Louis for arms, was obliged to deny the principles of his manhood, and avow disloy al sentiments, to escape the vengeance of an infuriated mob in that city."

The unprofessional common sense of the people, as well as the judgment of military authorities, pronounced Cairo a point of strategic importance, valuable for defence, and as a depot for supplies. It is situated at the confluence of the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers, and is the key to the navigation of both. It is also the southern terminus of the Illinois Central Railroad, which runs thence to Centralia, where, dividing, one line tends northward to Chicago, there striking Lake Michigan, thus connecting the river and chain of great lakes; the other reaches northwestwardly striking the Mississippi River again at Dunleith, opposite the flourishing city of Dubuque, Iowa. These lines have connection with other roads, and their importance for furnishing transportation of troops and subsistence for operations in the Southwest, can scarcely be overestimated. The seizure of Cairo would have given the rebels control of the railway combinations of the West, and would have closed the navigation of its two chief water lines. It was, therefore, no matter of surprise to Governor Yates that he received, on the 29th of April, the following dispatch from the Secretary of War: "As soon as enough of your troops are mustered into service, send a Brigadier General at or near Grand* Cairo." The Governor at once sent the following dispatch:

“General Swift :

"SPRINGFIELD, April 19, 1861.

"As quick as possible have as strong a force as you can raise, armed and equipped with amunition and accoutrements, and a company of artillery, ready to march at a moment's warning. A messenger will start to Chicago to-night.

"RICHARD YATES, "Commander in Chief."

"That means business," was the response when this dispatch appeared in the newspapers, and business it was, for on the 21st, or only forty-eight hours after its reception, General Swift left Chicago with four six-pounders, and 495 men. His artillery was strengthened, however, by Captain Houghtaling's battery, of Ottawa, Captain Hawley's, of Lockport, Captain McAllister's, of Plainfield, and Captain Carr's, of Sandwich, which went forward on the 23d.

*The Hon. Secretary knew Cairo was in "Egypt," hence some confusion of prefix.

THE CAIRO EXPEDITION.

The expedition consisted of the following force:

Brig. Gen. Swift and Staff......
Chicago Light Artillery, Capt. Smith.
Ottawa Light Artillery, Capt. Houghtaling.

Lockport Light Artillery, Capt. Hawley.
Plainfield Light Artillery, Capt. McAllister.
Co. A, Chicago Zouaves, Capt. Hayden..
Co. B, Chicago Zouaves, Capt. Clybourne.
Capt. Harding's company...

Turner Union Cadets, Capt. Kowald.

Lincoln Rifles, Capt. Miholotzy.

Sandwich company, Capt. Carr.

Drum Corps.

Total

14

150

86

52

72

89

83

80

97

66

102

17

908

99

To which was added Captain Campbell's Ottawa Independent Artillery, with about twenty men and two six-pounder cannon, which reported to the commanding General on the 28th.

This advance "army of occupation" and defence was equipped after a fashion not specified in the Regulations, nor described in the "Tactics." It was a citizen-corps, made up largely of the youth of the best families of the State, and many of them were armed by a requisition on their homes and friends, and Chicago stores.

The expedition reached Big Muddy Bridge, on the Illinois Central road, at 5 P.M., on the 22d. Here Captain Hayden's company was detached to guard the bridge, and protect the road from straggling traitors. The rest went forward, arriving at Cairo the next morning at 8 o'clock. The batteries, for which they had neither shot, shell, nor canister, were provided with slugs hurriedly made, and destined to do deadly work among the rebel squadrons at Fort Donelson.

The occupation was not effected a day too soon. Hard by were the disloyal Governors, Claibourn M. Jackson, of Missouri, Isham Harris, of Tennessee, and Beriah McGoffin, of Kentucky, who prated of neutrality. Jackson responded to the President's call for troops by saying, "Your requisition, in my judgment, is illegal, unconstitutional and revolutionary in its objects, inhuman and diaboli

* Information having been received of an attempt to burn the bridge at Big Muddy, Gen. Swift detached part of Company B Chicago Zouaves, under command of Lieut. P. N. Guthrie, and one section of Capt. Smith's Chicago Light Artillery, under command of Lieut Willard, with instructions to report to Capt. Hayden. ▲ section of Capt. Houghtaling's Ottawa Light Artillery, was also ordered to this bridge.

cal and cannot be complied with. Not one man will the State of Missouri furnish to carry on such an unholy crusade." Harris flung into the face of the chief magistrate this defiant answer, "Tenessee will not furnish a single man for coercion, but fifty thousand, if necessary, for the defence of our rights, and those of our brethren." The answer of Beriah McGoffin, who has the questionable fame of having invented a novel style of neutrality, bristling northward with bayonets and looking southward with men and means, said: "In answer, I say, emphatically, that Kentucky will furnish no troops for the wicked purpose of subduing Southern States!" The conscientious care of Beriah, lest the President "should put forth his hand into iniquity," would savor much of hopeful sanctity, did it not so strongly suggest the ancient, but unseemly role of Satan as a reprover! The precious trio of Border State statesmen, had their emissaries watching this important river and railway center, with eagle and evil eyes, and were almost ready to seize it, but the commander of the Union forces, was swift to forestall them, and Cairo became, and has remained, a military post of the United States.

In his message to the Legislature in extraordinary session, Gov. Yates states the reasons for the immediate occupancy of this point:

"The transfer of part of the volunteer forces of this State was made in compliance with an order of the War Department, directing a force to be stationed at Cairo. Simultaneously with the receipt of the order, reliable information reached me of the existence of a conspiracy by disaffected persons in other States to seize upon Cairo and the southern portion of the Illinois Central Railroad and cut off communication with the interior of the State. It was my desire that the honor of this service should have been given to the patriotic citizens of the counties in the immediate vicinity. But as these were not at that time organized and armed for patriotic duty, and the necessity for speedy action was imperative, the requisition was filled from companies previously tendered from other portions of the State."

The arrival of the troops had its grim poetry and romance. The loyalty of all the residents of the city was not above suspicion, but they met a sudden change of expression, if not of heart. The rationale of their conversion was well stated by a plain farmer of the vicinity: "I tell you what it is, them brass missionaries has converted a heap of folks that was on the anxious seat!" Even so, and the government was to learn that "brass pieces," ball and bayonet, were the true evangels of peace and the avant couriers of a restored Union!

An aggrieved Kentucky Congressman wrote Mr. Lincoln a note complaining that Cairo was occupied by armed troops, and that Kentucky regarded the act as a usurpation and offensive. The President replied by assuring the honorable member that when he ordered the troops to Cairo, Illinois, he did not suspect that it was included in a Kentucky Congressional District or he surely would not have done so! But he did not soothe the ruffled representative by an order to remove the forces.

On the 24th the seven companies arrived from Springfield, commanded by Colonel, afterward Major-General B. M. Prentiss, who relieved General Swift, and assumed command. The companies of of Harding, Hayden and Clyborne proceeded to Springfield to join a regiment then organizing, but were too late and were mustered out of service, receiving one month's pay, allowed them by act of the Legislature then in extraordinary session.

Under the provisions of the Legislature, six regiments were organized, and called the "First Brigade of Illinois Volunteers." These regiments were numbered, seven, eight, nine, ten, eleven and twelve, in respect to the regiments of Illinois volunteers, that had served in the Mexican war. As soon as these forces were mustered, they were ordered to duty. The Seventh, commanded by Colonel Cook, was mustered into service at Springfield, April 25th and ordered to Alton, Ill., on the 27th inst.

The Eighth, commanded by Colonel Oglesby, was mustered into service, the same day, and ordered to Cairo on the 27th inst.

The Ninth, commanded by Colonel Paine, was mustered into service, at Springfield, April 26th, and was ordered to Cairo, May 1st. The Tenth, commanded by Colonel Prentiss, with part of his command, was ordered to Cairo, April 22d, and on the 29th was mustered into service at Cairo.

The Eleventh, commanded by Colonel Wallace, was mustered into service at Springfield, April 30th, and ordered to Villa Ridge, May 5th. The Twelfth, commanded by Colonel McArthur, was mustered at Springfield, May 2d, and ordered to Cairo, May 10th.

In relation to the formation of this brigade, Adjutant-General Fuller, makes the following interesting remarks: "On the completion of the organization of these regiments several hundred volunteers were left unprovided for. Most of the companies arrived in

camp with over one hundred men. Seven hundred and eighty, rank and file, was the maximum allowed by the War Department, and among the most touching and painful incidents, indicating the patriotic fervor of our people, at that time, noticed in the preparation of these troops for the field, was the rejection of these surplus volunteers. Strong men, who had left their homes at an hour's notice to enter the service of their country, wept at the disappointment of being refused admission to companies on muster day. Provision was made for them of one month's pay, and they filed their rolls and were mustered out of the service of the State!"

The service rendered by these forces to the Government, while posted at Cairo, can not be too highly prized.

One of the early doings of the Cairo garrison was the stoppage of the river trade in Galena lead and Cincinnati and Louisville dry goods. Boats were passing daily with such stores, designed for "Southern trade." In advance of orders from Washington, Governor Yates sent the following order:

"Col. B. M. Prentiss, Cairo:

"SPRINGFIELD, April 24, 1861.

"The steamers C E Hillman and John D. Perry are about to leave St. Louis with arms and munitions. Stop said boats and seize all the arms and munitions.

"RICHARD YATES, "Commander-in-Chief."

On the evening of the 24th and morning of the 25th the steamers came on, not suspecting stoppage. Col. Prentiss had given orders to Capt. Smith, of Chicago Light Artillery, and Capt. Scott, of the Chicago Zouaves to board and seize them, and those gallant young officers performed the work with a relish, and the arms and munitions, of which there were large quantities, were seized, and their confiscation was subsequently approved at Washington, and on the 7th of May Secretary Chase, of the Treasury, issued a circular forbidding shipments to ports under insurrectionary control, and directing that all such shipments should be stopped at Cairo.

The Legislature passed liberal appropriation bills, that the State might be placed on a war footing, and authorized the creation of ten regiments of infantry, one regiment of cavalry and one battalion of light artillery, for State service. One of these might be organired from volunteer companies then at Springfield, and one from each