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"What cause, what excuse do disunionists give us, for breaking up the best Government, on which the sun of heaven ever shed its rays? They are dissatisfied with the result of the Presidential election. Did they never get beaten before? Are we to resort to the sword when we get defeated at the ballot box? I understand it that the voice of the people expressed in the mode appointed by the Constitution, must command the obedience of every citizen. They assume, on the election of a particular candidate, that their rights are not safe in the Union. What evidence do they present of this? I defy any man to show any act on which it is based. What act has been omitted to be done? I ap peal to these assembled thousands, that so far as the constitutional rights of slaveholders are concerned, nothing has been done, and nothing omitted, of which they can complain.

"There has never been a time, from the day that Washington was inaugurated first President of these United States, when the rights of the Southern States stood firmer under the laws of the land than they do now; there never was a time when they had not as good cause for disunion as they have to-day. What good cause have they now that has not existed under every Administration ?

"If they say the territorial question-now, for the first time, there is no act of Congress prohibiting slavery anywhere. If it be the non-enforcement of the laws, the only complaints that I have heard, have been of the vigorous and faithful fulfillment of the Fugitive Slave Law. Then what reason have they?

"The Slavery question is a mere excuse. The election of Lincoln is a mere pretext. The present secession movement is the result of an enormous conspiracy formed more than a year since, formed by leaders in the Southern Confederacy more than twelve months ago.

"But this is no time for the detail of causes. The conspiracy is now known. Armies have been raised, war is levied to accomplish it. There are only two sides to the question. Every man must be for the United States or against it. There can be no neutrals in this war; only patriots—or traitors.

"Thank God, Illinois is not divided on this question. I know they expected to present a united South against a divided North. They hoped, in the Northern States, party questions would bring civil war between Democrats and Republicans, when the South would step in, with her cohorts, aid one party to conquer the oth

er, and then make easy prey of the victors. Their scheme was carnage and civil war in the North.

"There is but one way to defeat this. In Illinois it is being so defeated by closing up the ranks. War will thus be prevented on our own soil. While there was a hope of peace, I was ready for any reasonable sacrifice or compromise to maintain it. But when the question comes of war in the cotton-fields of the South, or the corn-fields of Illinois, I say the farther off the better.

"I have said more than I intended to say. It is a sad task to discuss questions so fearful as civil war; but sad as it is, bloody and disastrous as I expect it will be, I express it as my conviction before God, that it is the duty of every American citizen to rally around the flag of his country.

"I thank you again for this magnificent demonstration. By it you show you have laid aside party strife. Illinois has a proud position-united, firm, determined never to permit the Govern

ment to be destroyed."

Such is a brief account of the origin and successive events in the opening of our great civil war. It remains for us to recount, in the succeeding pages, the part which Ancient Woodbury took in the Great Rebellion, giving the names and deeds of the heroic men who went forth to battle from our midst, at the call of our imperiled country, some of whom lie peacefully sleeping on many a glorious battle-field, all over our union, or within the honored and sacred enclosures of our beautiful National Cemeteries.

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In the very opening of this faithful record of Woodbury's patriotic doings, in the great war of the ages for the immortal principles of liberty, the author has the happiness to say, that this ancient town, which has been true and faithful in all the conflicts which have arisen since 1670, in maintenance of the true principles of a free government, were, in this final conflict of ideas, with some few solitary exceptions, in the cases of men with minds diseased,—an unit in defense of the glorious old flag, and the constitution of our fathers. This is well to be said by the author, who, from the first hour of the conflict, felt the great issues of the hour in the marrow of his bones, and was sensitively jealous of every exhibition of weakness, of faltering, or the slightest taint of treachery, under any circumstances, to the flag of the free.

As soon as the news arrived in town, that the rebels had opened fire upon Fort Sumter, and thus inaugurated a war against the honor and integrity of the Union, a patriotic ardor and wild en

thusiasm seized every heart. At the suggestion of leading citizens, the town committees of the Republican and Democratic parties issued a joint call for a mass meeting of all citizens, irrespective of party, to take counsel in regard to the perils of the hour, and the proper measures of defense to be taken in common with the patriotic citizens throughout the land.

The following brief account of this meeting is taken from the Litchfield Enquirer, printed at the time, and shows the unanimity that prevailed among us.

"UNION MEETING.-The crisis in our national affairs, caused the citizens of Woodbury to assemble en masse, on Tuesday evening, the 23d instant. Hon. N. B. Smith was called to preside, assisted by C. H. Webb, M. D., C. W. Kirtland, Lewis Judd' Henry Minor, William Cothren, James Huntington, Nathaniel Smith and G. H. Peck, Esquires, Vice-Presidents; R. J. Allen and G. P. Allen, Esquires, were appointed Secretaries.

"A committee, consisting of Wm. Cothren, James Huntington and C. H. Webb, was appointed to prepare resolutions for the consideration of the meeting, and, during their absence, A. N. Lewis, Esq., sung "The Star Spangled Banner," with thrilling effect; and Nathaniel Smith, Esq., with his usual eloquence-in a stirring speech-caused the cord of patriotism to vibrate with unwonted vigor. The Committee on Resolutions reported the following:

"Resolved, That this meeting, assembled irrespective of party affiliations, under a deep sense of our duties as citizens of a common country, do hereby declare that we have a deep and abiding trust in the principles of our fathers, in the constitution and laws of the United States, and the benign influence of our institutions.

"Resolved, That the present is not the time for political discussion or abstractions; for our country is in danger, to perpetuate and sustain it is the duty of every good citizen; and to uphold and support the President in his patriotic endeavors, no man, who is not an alien to all that makes our government dear to us, will hesitate to pledge his life, his fortune, and his sacred honor in this our greatest peril.

"Resolved, That, as we have prospered under the old flag of the Union, we cannot and will not desert it now, but that we are ready, if need be, to lay down our lives in its defence.

"These Resolutions, after a full and truly patriotic discussion, in which Messrs. W. T, Bacon, Jas. Huntington, Wm. Cothren, A. N. Lewis, C. H. Webb and Lewis Judd, participated, werewith the enthusiasm which now marks New England-unanimously adopted.

"Wm. Cothren, Jas. Huntington, Charles S. Dayton, Sidney Hurd and William C. Beecher, were chosen a committee to solicit volunteers for the defence of our National Flag.

"G, P. Allen, Nathaniel Smith and R. I. Tolles were designated a committee to solicit aid for the families of the volunteers. A subscription paper was immediately circulated, but when our reporter saw it, only two names appeared on it, namely, Wm. Cothren and Daniel Curtiss, each having subscribed $500. Mr. Cothren, in addition to his subscription, pledged the nett income of his business during the war.

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"The volunteers were organized on Saturday, the 27th inst., and the following officers were appointed:-"Captain,-Josiah G. Beckwith, Jr. "1st Lieut.,-Wilson Bryant.

"2d Lieut.,-Geo. E. Harris.

"Orderly Sergeant, -Henry M. Dutton.

"Sergeants,-DeGrasse Fowler, Wm. H. McKay, Chas. N. Newton, Richard Spring.

"Corporals,-Burton Downs, Calvin A. Hubbard, Albert Winton, Geo. A. Chatfield.

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"The name taken by the Company is the Woodbury Rifle Co.'"

Before this meeting closed, thirty-two young men had volunteered for the defence of the country. Woodbury was in advance of the neighboring towns in its patriotic outburst, and men in the latter, impatient to obey, with alacrity, the call of duty, came in from all quarters, to join our brave volunteers.

The subscription paper, alluded to in the foregoing report, was as follows, being drawn amid the excitement and noise of a crowded public meeting. It shows the forethought, as well as the patriotism of the citizens:

"We, the subscribers, agree to pay the sums set against our respective names, to Thomas Bull, Esq., from time to time, as they shall be called for, for the purpose of fitting out one hundred soldiers from this town, for the United States' service; and more par

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ticularly, for the purpose of supporting the families of the soldiers. who shall enlist, during their absence in the service of the United States. If one hundred soldiers volunteer, then we are to pay the whole of the following sums:- if a smaller number, then we are to pay pro rata, according to the number who shall enlist.

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Within a few days, by the judicious efforts of the enlistment committee, a company was gathered to go to the succor of imperilled Washington. But such was the ardent uprising in the State, that the three Regiments called for by the Governor, were much more than filled before notice of our patriotic contribution was received. These three regiments were enlisted, as was our company, for three months. Immediately, there was a call for men to enlist for three years, or during the war, and our noble company, which had enlisted only for the former term, with undiminished ardor, signed enlistment papers for three years. They were to join Colt's Revolving Rifle Regiment, but as that organization was afterwards given up, they finally became Co. E. of the 5th Regiment Conn. Vols., under Col. O. S. Ferry. This change gave the volunteers time to drill here for a time, instead of marching at once, without drill, or experience. They drilled here several weeks, and became quite proficient for raw recruits, and finally were ordered to Hartford.

During these hurried days, it was gratifying to see with what zeal all the inhabitants entered into the spirit of preparation, and hastened on the glorious volunteers. Contributions, in various sums, came in from all sides; alike, from the humblest and from the highest. All, priest and people, entered into the great work. As an example, the Committee, while urging on their work of recruiting and collecting supplies for the soldiers and their families, (there were no bounties, then, family, or other bounty,) received the following letter from Rev. Charles E. Robinson, D. D., now pastor of a church in Troy, N. Y. :

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