e, has received us with friendship and
hospitality. We enjoy equal privileges with the native born. The path
to honor and fortune is alike open to us and them. The law protects
and befriends us all alike. We have also sworn allegiance to the same.

"Countrymen, 'Arise to arms; our adopted country calls!' Let us prove
ourselves worthy of that land, and of those heroes from whom we
descend.

"I hereby offer myself as one of that number, and I am confident that
many of you are ready and willing to do likewise. Let each settlement
send forth its little squad. Many in this neighborhood are now ready
to go. A third regiment will soon be called by the governor of this
state. Let us, then, have ready a number of men of the right kind, and
offer our services as a part of the same. Let us place ourselves on
the side of liberty and truth, not only with words but with strong
arms,--with our lives. Then shall our friends in the home of our
childhood rejoice over us. Our children and children's children shall
hereafter pronounce our names with reverence. We shall ourselves be
happy in the consciousness of having performed our duty, and should
death on the field of battle be our lot, then shall our parents,
wives, children and friends find some consolation in their sorrow in
the conviction that they, also, by their noble sacrifices, have
contributed to the defense and victory of right, justice, and liberty.
And a grateful people shall not withhold from them its sympathy and
friendship."

A few days later I left a dear wife, home, and two children, and started
for Fort Snelling, but not alone; about seventy Swedes and thirty
Norwegians from Red Wing, Vasa, Chisago Lake, Holden, Wanamingo,
Stillwater, Albert Lea and other places, went there with me, or joined
us in the course of a few days.

[Illustration: MUSTERING VOLUNTEERS.]

Meanwhile the third regiment had been called, and one hundred of my
companions were mustered in as Company D of that regiment, with myself
as their captain, a Norwegian friend, L. K. Aaker, formerly a member of
our legislature, as first lieutenant, and my old friend H. Eustrom as
second lieutenant. Although Company D was the only military organization
in our state consisting exclusively of Scandinavians, there were quite a
number of those nationalities in every regiment and company organized
afterwards.

I may be excused for saying a few words concerning my o