April 12, 1861 South Carolina seceded from the Union. A week later President Lincoln called for 75,000 troops to enlist for 3 months. At 10:00 pm April 17, 1861 the FIRST military company in the State of Illinois was tendered to Governor Yates by Daniel Gold while the proclamation was yet passing over the wires. That first military company was made up of boys from Lawrence County, IL. Do you know if your ancestors served in the war?