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"Go to your homes with the consciousness of having performed your duty,of deserving, if you do not receive, the protection of the law, and bearing with you the gratitude and respect of all honorable men. You have learned to suffer and to wait; but in your hours of adversity, remember that the same God who has numbered the hairs of our heads, who watches over even the fate of a sparrow, is the God of your race as well as mine. The sweat-blood which the nation is now shedding at every pore is an awful warning of how fearful a thing it is to oppress the humblest being. Until our country shall again need your services, I bid you farewell."

To return to the situation while Cincinnati was under military law. Fortunately for Cincinnati, Kirby Smith, as is now known, had never been ordered to attack this city but only to make a demonstration against it. In any case, his delay of a few days had given time for the city to make ready its defenses. As the attack did not come, certain citizens grew restless under military restrictions. The closing of schools, drug stores and bakeries had been a blunder. The stopping of business now seemed a burden. General Wallace authorized the mayor to issue an order relaxing to a degree the conditions.

"First. The banks and bankers of this city will be permitted to open their offices from one to two P. M.

"Second. Bakers are allowed to pursue their business.

"Third. Physicians are allowed to attend their patients.

"Fourth. Employes of newspapers are allowed to pursue their business. "Fifth. Funerals are permitted, but only mourners are allowed to leave the city.

"Sixth. All coffee-houses and places where intoxicating liquors are sold, are to be closed and kept closed.

"Seventh. Eating and drinking houses are to close and keep closed. "Eighth. All places of amusement are to close and keep closed. "Ninth. All drug stores and apothecaries are permitted to keep open and do their ordinary business.

GEORGE HATCH, Mayor of Cincinnati.”

September 6th, General Wallace was relieved of the command of Cincinnati and was sent across the Ohio to take charge of the defenses. On this date another order appeared, allowing lawful business to be resumed, except liquor selling, until 4 P. M. each day.

This order was as follows:

"HEADQUARTERS, DEPARTMENT OF THE OHIO,

"CINCINNATI, September 6, 1862.

"General Order No. II.

"The resumption of all lawful business in the city of Cincinnati, except the sale of liquor, is hereby authorized until the hour of four o'clock P. M. daily. "All druggists, manufacturers of breadstuffs, provision dealers, railroad, express and transfer companies, persons connected with the public press, and all

persons doing business for the government, will be allowed to pursue their vocations without interruption.

"By command of Major General Wright.

N. H. MCLEAN,

Assistant Adjutant General and Chief of Staff."

Details of white citizens were at work. Three thousand each day handled the spade. There were judges, lawyers, clerks, merchants and day laborers, artists and artisans.

The trenches across the river were manned nightly. Some scouting went on. Wallace was active.

On the evening of September 9th there came another alarm. A rocket rose from a signal tower in the city. Word spread that Kirby Smith was advancing and that the troops were to muster on the landing at sunrise. On the morning of the 10th Governor Tod announced to the people of northern Ohio that General Wright had sent him a telegram at two o'clock that morning, and he ordered that all armed men that could be raised be sent immediately to Cincinnati.

At six o'clock that morning the militia began crossing the river. Crowds of armed citizens were at the public landing. Steamboats, some of which had been changed into gunboats, were being piled with hay for bulwarks. Wagons and troops were passing over the pontoon bridge.

The sun was hot; roads were dusty, and water was lacking on the march. The regiment halted on the top of the Kentucky hills. Officers galloped ahead, and in a few minutes returned and ordered the men into line. The colonel shouted, "You are going into battle. The enemy are advancing. You will receive sixty rounds of cartridges. Do your duty, men. Do your duty."

They went forward to the line of earthworks, with Fort Mitchel on the right and rifle pits hundreds of yards to the left. Armed citizens and a few raw recruits in uniform were in the forts and pits.

About a mile away was a forest, and in it was supposed to be the thousands of foes. The men passed hours in waiting for an attack. At night the camp fires were put out, and the men slept on hay, with loaded guns by their sides. Guards and pickets were doubled.

At four o'clock in the morning reveille sounded. behind defenses. There were regiments reaching to rifle pits and far beyond the artillery in Fort Mitchel.

From that hour they lay right and left, some in

There was from time to time picket firing in front. This continued throughout the day. A few men were wounded and some were killed. An occasional skirmisher could be seen near the forest. A storm came up and the soldiers were forced to take refuge under tents made of blankets and brushwood. The rain soaked the men and destroyed a large portion of their cartridges. As the storm was passing, there was heard to the right a furious firing. Officers summoned the men to arms as the enemy was coming. This was, however, a false alarm.

The expected attack was never made. General Wallace slowly drove the pickets of the Confederates back. On the 11th it was plain to those in command that the peril was past. It was discovered on the 12th that the foe had

retreated. The Squirrel Hunters began their march back on the 13th. There had arrived by this time thousands of regular soldiers and the militia were not required for further service.

As the Squirrel Hunters came back to the city they were received by vast crowds, with cheers and enthusiasm.

Monday, September 15th, General Wallace sent out a farewell proclamation and complimented the citizens. Wallace at that time was much censured, but time has made plain the obligation the city owes him for his prompt action.

For eight days the Confederates, about twelve thousand in number, had remained before the city. General Heath was in immediate command of the Years later, Kirby Smith declared that he could have entered Cincinnati readily at one time "but all hell could not have got him out again." Wallace's proclamation was as follows:

enemy.

"To the people of Cincinnati, Newport and Covington:

"For the present, at least, the enemy has fallen back, and your cities are safe. It is the time for acknowledgments: I beg leave to make you mine. When I assumed command, there was nothing to defend you with, except a few half-finished works and some dismounted guns; yet I was confident. The energies of a great city are boundless; they have only to be aroused, united and directed. You were appealed to. The answer will never be forgotten.

"Paris may have seen something like it in her revolutionary days, but the cities of America never did. Be proud that you have given them an example so splendid. The most commercial of people, you submitted to a total suspension of business, and without a murmur adopted my principle 'citizens for labor, soldiers for battle.'

"In coming time, strangers, viewing the works on the hills of Newport and Covington will ask, 'Who built these intrenchments? You can answer, 'We built them,' If they ask, 'Who guarded them?' you can reply, 'We helped in thousands.' If they inquire the result, your answer will be, 'The enemy came and looked at them, and stole away in the night.'

"You have won much honor. Keep your organizations ready to win more. Hereafter be always prepared to defend yourselves.

LEWIS WALLACE, Major General Commanding."

For some time the work of fortification continued as a measure of prudence. As Buell and Bragg were engaged in watching each other further south, the soldiers of the Confederacy who had been before Cincinnati were summoned to the aid of Bragg. This withdrawal of troops to a distant point dispelled further fears as to Cincinnati until the summer of the next year.

Of the whole number of the Squirrel Hunters, 15.766, there were 504 from Hamilton county. A telegram of compliment to these men was sent to Secretary Stanton, and the retreat of the Confederates was attributed to their appearance. The next year the legislature authorized the governor to prepare proper discharges for these men. "The Squirrel Hunters' Discharge" was issued by the state and approved by the governor.

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