CHAPTER II.
JOHNSTOWN-ITS PATRIOTISM IN THE FIELD AND AT HOME DURING THE CIVIL WAR-HOW THE NEWS OF THE BOMBARDMENT OF FORT SUMTER WAS RECEIVED-THREE COMPANIES SENT TO THE FRONT WITHIN SEVENTY-TWO HOURS-THE COLLECTION OF FUNDS BY THE PEOPLE AND THE BOROUGH-THE BLOODY RUN CAMPAIGN-THE TOWN FORTIFIED AT BEN'S CREEK-HOW THE CALLS FOR TROOPS BY LINCOLN AND CURTIN WERE ANSWERED-THE DRAFTS AND WHAT JOHNSTOWN DID-THE FALL OF RICHMOND-DEATH OF LINCOLN-THE SOLDIERS' ROYAL WELCOME HOME.
The attack on Fort Sumter was begun at 4 o'clock on the morning of Friday, April 12, 1861, but it was not generally known in Johnstown until the next day. It created intense excitement. All business was suspended except the operation of the Cambria works. Anxiety and alarm were at the highest tension-thus passed Saturday.
On Sunday, at all the churches where services were held, the communicants supplicated the Throne to appease the God of War, and besought His aid for the right and just. The Rev. B. L. Agnew delivered a patriotic sermon on the point that “The Lord is a man of war.” The patriotism kindled the day before was growing rapidly. On Monday the result of the attack on Gen. Robert Anderson was made known, together with Abraham Lincoln's call for 75,000 men. Preparations were made to fill the ranks of the Johnstown Infantry and the Zouave Cadets. The fife and drum were heard on the public square, now the Park at Main and Franklin streets, and on the highways, and the flag of the people waved from the homes of the loyal. Commerce was laid aside, and the laborer, the mechanic, the lawyer, the doctor, the minister, the business man and the manufacturer vied with each other in giving their whole service to their country.
Monday passed. On Tuesday, April 16th, the call of Governor Curtin was received, wherein he directed an immediate movement of the local troops to be mustered into the United States service. The armories of these companies were thrown open; public invitations for recruits were posted on the walls and in public places. A third company-the Citizens' Guards-
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