Our Campaigns: Or, the Marches, Bivouacs, Battles, Incidents of Camp Life and History of Our... Book

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Excerpt from book:
proclamation calling for seventy-five thousand volunteers to maintain the laws of the United States over the seceding States, and admonishing the rebels to lay down their arms and quietly submit to the laws within twenty days, was but the response of the great American heart. And America's reply to the proclamation was such an uprising of free men as the world never witnessed before. Where ever it was received, it produced the wildest excitement and enthusiasm, the booming gun, the pealing bell, and rattling drum, announced it throughout the land, until from the broad Atlantic it rolled across the plains and echoed over the snow-clad peaks to the Pacific. CHAPTER III. War For The Union—Pennsylvania's Response—OrganizaTion Of The Reserves—Colonels Mann's, Marsh's, And De Korponay's Regiments—Camp Washington — Quaint Names—Whiskey In A Musket Barrel—Getting The CounTersign. In Philadelphia business was suspended, flags were thrown to the breeze in every street, rendezvous were opened in every section, and placards calling for volunteers, covered the walls of every corner. Recruiting parties traversed the city in every direction, followed by crowds of men eager to enroll their names, the armories of the volunteer companies were crowded to overflowing with men drilling night and day, the public parks of the 'city were given up for the same purpose, and the quietude of the Sabbath was forgotten amidst the preparation for war. The citizens furnished armories freeof rent, and such of the volunteers as could not support themselves without work were fed on the bountiful supply of the neighborhood. The lady congregations of the different churches set themselves diligently to work supplyingthe volunteers with shirts, drawers, socks and other clothing and contributions of all sorts ...