Excerpts from The Constitution, May 8, 1861 (volume 24, number 1219)
By the President of the United States,
A PROCLAMATION
Whereas existing exigencies demand immediate and adequate measures for the protection of the National Constitution, and the preservation of the National Union, by the suppression of the insurrectionary combinations now existing in several States for opposing the laws of the Union and obstructing the execution thereof, to which end a military force in addition to that called forth by my proclamation of the 15th day of April, in the present year, appears to be indispensably necessary ; now therefore, I, Abraham Lincoln, President of the United States, and Commander-in-Chief of the Army and Navy thereof, and of the Militia of the several States, when called into actual service, do hereby call into the service of the United States, forty-two thousand and thirty-four volunteers, to serve for a period of three years, unless sooner discharged, and to be mustered into service as infantry and cavalry.
The proportion of each arm and the details of enrollment and organization will be made known through the Department of War. And I also direct that the regular army of the United States be increased by the addition of eight regiments of infantry, one regiment of cavalry, and one regiment of artillery, making altogether a maximum aggregate increase of twenty-two thousand seven hundred and fourteen officers and enlisted men, the details of which increase will also be made known through the Department of War. And I further direct enlistment, for not less than one, nor more than three years, of eighteen thousand seamen, in addition to the present force, for the naval service of the United States, the details of the enlistment and organization of which will be made known through the Department of the Navy.
The call for volunteers hereby made, and the direction for the increase of the regular army, and for the enlistment of seamen hereby given, together with the plan of organization adopted for the volunteers and for the regular forces hereby authorized, will be submitted to Congress as soon as assembled. In the meantime I earnestly invoke the co-operation of all good citizens in the measures hereby adopted for the effectual suppression of unlawful violence, for the impartial enforcement of Constitutional laws, and for the speediest possible restoration of peace and order with those of happiness and prosperity throughout the country.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of the United States to be affixed. Done at the city of Washington, this 3d day of May, in the year of our Lord, one thousand eight hundred and sixty-one, and of the Independence of the United States the eighty-fifth.
[Signed,] ABRAHAM LINCOLN
By the President,
Wm. H. Seward, Secretary of State.
The Latest News
An important army movement seems to have been made towards Baltimore—the Sixth Massachusetts Regiment having proceeded from Washington to the Relay House where they were to be joined by a regiment from Annapolis and another from the Junction, making a force of about 3000 men. It is conjectured that they are to co-operate with the Pennsylvania troops approaching Baltimore under command of Gen. Patterson to open and hold the route through that city.
A great Union meeting was held in Baltimore on Saturday evening, at which a committee was appointed to proceed to Frederick where the Legislature is in session and protest against the passage of the bill to establish a Committee of Safety.
Gen. Harney, whose loyalty has been doubted in some quarters, writes that he will never serve under any other banner than the “Stars and Stripes.” He warns Missouri that secession would be her utter ruin.
Death to Traitors
The spy arrested two nights ago, at Washington, will probably be hung. Another spy is under arrest. The correspondent of the Baltimore Sun has left the capital, fearing an arrest. The populace were about to lynch him.
It is reliably stated from Annapolis Junction, that the 69th New York regiment caught a man attempting to draw a spike from the railway, and shot him, in obedience to orders. They also arrested two spies, according to orders.
Col. Lemmon, who cut down the American flag that had been hoisted on the Baltimore custom house, is under arrest and will be tried, and perhaps served as John A. Dix recommended.
Virginia
Two or three facts about Virginia should be borne in mind. Absolute secession of the state has not yet taken place. The arrangement which has been made is simply between the convention on the one part and Alexander H. Stephens on the other. By the law which called the convention together, any act of secession which might be passed must be submitted to the people. On the 28th of May the people vote whether they will secede or not. In the mean time the Confederate States are supposed to have a sort of lien on Virginia, and Messrs. Hunter, Mason & Co. are bound to do what they can to convey the property over to Jeff. Davis, possession to be given on and after the 28th inst.
Another fact is that the people of Western Virginia meet in Convention at Wheeling, on the 13th of May to decide what is best to be done with their part of the state. If the eastern Virginians are to secede out of the Union the Western Virginians have said decidedly that they will secede into the Union again. They are thoroughgoing Unionists there, and strongly attached to the United States Government.
An earnest attempt will be made by the secessionists to conciliate the Unionists, and if they are likely to fail in this they will not hesitate to use precisely the same means there which they have used elsewhere to compel a secession vote. An army sent into Western Virginia by the Government at this time would afford protection to the Unionists and ensure fair play at the election.
A Revolutionary Soldier in the Field
In Middle Haddam, a few days since, the Stars and Stripes were raised on a flagstaff near the South Congregational Church, by Mr. Jacob Hurd, an old revolutionary soldier, now in his one hundredth year. Mr. Hurd entered the service of his country in the revolutionary war when he was in his fifteenth year, and last March he was one of only three revolutionary pensioners then living in this State. He is remarkably vigorous and active. Last Sabbath he walked a quarter of a mile to church and back. About two years ago, a friend tells us, he attended church one day with his “family,” which embraced at least one representative of each of five generations!
This company in New Haven attracts much attention. It is probably the best drilled company in both regiments, Capt. Dickerson being acknowledged to be one of the most efficient drill officers in the State. It has been quartered at the State House, but was to go into camp on Monday of this week. The ladies of New Haven have taken quite an interest in the company, and one evening last week they met at the State House for the purpose of making beds for the soldiers. The men had had no decent beds to sleep on since they had been there. But the ladies found no straw, and so could make no beds. The Palladium says that Mr. Lancey reads prayers to the men every night and morning “much to the edification of the men, who evidently keep better order and are more sober and correct in their deportment in consequence of these services.”
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The Home Guard met last evening and effected an organization. The following officers were elected. Capt. E. W. N. Starr ; 1st Lieut. J. N. Camp ; 2d Lieut. G. W. Dart ; Orderly Sergt., D. C. Sage. The members of the Guard will meet this (Tuesday) evening at the Armory of the Mansfield Guard.
Orders to March
Orders have been received from the head quarters for the three Connecticut regiments to leave immediately for Washington. The two regiments at New Haven will take a steamer for Washington direct. It is thought that the propeller Ellen S. Terry will be chartered for this purpose. The troops will probably go to-morrow, Wednesday. The third regiment will march as soon as they can receive their equipments.
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Two hundred and thirty women, nearly all between the ages of 18 and 25, have enrolled themselves in Philadelphia as nurses.
Cold Weather
The latter part of last week was decidedly cold for the season. On Thursday and Friday nights there was frost, and on Friday night ice formed in some places. They report ice a quarter of an inch thick at the camp ground of the 1st regiment in New Haven.
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Snow fell here on Saturday. In the lower part of the county and in New Haven the ground was covered.
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New York, May 3.
The Northern Light, from Aspinwall the 25th, with 360 passengers and $86,800 in treasure, arrived at 2 o’clock.
Valparaiso dates are to the third of April.
Mendoza was destroyed by an earthquake and 8,000 people killed on the 20th of March. San Juan also is reported destroyed and the bed of the river turned on it by the same earthquake. Two other towns are reported destroyed.
Peru is completely disorganized. Excherique [sic – i.e. Echenique] is in prison, and President Castila [sic – i.e. Castilla] devotes his attention to gambling. Business is dull at Calora.—American gold is selling at 30 per cent premium.
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December 17, 2011 at 8:12 am
150 years ago in Middletown, Connecticut … Week of December 18, 1861 « Middlesex County Historical Society
[...] Mr. Jacob Hurd, of Middle Haddam, died on Sunday last, at the remarkable age of ninety-nine years and nine months. If he had lived until about the middle of March, he would have seen his one hundredth birth-day. Mr. Hurd, in the early part of his life, followed the sea, and in the revolutionary war engaged in privateering. He was in several sea-fights, and was once taken prisoner by the British. He was at one time drafted into the army, and served under Gen. Putnam. To the last he retained his bodily and mental facilities to a remarkable degree. A few years ago, a sister of Mr. Hurd died in the same town whose age was one hundred years and eight months. [...]