The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1861-05-30
The Pennsylvania Regiments.


From our exchanges We CLEAN that the
treatment Of the Pennsylvania troops is
N ost shameful. They are poorly fed,
poorly clothed and as poorly quartered.
Tn some instances but half rations haze
been furnished them, and even this pit
tapce was IN made up of spoiled meats and
of other articles hardly fit to be fed to
hogs. The blankets furnished a large
portion of the troops were miserable slazy
things-weighiug but pound and half
each, when they should have weighed
fse pounds, and made Of such poor ma
terial that they weR neither protection
against cold nor dampness. Eserytbing
else furnished them was in the same ratio
of good fornothipe Their clothing
was SO poor that it hardly held together
during twenty -four hours wear, and wa
as variegated in color as it was poor in
quality. The heels and soles Of the shoes
of many Of them fell off after one bours
drill, and so ragged and forlorn had they
become, that Gen. Mansfield, at Wash
ington declared that the Pennsylvania
Regiments we're not fit to march. Now
somebody is to blame for this outrage
upon the brave men who have left cou-
Portable homes, and abandoned families,
friends and business that they nj ght De,
fend the gosernncnt against the assault
Of rebels, and shoever it is be should be
searched out and punished and that toe
severely. If it is treason to give aid and
conf fort to the rebels, (and who doubt" it,
it is something infinitely worse, thus tc
disgrace the Commonwealth, and endan
ger the health and life itself, OF the brave
defenders of the Constitution and laws
If discovered drum head court IL artia
and rope should wipe from the eartt
men so vile as these cornorant contrao
tractors or oonmissaries have proved
bemselves to be. The following letter
from Governor Curtin shows that move
ment has been instituted in the rigb
quarter, to stop this evil. We hope il
nay be successful, and that the guilty
ones cay meet their just deserts. Read
the letter:
EXECUTIVE CHAMBER. Harrisburg. }
May "a, 1861. !
Benjamin Haywood, esq, Pottssill Pa.
DEAR SIR: I learned from Genera
Biddlc, Adjntant- General, and my Aid
Colonel r Biddlc Roberts, that the con
dition of the Pennsylvania troops now in
Washington City was disgrceful to The
State, and, what is more important, ths
the men were actually suffering, 10th
from want of proper clothing and q sense
of shame. 1t is. of course, useless to say
to you how mortified | am at such a con
dition of things, and how determined tbs
the saue shall be at once remodied SO fal
as the same is in ny power.
requested you, last evening. to pro.
: ceed at once to Washington City ana
take charge Of this matter You will ht
kind enough to examine fully into the
character Of the clothing Of every de-
scription which has been furnished to OIL
regiments now there. Ascertain the de-
} 6cencies OF every kind, defect Of mate.
rial, regularity of color and faulty man
utacture, aud at once telegraph to me
Whist i. requisite to make the ucn com.
Portable in any and every way, and tc
place the regiments upon a footing, SO
far as con- fort. health, and the army reg
ulstions will permit, with any in the ser.
vice OF the United States. An agent
will be sent with the clothing and other
equiymcnts. and it is my desire that you
remain in Washingso City, or wherever
the regiments may be. until you see that
m; wishes end directions iu this respect
have been fally carried out. confident.
lg believed that tofore this, all these m It.
ters bad been attended to faithfully and
we'll, and can now, while regrctting that
my excrtions had been % frustrated, only
press upon you energetic and prompt ac'
ton 10 this behalf for the comfort of our
gallant and patriotic citizens now in the
ranks Of these regiments, and the preser-
vation of the honor of the State.
Yours truly, A. &. CURTIN.
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