could probably be brought against it, at this time; but, alas, I can make no impression upon him. The President, Sir, has a natural dread of blood-shed, and so have I. But, Sir, there are cases in which a little blood-letting is the best, the only remedy, and in my opinion this is one of those cases. I have thought that, taking into account the reluctance of the President to consent to the use of the militia of the States, he might be willing to accept the services of the New York 7th regiment, which, having performed some services of a National character, might in some sense be regarded as a National regiment, which could be used without exciting the prejudices of which both he and the Secretary of War seem in apprehension. But, in spite of all my solicitations, I meet with nothing but refusals. And here I am! God knows how much I should desire the aid of your gallant troops, but I am powerless! The inauguration day is fast approaching, and I have but a handful of troops. I am too old to mount my horse again, but I am determined, if God spares my life, to ride in the procession with Commodore Stewart; and I think, Major, our grey hairs I will be worth a thousand men"!

A report of this, and of subsequent interviews with General Scott upon this subject, was carefully prepared and forwarded to Governor Sprague by Major Goddard. It is worthy of note, that, while a traitorous Secretary of War, and a timid, indecisive President, forbade General Scott to adopt a single extraordinary measure for the protection of the Capital, the military family of the General himself was composed in part of traitors and spies. Lieutenant Colonel Lay, an Aide de Camp to the General, constantly strove to prevent Major Goddard from further communication with his Chief, and persistently endeavored to dissuade him from further attempts to carry out his patriotic purpose. And when, a few weeks later, Major Goddard entered Washington with his noble regiment, under the gallant Burnside, and the battery attached to it, both of which he had on this occasion tendered

to the Government, it was to find that Colonel Lay, after possessing himself of the plans of his General-in-Chief, had basely deserted to the enemy.

The assault upon Fort Sumter, April 12th, 1861, gave assurance that treason had taken an aggressive form, and the call of President Lincoln on the 15th of April for three months troops, to aid in suppressing it, received from Rhode Island a cordial response. The alacrity with which the First Regiment of Infantry and a battery of Artillery was filled, attested to the soundness of the State. Hon. Samuel G. Arnold, Lieutenant Governor elect, tendered his services to Governor Sprague as Aid de Camp, and as Lieutenant Colonel, took command of the Marine Artillery, Captain Charles H. Tompkins, (by whom it was organized,) which left Providence on the 8th of April, and proceeded to Easton, Pa., where he issued a spirited order, counseling fidelity to the Constitution and the laws, and if need be, "a willing sacrifice upon the altar of our country."

The Artillery remained in camp at Easton, ten days, perfecting its drill. It there exchanged its smooth bore guns for James' rifled cannon. On the 2d of May it reached Washington, the first volunteer battery that entered the field, and the first battery of Rifled cannon ever in the service of the United States. It was mustered out of service August 6th.

At a special session of the General Assembly, held in August, 1861, it was unanimously resolved, "That in the present crisis of our public affairs, there ought to be a full and sincere union of all political parties in support of the constitutionally elected government of the United States; and that this General Assembly pledges to the President of the United States the best exertions of the government and people of Rhode Island, and its entire resources for the preservation of the Union." This resolution was forwarded to the President, and received the following acknowledgment:

DEPARTMENT OF STATE.

Washington, Sept. 5, 1861.

SIR-The government of the United States is indebted to the State of Rhode Island for a very liberal share of the men and material, as well as of the skill and valor, which have sustained it thus far successfully, against the unnatural and violent assaults of faction, which it has been called to encounter.

The President directs me to express his sincere and profound thanks to the Governor, the Legislature, and the people of that patriotic State, for the support they have thus already afforded to the cause of the Union, and for the assurance of still farther and more effective support which is given by the General Assembly, in the resolutions passed in August last, of which a copy has been transmitted to this Department.

The President feels assured that when, in after times, it shall be asked which of the thirty-four States was most loyal and most effective in saving our country from ruin in its present peril, the State of Rhode Island will have no fear that her traditional fame will suffer in the answer that shall be given.

I have the honor to be your Excellency's obedient servant,

WILLIAM H. SEWARD. To his Excellency WM. SPRAGUE, Governor of the State of Rhode Island, Providence.

When the call for 75,000 men was made, Ex-Governor Banks, afterwards Major General in the volunteer service, declared that for a speedy and effectual suppression of the rebel uprising, the call should have been for 700,000; and the history of events since show the correctness of his opinion. Scarcely had the first regiment reached Washington, when the need of more men was perceived, and a second call was made. It was answered by Rhode Island with the spirit and promptitude of the first. The State was all astir, and every town wore the features of a military camp. In less than two weeks, the 2d regiment was enlisted, organized, and embarked for the Seat of War. Then, as the signs of resistance thickened, the gigantic proportions of the Rebellion gradually developed, and other calls for forces were from time to time made, the State, still faithful in her allegiance, continued her contributions of men. The Third

regiment was quickly enlisted, and departed. The Fourth as quickly followed. Then came the Fifth and the Seventh; then the Ninth and Tenth three months' regiment; then the Eleventh and Twelfth for nine months service; and parallel with these came two regiments of cavalry and eight batteries of Light Artillery,; so that at the close of 1863, Rhode Island had sent upwards of 16,000 men into the field. This is exclusive of the 14th regiment, (colored,) and the 3d regiment of cavalry, which would swell the total to upwards of 18,000.

But to fairly represent the State in this contest with treason, there should be added to the number composing the Rhode Island quotas, men equivalent to a maximum regiment of infantry, enlisted in regiments of other States, and not less than one hundred officers serving in the regular army, the navy, and the volunteer regiments of different States, who are natives of Rhode Island. Generals Casey, Arnold, Sherman, Greene, Wheaton, (Burnside a son by adoption,) Captain Samuel T. Cushing, of the Signal Corps, Lieutenant G. S. Green, identified with the glory of the old Monitor, Lieutenant Newcomb, lately deceased, Commander S. F. Hazard, and many more distinguished for bravery, are names that belong to the military history of the State.*

In the Adjutant General and Quartermaster General Departments, the most unremitting activity was visible. To make the necessary arrangements for rapidly organizing and sending forward regiments of infantry and batteries of light artillery, and to clothe and equip them ready for service, involved an immense amount of labor, as well as the most careful pains-taking to ensure completeness; and to the able services of General Mauran, in the former, and of Generals Stead, Frieze and Cooke, successively, in the latter, the State is largely indebted for the reputation it has gained for system and efficiency.

*Captain Robert H. I. Goddard, of Providence, was commissioned March 11th, 1863, and is serving on General Burnside's staff.

From the beginning of the rebellion to the close of his administration, Governor Sprague devoted himself, with untiring zeal, to the support of the government and the interests of the Rhode Island troops. Nothing escaped his watchful eye, and nothing was left undone that could contribute to elevate and give power to State example. No Governor was so well known by reputation in the army of the Potomac, and the superior equipment of our men frequently called forth from the western soldiers admiring exclamations.*

When the Southern Atlantic States, following the lead of South Carolina, entered, with others, into a confederacy looking to nationality, it became apparent, that to cripple their energies and prevent a foreign recognition which they were bending all their efforts to secure, a close blockade would be absolutely necessary. "Stop the rat-holes," was General Scott's comprehensive theory; but these were numerous on a coast stretching from Cape Charles to the Rio Grande, and required, at least, five times the naval force that could then be commanded. It was vastly easier to bring an army of 600,000 men into the field than to create a navy of two hundred vessels, for a pressing emergency; and while the Navy Department was exerting itself to the utmost to strengthen the naval arm, by purchasing and chartering steamers and sailing vessels, and by building at the yards, it gladly availed itself of patriotic offers made by wealthy citizens, of such marine aid as would hasten the completion of the blockade.

In this prompt and generous support of the government, Rhode Island was handsomely represented in the person of a citizen of Providence. When the first call for troops was made in April, 1861, Captain Thomas P. Ives, son of the late

*To meet the needs of the State Treasury in the emergency, and before definite arrangements were made with the Federal Government, A. & W. Sprague offered the loan of $100,000. The banks also made liberal tenders of money. For these offers, the General Assembly passed votes of thanks,