully aware of the valuable and patriotic services to be required of the soldiers of the State, and of the great sacrifices which must be made by their families in their absence, and, at the same time, anticipating that some might be left unprovided for, or might be brought to want by the contingencies or casualties of war, the Legislature wisely enacted the "Soldiers' Relief Law" for the relief of their families by counties, allowing more or less, according to their circumstances, but not exceeding fifteen dollars per month. This allowance, in case of the death of the soldier, to continue for one year after such death. On May 13th the first regiment left for the seat of war fully armed and equipped. Under the new legislation the organizing of regiments was rapidly pushed and the various requisitions upon the State for men promptly and expeditiously met. The troops were ordered to be clothed, equipped and subsisted under the direction of the Quartermaster-General of the State on contracts made by the Military Contract Board, organized May 15th by legislative authority. This Board was composed of Colonels E. O. Grosvenor of Jonesville, Jerome Croul of Detroit and William Hammond of Marshall. Their duties were accomplished with much individual ability, great energy, coupled with an exemplary economy, and relieving the Quartermaster-General from much responsibility and labor. The State Military Board was then composed of General A. S. Williams and Colonel II. M. Whittelsey of Detroit, Col. A. W. Williams of Lansing, and Col. C. W. Leffingwell of Grand Rapids, together with the AdjutantGeneral and Quartermaster-General of the State, members ex officio. In June following Col. Wm. M. Fenton was appointed a member of the Board in place of Col. Williams, who had gone to the field with the 2nd Infantry. Col. Fenton having entered the service, Col. E. H. Thomson succeeded him, and on the 13th of August was elected President of the Board. J. II. Fountain of Manchester had been appointed Quartermaster-General in March, and was a faithful and energetic officer. He was ably aided in his arduous duties by Friend Palmer of Detroit who was appointed his assistant in May following. This officer, now Quartermaster-General, having served several years in the U. S. Quartermaster's Department, rendered invaluable services to the State during the entire war, and to him the State is greatly indebted for the efficient and economical direction given to the administration of that Department. General Fountain was succeeded as Quartermaster-General by General William Hammond of Marshall March 25th, 1863, who served until March 21st, 1865, when he was relieved by Gen. O. N. Giddings of Kalamazoo. Both these officers served with marked ability and faithfulness. General Palmer, the present Quartermaster-General, followed General Giddings. Colonel James E. Pittman of Detroit was appointed State Paymaster on the 21st of May, 1861, for the purpose of paying such Michigan troops as received pay from the State, a duty which he most faithfully executed. He also served as a member of the State Military Board, from September 19th, 1861, until November 1st, 1862, when he was commissioned as InspectorGeneral of the State. When the war commenced General John Robertson held the appointment of Adjutant-General, and still acts in that capacity. On April 1st, 1861, Captain Heber Le Favour was appointed Assistant Adjutant-General, and served until June 15th following, when he volunteered for field service, being relieved by Captain De Garmo Jones, who resigned May 6th, 1862. Both of these officers served with marked efficiency. Colonel Frederick Morley immediately succeeded Captain Jones, and served with eminent ability and distinction until the close of the war, rendering arduous and valuable services as Assistant Adjutant-General of the State. NOTE. The following telegram was sent over the wires, in the form given below, and delivered to the Adjutant-General of Michigan with great secrecy. It is inserted for the purpose of showing the agitation and distrust manifested among the Western people in the early days of the war. The Illinois Central Railroad Company, at whose instance the dispatch was made, feared a raid on their line, and were preparing to meet it: CHICAGO, April -, 1861. Others and, Chicago Mayor, Governor our by signed Blair Governor to directed message have, secret profound a this keep to and, want immediate in are we, us to them bring will Central Michigan, Adjutant-General tell, once at, them have they if, Michigan from arms of stand thousand five or one wants Governor our. Guns no but, ready are troops. Borders own our on invasion suppress to troops send to orders have State our. * * RAISING OF TROOPS. The President's first call upon Michigan for troops to aid in suppressing the rebellion was, as previously stated, for one regiment only, and was most promptly met by the muster into service of the 1st infantry, under Colonel O. B. Wilcox, and its early movement to the seat of war in Virginia. This regiment was soon followed by the 2d infantry, in command of Colonel Israel B. Richardson, while at the same time many companies were recruited throughout the State without authority in the hope of obtaining places in some regiment; being disappointed in this respect they sought and found service in regiments of other States. In the meantime the organization of the 3d and 4th regiments had been commenced on the responsibility of the governor; and while they were in process of recruitment a letter was received from the Secretary of War limiting the force required from Michigan to four regiments only including the three months' regiment, covering only authority for those already in the field and those being organized in the State. The letter referred to is inserted for the purpose of showing the estimate made at that time of the magnitude of the rebellion then fully inaugurated: WAR DEPARTMENT, WASHINGTON, May 11, 1861. Governor AUSTIN BLAIR, Lansing, Michigan: DEAR SIR-I have the honor to forward you, enclosed herewith, the plan of the organization of the volunteers for three years, or during the war. Three regiments are assigned to your State, making, in addition to the one regiment of three months' militia already called for, four regiments. It is important to reduce rather than enlarge this number, and in no event to exceed it. Let me earnestly recommend to you, therefore, to call for no more than four regiments, of which only three are to serve for three years, or during the war; and if more are already called for, to reduce the number by discharge. SIMON CAMERON, Secretary of War. This policy was extremely at variance with the views entertained by the State executive regarding the necessities of the country at that time, and deeming an immediate preparation to meet coming emergencies his duty, assumed the responsibility of establishing a camp of instruction at Fort Wayne, near Detroit, for the officers of the 5th infantry, Col. II. D. Terry; 6th infantry, Col. F. W. Curtenius; and the 7th infantry, Col. Ira R. GrosOn the 21st of May companies were assigned to those regiments, and their officers and non-commissioned officers were ordered to assemble at Fort Wayne on the 19th of June. The camp was organized and commanded by General A. S. Williams, assisted by Colonel J. E. Pittman, Major W. D. Wilkins, and Captain Henry M. Whittelsey. A course of instruction followed with much success until August 1st, when the camp was broken up, and the force sent to various localities to recruit their men and organize the regiments. This was accomplished with astonishing promptness, the 6th being mustered in August 20th, the 7th August 22d, and the 5th August 28th, and all had left for the field prior to the 12th of September. The camp of instruction attracted much attention in other States, and received the favorable comments of public journals. It has always been considered in Michigan as a most judicious and eminently successful effort; its value becoming more and more apparent as the war progressed, not only in the efficiency of these particular regiments, but in many others, having the benefit of officers who had received the instruction of the camp. Soon after the breaking up of the camp General Williams was appointed a brigadier general of volunteers and left for the field in Virginia, with Major Wilkins and Captain Whittelsey on his brigade staff. About the time the camp was established the pressure for appointments as commissioned officers had reached its maximum, and men were being forced upon the consideration of the governor by influential citizens of both political parties to a most unbearable degree, and often with an utter disregard of fitness or qualification for the position. This pressure continued during the entire earlier portion of the war; and it might well be presumed that under such circumstances some improper appointments were likely to be made. Yet much care was uniformly exercised in the selection and promotion of officers, and always with qualification for the office and loyalty to the Government as the tests, more than personal friendship or political status. The law of Congress of August 3d had authorized the President to receive into service 500,000 volunteers; the proportion of Michigan was understood at the time to be 19,500, but in the adjustment of credits 21,337 was charged against the State. In addition to this force were Captain Duesler's company (C) 1st U. S. sharpshooters, (Berdan's,) raised at large, equipped and armed by the State, mustered at Detroit on the 21st of August, with an aggregate strength of a hundred of the best picked riflemen in the State, and Captain A. B. Stuart's company (B) 2d U. S. sharpshooters, raised at Lansing and mustered at Detroit on the 4th of October, with an aggregate of seventy-eight on its muster-rolls. Also, two companies of cavalry for the "Morrill Horse," a Missouri regiment. These companies were recruited at Battle Creek, "H" by Captain J. H. Rogers, and "I" by Captain J. B. Mason, and both left the State on the 3d of September. The "Jackson Guard," a Detroit company, composed of Irishmen, raised by Captain John McDermott, failing to get a position in the early Michigan regiments, offered their services to Colonel James Mulligan, then recruiting a regiment in Illinois. They were accepted, and the company joined his command in June, and were with him in his gallant defence of Springfield, Missouri. Several other Michigan companies, not obtaining places in Michigan regiments, getting impatient at the delay in finding an opportunity to serve their country, accepted service in regiments of other States. It would have afforded much pleasure to have been able to notice them more fully at this time, but sufficient data cannot be obtained for that purpose. These companies, so far as ascertained, were "E," "F," and "H," 42d, and "B" and 'H," 44th regiments Illinois infantry, company "C," 70th New York infantry, (Sickles Brigade,) from Paw Paw, mustered on the 21st of June in command of Captain W. H. Hugo; company "K," 1st New York cavalry, raised at Grand Rapids and mustered on the 12th of August under command of Captain Anson N. Norton. The regiment was raised and organized by Col. A. T. McReynols, and was commanded by him in the field. Company D," 66th Illinois infantry, commonly designated as the Western Sharpshooters," mustered November 9th in command of Captain John Piper, of Battle Creek. 66 Under this call, Colonel T. F. Brodhead, of Detroit, received authority. to raise the 1st regiment of cavalry, and a like authority was given to the Hon. F. W. Kellogg, of Grand Rapids, member of Congress from this State, to organize the 2d and 3d cavalry, while Colonel T. B. W. Stockton, of Flint, obtained authority to recruit and organize the Stockton regiment, afterwards designated as the 16th infantry. In response to this requisition, the State continued recruiting, sending J* |