It is not long until Fort Sumter is fired upon by the enemies of their country. The roar of the cannon, whose balls shattered the walls of that Fort, echoed throughout the land and aroused an indignant people to arms. In the meantime the President calls for 75,000 volunteers to enter the service for three months. He has been blamed for calling for so few, and for so short a time. That call, however, doubtless saved the capital of our nation, which was then sorely beleagured.

In compliance with this call, the State of Illinois furnished six regiments for the "three months' service." That call was made on the 15th day of April, 1861. The county of St. Clair promptly sent six companies; the county of Madison three companies, and the county of Montgomery one company. They rendezvoused at Springfield, Illinois, on the 23d day of April, 1861, and were organized and mustered into the service on the 25th of the same month. It was the third regiment organized in Illinois, and was numbered as the 9th Regt. Ill. Vol. Inft.

The roster of officers of companies, as reported, is as follows:

Company A.—Aug. Mersy,Captain.
"—Jacob Kercher,1st Lieutenant.
"—Birt Affleck,2d Lieutenant.
Company B.—Rodolphus Beckier,Captain.
"——— Ledergarber,1st Lieutenant.
"—H. Clay Hay,2d Lieutenant.
Company C.—I. F. Tiedeman,Captain.
"——— Conner,1st Lieutenant.
"—Hamilton Lieber,2d Lieutenant.
Company D.—Alexander G. Hawes,Captain.
"——— Cox,1st Lieutenant.
"——— Roman,2d Lieutenant.
Company E.——— Catine,Captain.
"——— Scheitlier,1st Lieutenant.
"——— Scheminger,2d Lieutenant.
Company F.—Van Cleve,Captain.
"—Loren Webb,1st Lieutenant.
"—Geo. Adams,2d Lieutenant.
Company G.——— Tucker,Captain.
"——— Davis,1st Lieutenant.
"——— Ash,2d Lieutenant.
Company H.—Jesse J. Phillips,Captain.
"—John W. Kitchell,1st Lieutenant.
"—Wm. F. Armstrong,2d Lieutenant.
Company I.—Jos. G. Robinson,Captain.
"—Thos. J. Newsham,1st Lieutenant.
"——— Gerly,2d Lieutenant.
Company K.—John H. Kuhn,Captain.
"——— Shutterer,1st Lieutenant.
"—Emil Adam,2d Lieutenant.

An election for field officers was held on the organization of the Regiment, which resulted in the choice of—

ELEAZER A. PAINE,Colonel.
August Mersy,Lt. Colonel.
Jesse J. Phillips,Major.

The following were appointed staff officers:

Dr. Bell, of Springfield,Surgeon.
Dr. S. M. Hamilton, of Monmouth,Assistant Surgeon.
John W. Kitchell,Adjutant.
—— Davis,Quarter Master.
J. J. Ferree,Chaplain.

No sooner was the Regiment fully organized, than it was called to duty. The Rebels were evidently making their arrangements to take possession of, and occupy Cairo, Ill. They saw at once, if they could do this, they would be able to cut off all communication between the Ohio and Mississippi rivers. They would thus occupy a position from which they would be able, not only to command these rivers, but to make inroads into the State of Illinois. They contemplated making their battle-grounds on Northern soil. It did not at all enter into their original plans, to wage this war upon the sacred soil of the South. Their soldiers were promised the privilege of sacking Northern cities, and overrunning Northern States. But promptly the government took possession of Cairo, and thus saved Illinois from the invasion of the enemy. While the Border Free States of Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana and Iowa have suffered from Rebel raids, more or less, Illinois has thus far escaped.

To carry out this design of occupying Cairo, ere the enemy got possession of it, orders were issued on the 30th of April, 1861, to the 9th Regt. Ill. Inft., to report at Cairo, Ill. It arrived at that point May 1st, 1861, at 9 A. M. It was the third Regiment on the ground at Cairo.