History of Company F, 1st Regiment, R.I. Volunteers, during the Spring and Summer of 1861

In this intimate memoir, a Newport native recounts the birth of Company F, the first Rhode Island regiment to answer President Lincoln’s call for troops in April 1861. Drawing on a meticulous daily journal kept during the first months of the conflict, the author offers a vivid portrait of a small town thrust into the national crisis, from the hurried equipping of Springfield rifles to the proud acquisition of French‑pattern sabres. The narrative captures the raw patriotism that surged through the streets as men volunteered, marched to the sound of fife and drum, and prepared to leave for Washington.

The early chapters follow the company’s rapid assembly, the ceremonial firing of a brass gun on the Mall, and the palpable excitement that halted ordinary business in Newport. Through the eyes of Colonel George W. Tew and his comrades, listeners hear the mix of civic pride and personal sacrifice that defined these first steps toward war. The account remains grounded in the day‑to‑day realities of recruitment, training, and the solemn oath to defend the Union.