At 5.20 A. M. on April 12, 1861, a mortar in the rebel battery on Sullivan's Island in the harbor of Charleston fired a shell into Fort Sumter. This was the announcement to the world of the decision of the rebels to delay no longer, but to at once "ope "The purple testament of bleeding war." On the 13th Major Anderson abandoned the unequal contest, and surrendered the blazing ruins of his fortress to Beauregard; on the 14th his garrison marched out with the honors of war; and on the 15th Abraham Lincoln called for 75,000 volunteers, a force which it was believed would trample out rebellion in ninety days. The North answered Charleston's cannon and the President's appeal with a magnificent assertion of its latent patriotism, and the war spirit flamed up in every State. On April 17 the business men of Detroit held a public meeting at the invitation of its Board of Trade, at which the firm purpose to support the government in its contest with treason was emphatically declared, and all needed assistance in troops and money was pledged. Senator Chandler escorted General Cass to this gathering, and their entrance, arm in arm, typifying as it did the solidification of the Union sentiment of the North, was followed by long-continued cheering. Both gentlemen spoke in tones of earnest loyalty and amid constant applause. That night the following letter was mailed to Washington: DETROIT, April 17, 1861. _Hon. Simon Cameron._ DEAR SIR: One of the most distinguished Democrats in this country[20] says: "Don't defend Washington. Don't put batteries on Georgetown Heights, but shove your troops directly into Virginia, and quarter them there." Stand by the Union men in Virginia and you will find plenty of them. By this bold policy you will save Virginia to the Union as well as the other border States. There is but one sentiment here. We will give you all the troops you can use. We will send you two regiments in thirty days, and 50,000 in thirty days more if you want them. General Cass subscribed $3,000 to equip the regiments. There are no sympathizers here with treason, and if there were we would dispense with their company forthwith. Your friend, Z. CHANDLER. Michigan justified her Senator's pledges by promptly raising and equipping many more troops, than the State was required to furnish under the call for 75,000 volunteers, and this correspondence soon followed: DETROIT, April 21, 1861. _Hon. Simon Cameron._ MY DEAR CAMERON: ... I will esteem it a very great favor if you will officially call for at least one more regiment to go to the front immediately from this State. You did not call for but one, but we have got two all ready, and have raised $100,000 by private subscription to equip them. Truly yours,