Company B, Cleveland—John Mack.
Company C, Brooklyn—J. S. Andrews.
Company D, Cleveland—P. W. Rice.
Company E, Cleveland—Louis Heckman.
Company F, Geneva—Dennis Kenny.
The organization was officially designated as the “First Regiment of Light Artillery, Third Brigade, Fourth Division, Ohio Volunteer Militia.”
The first public appearance of the newly born “regiment” was at the unveiling of the statue of Commodore Perry, in Cleveland, September 10th, 1860. The occasion was an imposing one, and a number of military companies from abroad were present and participated in the parade, notably organizations from Rhode Island, which was Commodore Perry’s native state. The visiting troops and distinguished guests accompanying them were hospitably entertained during their stay in Cleveland by the members and friends of the Artillery and the Grays. A few months later the pomp and glory of a holiday pageant were exchanged for the stern realities of “grim visaged war,” and the guns of the Cleveland Light Artillery were hurling shot and shell into the ranks of the rebels south of the Ohio River.
Mr. Lincoln was elected President in the fall of 1860. As the political campaign of that year progressed the result was foreshadowed by the strong drift of public sentiment at the North. The “fire-eaters” of the South wrought themselves into a high state of excitement over their prospective defeat and for a month before the contest was decided made lurid threats of secession and revolution in such a contingency. The northern people were slow to believe that these declarations were anything more than “wind.” Even when they began to take definite form, after the election, the number was yet small who believed there would be a conflict of arms.
The success of the Republican party in the election was made the pretext for the great revolt. Six weeks later South Carolina packed her knapsack and marched out of the Union. Six other states followed closely upon her heels, and in a short time four more. Beaten at the ballot-box they determined to try the cartridge-box, but—as those most interested in this volume will remember, for they helped to make it so—this experiment was equally unsatisfactory to them in its outcome.
By the time the “cotton” states began to secede, and the people of the South to show great activity in the organization of military companies, the impression became quite general throughout the North that the situation was critical and there was serious trouble ahead—and not very far ahead, either. The great “coming event” of the century was “casting its shadow before.” Every day but strengthened and intensified the determination, through the great, loyal North, that at all hazards the Union should be preserved and the flag protected from dishonor.