This was received by Colonel Barnett early in the evening of the day named. How the news spread through the city, as if borne upon the wings of the wind! How it set the hearts of the impatient boys to thumping and how they cheered at the tidings, while tears dimmed the eyes and moistened the cheeks of wives and mothers and sisters and sweethearts!
Early Sunday morning Colonel Barnett issued the following order to captains of companies:
You will report your command of twenty men ready to march to Columbus tomorrow at 12 o’clock, noon, at the Public Square. You will have your piece and caisson and harness complete at the depot between Superior street and Vineyard lane, with a detail of ten men to attend to their embarkation, at 9 o’clock A. M., under the command of a sergeant, and when embarked report to your superior officers.
By order of the Adjutant General of Ohio.
James Barnett,
Colonel First Regiment Artillery,
S. B. Sturges, Lieutenant Colonel.
A messenger was hurried out to Brooklyn to stir up that company, and a telegram was sent to Geneva, carrying the news to Company F.
“Ah, then and there was hurrying to and fro,” as the artillerymen hustled around, engaged in hasty preparation for “going to war.” In Cleveland, as everywhere else, there was a furious ferment of excitement. For the moment business of every kind was laid aside. The one absorbing theme was the opening conflict. Husbands and sons and brothers had been called to the field to defend the nation’s flag. Not only their immediate friends but the citizens generally put forth every possible effort to fit out the boys in good shape. Meetings were held and fervid speeches were made. But no stimulating force was then necessary, for every heart was swelling with patriotic ardor and the spirit of sacrifice. It was not a good time for the utterance of “copperhead” sentiments. Had any one dared to express sympathy with those who had fired on the flag his life would not have been worth a rush. If there were any such, they kept prudently quiet. People shouted and sang patriotic songs, and spoke words of cheer and encouragement to those who were about to leave for “the front.” The boys had little need, however, of being urged to obey the call of duty, and sympathy was wasted on them, for they were in a state of feverish anxiety for an opportunity to unlimber their guns in the face of the foe.
The state of public feeling was about as hot as it could be, but on Sunday morning another dispatch was received which added more fuel to the fierce flames and raised the temperature to even a higher point. It was as follows:
Columbus, O., April 21, 1861.
To Colonel James Barnett,