April 30, 1861
The New York Herald
History rarely if ever presented such a sublime manifestation of patriotic devotion and military ardor as is displayed in the Northern States at this day. With one common impulse all classes of the people, without regard to political opinion, creed, or nativity, are responding to the country’s call, and falling into the ranks of the volunteers.
In great cities like New York of course military enthusiasm concentrates and intensifies; but it is by no means confined to large communities. Every little town and village all over the North has its band of heroes, going forth to battle for the government and the flag of the republic. From one little village in Ohio the other day, with a total population of sixteen hundred, four hundred soldiers turned out. This must have been nearly half the male adult population of the place; and no doubt like instances are occurring every day in other quarters.
In every possible way devotion to the government in this eventful crisis is manifesting itself. Merchants who were not esteemed very liberal with their means are retaining the situation of their clerks who have volunteered, and are paying their salaries to their families, besides contributing thousands to the general fund. Clerks who cannot leave the city are doing double duty for those who are gone; ladies are contributing their quota of service in preparing necessaries for the sick and wounded, and in some cases, as in Philadelphia, are volunteering their assistance to the clothing stores to hasten the completion of uniforms for the troops. And yet, with all this ardor at the North, there does not exist the least wish to subjugate the South. Our Southern brethren are in a state of insurrection against the government and the flag which have protected the whole country, and made it the mighty and prosperous nation it is. The people at the North are determined to bring back the insurrectionists to their senses and their allegiance to the flag of our common country, and it is for this purpose that one voice is ringing throughout the whole Northern States, proclaiming that the national capital must be protected, the constitution and laws obeyed, and peace be restored to the land. In view of this state of the case, it remains for the South now, to decide what her fate is to be the momentous issue before us.