Page:Harris Dickson--The unpopular history of the United States.djvu/145

Opening the Civil War in raw troops, wholly unshaken by all their feeble tragedies. There was nothing else to do. Regulars simply did not exist.

The first Federal call was for 75,000 militia to serve a period of three months. In the light of history it is almost incredible that the Federal Government should attempt the reconquest of 560,000 miles of Southern territory, with raw recruits, and in the brief space of three months. The South, as I am reliably informed, likewise did a little supposing, that one Southerner could lick ten Yankees, and the war would be a brief and happy picnic.

Here's an example: The District of Columbia was called upon to supply ten companies. All but three of these companies mustered into the service for three months, with the stipulation to serve within the District, and not to go out of it. As a matter of fact many of these men afterwards served outside of the District without protest; I mention the incident merely to prove the rule, [127]