INTRODUCTION.

HE election of ABRAHAM LINCOLN, in 1860, was made

THE

the pretext and signal in the South for open defiance of the authority of the Federal Government. Mutterings, even threats of secession had been heard before the election, and were generally treated as the grumblings incident to an anticipated defeat, especially as a majority of such expressions of discontent came from the State of South Carolina, which was proverbially hot-headed. Now, however, meetings were held in that and other Cotton States, declaring for Southern independence, and "minute men were being mustered. Startling events followed each other rapidly, until, on December 20th, 1860, South Carolina passed "An ordinance to dissolve the union between the State of South Carolina and other states united with her, under the compact entitled the Constitution of the United States of America." This action was, soon after, followed by the seizure of the arsenal and other government property at Charleston. On the 12th of April, 1861, the Northern States were astounded and shocked by the news which was flashed over the wires, that Fort Sumpter was being bombarded. The so-called secession of the State from the Union, followed by the same action on the part of other Southern States, had been regarded with indifference by many, and the public heart seemed almost insensible to the great peril which threatened to sunder the republic. But the news from Sumpter awoke unwonted echoes, and touched the patriotic chords in the great American heart. The loyalty, which had been doubted, sprang into instant life, and throughout the North, expressions of deep devotion and promise of unlimited aid were borne on the wings of lightning to the Nation's capital. The mighty heart of the people seemed to pulsate with patriotism and love of the

government, which had been founded and maintained by the blood of our fathers. The world never witnessed an uprising as mighty, as spontaneous, and as glorious as that which now occurred. On April 15th, the following proclamation was issued by President LINCOLN:

BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.

A PROCLAMATION.

WHEREAS, The laws of the United States have been for some time past, and now are opposed, and the execution thereof obstructed, in the States of South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Florida, Mississippi, Louisiana, and Texas, by combinations too powerful to be suppressed by the ordinary course of judicial proceedings, or the powers vested in the marshals by law:

Now, therefore, I, ABRAHAM LINCOLN, President of the United States, by virtue of the power in me vested by the Constitution and the laws, have thought fit to call forth, and hereby do call forth the militia of the several States of the Union, to the aggregate of seventy-five thousand, in order to suppress said combinations, and to cause the laws to be duly executed.

The details of this object will be immediately communicated to the State authorities by the War Department.

I appeal to all loyal citizens to favor, facilitate, and aid this effort to maintain the honor, the integrity, and the existence of our National Union, and the perpetuity of popular government, and to redress wrongs already long enough endured.

I deem it proper to say, that the first service assigned to the forces hereby called forth will probably be to repossess the forts, places and property which have been seized from the Union; and in every event the utmost care will be observed, consistently with the object aforesaid, to avoid any devastation of or interference with property, or any disturbance of peaceful citizens in any part of the country.

And I hereby command the persons composing the combinations aforesaid to disperse, and retire peaceably to their respective abodes, within twenty days of this date.

Deeming the present condition of public affairs presents an extraordinary occasion, I do hereby, in virtue of the power in me vested by the Constitution, convene both Houses of Congress. Senators and Representatives are, therefore, summoned to assemble at their respective cham

bers, at twelve o'clock, noon, on Thursday, the 4th day of July next, then and there to consider and determine such measures as, in their wisdom the public safety and interest may seem to demand.

In witness 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 fifteenth day of April, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty-one, and of the independence of the United States the eighty-fifth.

By the President:

ABRAHAM LINCOLN.

WILLIAM H. SEWARD, Secretary of State.

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Simultaneously with the above proclamation, calls for troops were made upon the States, the Governor of New York, Edwin D. Morgan, being requested to immediately furnish the quota designated for the State of New York, to wit, seventeen regiments. On April 16th, the two bodies of the Legislature, then in session at Albany, passed an Act "To authorize the embodying and equipment of a Volunteer Militia, and to provide for the public defence." This bill provided for the enrollment of thirty thousand volunteer militia, to serve for two years; and appropriated three millions of dollars to meet the expense. Governor Morgan issued a proclamation, on the 18th, citing the President's requisition, and calling for seventeen regiments, to consist of 649 officers, and 12,631 men; forming an aggregate of 13,280; the rendezvous for the State being designated as New York, Albany and Elmira, with headquarters at Albany. Afterwards (on April 25th) the Governor issued his proclamation for twenty-one other regiments of volunteers, which, with the first seventeen, made up the complement of volunteers under the State act providing for 30,000. These first thirty-eight regiments were the only troops from New York State mustered for the term of two years.

UNIV. OF

VINNOW TVO

THE

CHAPTER I.

'HE 27th Regiment (Infantry) N. Y. Volunteers was organized at Elmira, on the 21st of May, 1861. It was composed of companies, recruited and accepted as follows, viz.:

The companies were organized into a regiment by General Van Valkenburgh, when the following field officers were elected, viz.: Henry W. Slocum, Colonel; Joseph J. Chambers, Lieutenant-Colonel; Joseph J. Bartlett, Major. The State Military Board confirmed the election on the 21st of May, by General Order No. 208, and the regiment was accepted, and numbered "27;" and Colonel Slocum was directed to report for duty, and hold his regiment in readiness to be mustered into the service of the United States.