The two principal speeches were by B.B.
Howard, the post-master and a Breckinridge Democrat at the November election the fall before, and John A.Rawlins, an elector on the Douglas ticket.

E.B.Washburne, with whom I was not acquainted at that time, came in after the meeting had been organized, and expressed, I understood afterwards, a little surprise that Galena could not furnish a presiding officer for such an occasion without taking a stranger.

He came forward and was introduced, and made a speech appealing to the patriotism of the meeting.
After the speaking was over volunteers were called for to form a company.

The quota of Illinois had been fixed at six regiments; and it was supposed that one company would be as much as would be accepted from Galena.

The company was raised and the officers and non-commissioned officers elected before the meeting adjourned.