proved a most valuable school of officers and men, to which the governor frequently resorted in the organization of the new regiments. Among regimental commanders who commenced their military career in the three months regiment were Colonels Lum, Throop, Withington, Roberts, Abbott, Whittlesey, Graves and Horner.

We have given especial mention to the service of this our first Michgan regiment, for the reason that for a short time it was Michigan's only one, and was the pioneer of that great army of Michigan men, who consecrated with their blood almost every important field in the War of the Rebellion.

It should have been before noted that before the outbreak of actual hostilities by the firing on Fort Sumter, Governor Blair had called the legislature to meet in special session at Lansing on May 7 to take such action as then might appear necessary to support the authority of the national government. The legislature assembled in accordance with the call, and remained in session until May 10, when it adjourned sine die.

In the four days of its session it passed ten acts and two joint resolutions. Only two of these need be noticed now. The first was an act to amend the act of March 16, 1861, "to provide a military force." This act it elaborated and extended so as to provide for one hundred companies to be recruited from the Volunteer Militia, of not less than 78 nor more than one hundred to each company. These one hundred companies were to be organized into a division of two brigades of five regiments each. The officers to be commissioned by the governor, and such part of the force as the governor might deem expedient should be put under drill and instruction by regiments. The remaining portions of the act provided for the muster, equipment, and discipline

of this force, and also provided for raising one company of engineers, provided the governor had assurances from the War Department that said company would be accepted into the service of the United States. The legis lature also passed an act to provide for the relief by counties of the families of volunteers. Boards of Supervisors were authorized to borrow money or raise the same by taxation for the relief of the families of such volunteers, not exceeding the sum of fifteen dollars per month to any one family.

Act No. 5 provides for a war loan of not exceeding $1,000,000 for the purpose of organizing the Volunteer Militia for suppressing insurrection, etc. The governor and state treasurer were authorized to negotiate the loan. The acts and resolutions of this special session were all approved on the last day thereof, May 10.

It is to be presumed that the legislature supposed that it had made ample provision for the demands that might be made upon the state until the meeting of the next regular session of that body. Yet before that date was reached, Michigan had sent to the field not less than sixteen regiments of infantry, cavalry and artillery, and one full regiment of engineers and mechanics.

By an order of May 11, 1861, the Secretary of War (Simon Cameron), authorized the raising of three regiments in Michigan in addition to the three months regiment, the three new regiments to be enlisted "for three years or during the war." The secretary wrote to Governor Blair under above date, "Let me earnestly recommend to you to call for no more than four regiments, of which only three are to serve for three years or during the war. And if more are already called for to reduce the number by discharge." This shows conclusively that the cabinet was still under the spell of Secretary Seward's ninety day delusion.

But whoever else was deluded Governor Blair was not. He had grasped the nature and magnitude of the Southern conspiracy, and was in favor of raising at once an overwhelming force, and preparing for all contingencies. Therefore in apparent disregard of the exhortation of the Secretary of War, he ordered, May 27, the organization of the 5th, 6th and 7th infantry, and the assembling of the officers and non-commissioned officers of those three regiments at Fort Wayne, near Detroit, for a school of instruction. This authority was conferred upon the governor by the act of May 10, to provide a military force, and proved a very wise and timely exercise of his authority.

Congress, called in special session on July 4th by the proclamation of the President, having had its eyes opened to the fallacy of Secretary Seward's "ninety day theory," by the battle of Bull Run, authorized the call into service of 500,000 men, under which call there were ultimately received into the service 657,863 for three years, 30,952 for two years, and about 12,000 for less periods. Michigan's quota under this call was 21,337, and by January 1, 1862, 16,475 officers and men had been recruited, organized, drilled and forwarded to the field. And before one year from the date of the outbreak at Charleston had passed over, Michigan had fully answered every requisition made upon her.