regiments, and an additional light artillery battalion. If you so desire you can pro

vide for and equip those regiments, if you can do so, at once.

Will write to-day. "❝SIMON CAMERON, 'Secretary of War.'"

[The letter of the Secretary of War is omitted, being merely an expansion of the telegram.]

"About the 12th of August I received the following letter from the War Department in reference to arming and equipping the McClernand Brigade:

"His Excellency, Richard Yates, Governor of Illinois :

"Please afford to Brigadier-General John A. McClernand all the facilities in your power for arming and equipping his brigade at the earliest date possible.

"Very respectfully,

THOS. A. SCOTT, "Acting Secretary of War.'

'The thirteen additional regiments having been filled up, and the people of the State, as one man, humiliated at the disastrous defeat at Bull Run, on the 21st of July, were pressing upon me for acceptance; and on the 7th of August I wrote to the Secretary of War as follows:

"I would suggest whether it would not be well to receive all the full companies which will report themselves full in the next twenty days.

"The signs are that we shall need them, as it will stop the application to you for independent regiments.'

"On the 13th of the same month the brave Lyon fell, and on the same day I received the following dispatches:

"'HEAD-QUARTERS WESTERN DEPArtment, St. Louis, Aug. 13, 1861.

"Governor Yates:

"Severe engagement near Springfield reported. Gen. Lyon killed. Sigel retreating in good order on Rolla. Send forthwith all the disposable force you have, arming as you best can for the moment. Use utmost dispatch.

"His Excellency, Gov. Yates:

"JOHN C. FREMONT, 'Maj.-Gen. Commanding.'

"WASHINGTON, Aug. 13, 1861.

"What number of regiments have you now organized, and what number can be organized ready for marching orders this week? Please advise by telegraph.

“SIMON CAMERON,
'Secretary of War.'

"On the same day I telegraphed the Secretary of War as follows:

"I have had to confine myself, in raising the thirteen regiments you authorized me to raise, to the acceptance of companies first tendered.

"I have telegraphed your Department repeatedly for authority to accept all the troops offered, but have received no answer to my dispatches. I think you ought to give me authority to accept all the troops willing to enter the service.'

"Governor Yates:

"WASHINGTON, Aug. 14, 1861.

Many thanks

"You are authorized to accept all companies of troops willing to enter the service. We shall accept no more independent regiments from Illinois. for your promptness and energy.

“❝SIMON CAMERON, "Secretary of War.'

At last! After Bull Run and Wilson's Creek, after Lyon has been slain, with the national capital in peril, with Fremont's command confronted with a superior force-at last it realized that something more than the suppression of a disturbance is demanded, and the people have authority to rally to the support and for the salvation of the Government. Thank God for that much! It gave new heart to the people.

These paragraphs have anticipated somewhat the course of events, but have seemed necessary to preserve the unity and completion of the topic of the State policy in enlistments.

We have recorded the unwillingness of the War Department to receive cavalry, a repugnance based on the advice of General Scott, yet the Legislature, in special session, authorized the formation of a cavalry regiment, and it was organized by the acceptance of companies under the provisions of the act. Before the passage of the law, the Chicago Dragoons, commanded by Captain Charles W. Barker, and the Washington Light Cavalry, Captain Fredrick Schombeck, had reported at Camp Yates, and were now mustered into the State service. On the tenth of May three companies were accepted from the counties south of the Ohio and Mississippi Railroad, named and commanded as follows: White County Cavalry, Capt. Orlando Burrell; Gallatin County Cavalry, Capt. James Foster; Centralia Cavalry, Capt. R. D. Noleman.

The State authorities, considering five companies sufficient for State service, declined completing the regiment, though the other companies were ready and were designated in the special order of May 16th; viz., Companies of Capt. John McNulta, of Bloomington; Capt. A. C. Harding, Monmouth; Capt. John Burnap, Springfield; Capt. J. B. Smith, Knoxville; Capt. Paul Walters, Hillsboro.

On the 21st of June the proffer of ten companies of cavalry was accepted by the President, for three years' service, unless sooner discharged, and the companies accepted were assigned by the Governor to make up the "First Regiment of Illinois Cavalry." The Chicago Dragoons had been ordered to Cairo, and from thence were transferred, by order of General McClellan, to his command in Western Virginia, but declining to enlist for three years they were mustered out of service. They were subsequently reorganized under command of Capt. Shearer, and with another company were known as the "McClellan Dragoons." They were for a time atsince then they have been

tached to a regiment of Regulars, and assigned to Col. Voss' 12th Cavalry. Seven companies of this regiment were with Mulligan at Lexington, Mo., and shared the captivity of that officer; they were, by order of the Major-General commanding the Department of the West, mustered out of service Oct. 8, 1861, were reinstated Dec. 21st, by order of the President, and reorganized at Benton Barracks, St. Louis, but continued in service but a short time, in consequence of difficulties arising from irregularity of exchange. Capt. Oscar Huntley's company, raised in Winnebago county, by authority of General Fremont, was assigned to the first regiment at its reorganization at Benton Barracks, but not having been captured was not mustered out. In May, June and July, the 8th, 9th and 11th cavalry were authorized by General Fremont, commanded respectively by Col. Farnsworth, Col. Brackett and Col. Ingersoll; under the call of the President, the 2d, Col. Noble, and the 4th, Col. Dickey, were organized; under the dispatch of July 25th, from Secretary Cameron, the 3d, Col. Carr, 7th, Col. Kellogg, and 6th, Col. Cavanaugh, were raised and accepted. August, the 5th, Col. Updegraff, was accepted, and on the 5th of September the 10th, Col. Barrett, on the 28th, the 12th, Col. Voss, on the 27th of November the 13th, Col. Bell. These last were limited to two battalions of four companies each; and in the last named, a battalion raised by Lt.-Col. Hartman under authority from the War Department was to constitute a part.

In addition to the thirteen regiments of cavalry authorized as above stated, several additional battalions and companies were organized. With the approval of General Smith, Capt. Marx reoruited a company for Thielman's battalion, and Thielman was

ADDITIONAL TROOPS-THEIR CHARACTER.

113 commissioned as Major, with rank from Nov. 1, 1861, his command being his own company, nominally attached to the 1st regiment, commanded by Capt. Marschner, and Capt. Marx's company. By authority of General Fremont, Capt. Warren Stuart recruited a company. Four companies were raised in connection with the 27th, 28th, 29th, 30th, and 31st regiments (Gen. McClernand's brigade), commanded by Captains Hutchens, Carmikel, O'Harnett, and Dollins. These companies, with Captain Stewart's, were subsequently formed into a battalion, and Captain Stewart commissioned as Major, to rank from Feb. 2, 1862, became its commander. Captain McNaughten raised a company under authority from General Fremont, designed to be attached to the 23d regiment, but after the battle of Lexington it was attached to a Missouri regiment known as "The Curtis' Horse." The "Kane County Cavalry," Captain Dodson, was raised for the 2d cavalry, but was ultimately attached to the 15th. Thus it is seen that before the close of 1861 Illinois had placed in the field, almost in spite of the Secretary of War, a small army of cavalry-brave horsemen, ready for active service.

It was soon seen that any number of men could be secured for the artillery service. It has its peculiar perils and hardships, but with all that it has strange fascination. Company A, Chicago Artillery, Capt. Smith (afterwards Willard), Capt. Houghtaling's Ottawa Artillery, and Capt. McCallister's, Plainfield, formed, as we have seen, part of the Cairo expedition under Brig.-Gen. Swift. They all remained in the service, being mustered first into the three months' and then into the three years' service. Also Co. B, Chicago Artillery, Capt. Taylor; Peoria Artillery, Capt. Davidson; Capt. Campbell's Ottawa battery, and Capt. Madison's battery were mustered in under the law of the special session of May, 1861.

Of these more will be heard as we thread the red-line of battles fought for the Republic. In them were such young men as seldom ever before stood by the recoiling piece, all begrimed with powder, amid the thunders of battle or of siege.

May, June and July brought the authorization of the following regiments of infantry, most of whom have since made a brilliant record: 23d, Col. Mulligan; 24th, Col. Hecker; 25th, Col. Coler; 33d, Col. Hovey; 34th, Col. Kirk; 35th, Col. Smith; 36th, Col. Greusel; 37th, Col. White; 39th, Col. Lighte; 40th, Col. Hicks;

41st, Col. Pugh; 42d, Col. Webb; 44th, Col. Knoblesdorf; 45th, Col. Smith; 47th, Col. Bryner; 52d, Col. Wilson; 55th, Col. Stuart. Under the authority of Secretary Cameron's letter of July 25th the the State reported the following infantry regiments: 26th, Col. Loomis; 27th, Col. Buford; 28th, Col. Johnson; 29th, Col. Reardon; 30th, Col. Foulke; 31st, Col. John Logan; 32d, Col. John A. Logan; 38th, Col. Carlin; 43d, Col. Raith; 46th, Col. Davis; 48th, Col. Haynie; 49th, Col. Morrison; 50th, Col. Bane. As has been seen, in response to an application of the Governor, made August 13th, all restriction upon infantry recruiting was removed, and the State was permitted to accept all that offered their services. The fol lowing regiments were authorized: 56th, Col. Kirkham; 61st, Col. Fry; 64th, Lt.-Col. Williams;* 65th, Col. Cameron; 51st, Col. Cummings; 53d, Col. Cushman;t 58th, Col. Lynch; 57th, Col. Baldwin; 54th, Col. Harris; 60th, Col. Toler; 62d, Col. True; 63d, Col. Wood.t

In addition to the above, most of the companies for an additional regiment of artillery had been raised. On the 3d of December the authorities at Washington again became alarmed at the fore-cast shadow of too large an army, and issued the annexed order:

"HEAD-QUARTERS OF THE ARMY, ADJUTANT-GENERAL'S OFFICE, Washington, December 8, 1861.

“General Orders, No. 105.

"The following orders have been received from the Secretary of War: "I. No more regiments, batteries, or independent companies will be raised by the Governors of States, except upon the special requisition of the War Department. "Those now forming in the various States will be completed, under direction of the respective Governors thereof, unless it be deemed more advantageous to the service to assign the men already raised to regiments, batteries or independent companies now in the field, in order to fill up their organizations to the maximum standard prescribed by law.

"II. The recruiting service in the various States for the volunteer forces already in service, and for those that may hereafter be received, is placed under charge of general superintendents for those States, respectively, with general depots for the collection and instruction of recruits.”

*Battalion of six companies known as Yates' Sharp-Shooters. +Including squadron of cavalry and battery of artillery.

Known as the Kentucky Brigade,