National Guard sleeping in the Capitol an echo of Civil War

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

To most Americans, the sight of armed National Guard troops sleeping in the Capitol Rotunda this past week was shocking and disturbing. To me, it was an echo of the far-distant past.



“Don’t despond,” Maj. Bowman Bigelow Breed wrote to his anxious wife back home in Massachusetts as his comrades lounged around him on the polished marble floors in the grand hall that was now their bivouac. “You must know by this time that we are here in safety. We may have to fight but my own opinion is that the overwhelming force concentrated here will prevent an attack.”

Insurrection was in the air, and these citizen soldiers had been called up to secure the seat of government.

The date was April 27, 1861. The writer was surgeon of the 8th Massachusetts Volunteer Militia.

My great-grandfather.

-more-

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/national-guard-sleeping-in-the-capitol-an-echo-of-civil-war/ar-BB1cPVPW?li=BBnbcA1&ocid=DELLDHP

[LuvNewcastle]

1. It took them 150 years to do it,

but the Confederates finally made it to Washington.

[zeusdogmom]

2. The NG troops aren't sleeping at the Capital.

They all have hotel rooms in DC. But they are on 12 hour shifts and the pictures are of troops taking a break during their shift. Obviously they couldn't leave the building so just lounging in available space.