under the President. Although he was an old man, and a Virginian, he was both loyal and prompt, as we shall

see.

On the occasion of Mr. Lincoln's inauguration, General Scott had assembled a considerable military force in Washington to prevent trouble, and he had wisely kept a large proportion there for the same purpose. As soon as Sumter was surrendered, President Lincoln and General Scott began to prepare for the "surprise party' which the rebels intended for them.

GENERAL SCOTT.

Mr. Lincoln telegraphed to the governor of every State in the Union that he needed soldiers to defend the country against her own children. How do you think loyal people treated this cry for help? Do you suppose they asked for time to think about it? Not they. They answered the first time.

All party feeling was wiped out. There were no longer Democrats and Republicans. Everybody became a Unionist or a Secessionist. There was no half-way ground. Those who were not for the Union were against it, and such people were not very comfortable at the North. Not only did seventy-five thousand men rush to arms, and hurry to the rescue; but in twenty-four hours one hundred and fifty thousand were ready and eager to go. Many received the message at night, and were on the way to the Capital in the morning. We call these soldiers volunteers, because they offered their services to the Government, instead of being ordered to go, like regular soldiers.

You know that every town or city has one military company, and often several, which are made up of business

men who drill for amusement and exercise. Of course, these were the first to go, as they were all ready, being armed and uniformed.

Besides the volunteer soldiers, there was a regular or standing army, paid by the Government, whose duty it was to fight whenever it was needed. But we had been at peace for so many years, that this force had grown to be very small. Then, too, we must remember that the greater part of this army was stationed in the West to defend the frontier, or farthest settlements, against the Indians. It would require time to bring these troops East, and it was not safe to withdraw them from their present position. Nearly all the officers in the Confederacy had been officers in the army of the United States when South Carolina seceded. They forgot who had fed and reared them, forgot their oath of loyalty, and deserted their country to take up arms against her.

Perhaps you will the better understand how grave a step this was, when you read the oath which they had taken :

"I do solemnly swear that I will bear true allegiance to the United States of America, and that I will serve them honestly and faithfully against all their enemies or opposers whatsoever, and observe and obey the orders of the President of the United States, and the orders of the officers appointed over me according to the rules and articies of the government of the armies of the United States."

I have told you all this, that you may be able to see why things were in such a tangle, and why we were not ready to go to war.

Every Northern State sent its quota, or proportion, of volunteers, in a twinkling: but many Southern States returned very impertinent answers to the President; while a few were hesitating, or, as they called themselves, "neutral;" which means, literally, taking no part in a quarrel.

The District of Columbia, in which the city of Washing

ton lies, is on the left bank of the Potomac River, and is only ten miles square. Slaves were owned in this district; and excepting that it was not represented in Congress, and that its people were not allowed to vote for any officer of the General Government, it was like any Southern State. This was unfortunate, because its natural sympathy with the slaveholding States made it a very dangerous neighborhood for the threatened Capital. It was impossible to be sure of friend or foe in those dark days; and loyal Unionists began to feel that the safety of the city depended upon themselves alone. So they managed quietly to arrange for a secret meeting to be held on that Saturday night, April 14, in an old church in the rear of Willard's Hotel, to talk the matter over, and to fix upon some plan of concerted action for the city's safety. These gentlemen, among whom were some very distinguished men, took care that no surprise should occur; for they themselves patrolled the streets until the city was furnished with a military force sufficient to protect it.

So prompt were volunteers to answer the President's call, that, as early as Monday night, several Pennsylvania companies had already arrived. If you will look at your map, you will see that only a few hours were necessary to reach Washington, from that State.

General Scott quartered soldiers in the East Room of the White House, where for many weeks they remained for the safety and defence of the President. The Capitol and the Treasury Building were barricaded, and cannon were placed inside. The gay city of Washington soon presented a most warlike appearance.

The very first full regiment to respond to the call to arms, was the Massachusetts Sixth, one thousand strong. It arrived in Baltimore on Friday, at noon, at about the same time with several companies of Pennsylvania volunteers. In