The Potter journal. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1857-1872, 1863-01-21


ten Thousand were posted in the vicinity
of Greencastle and Chambersburg and
about twenty-five thousand were at Har
risburg, on their way to Harrisburg, or in
readiness and waiting for transportation
to proceed thither. One regiment, at
the request eff Gen. Halleck, was sent to
protect Dupont's Powder Mills, in the
State of Delaware. On the Oath Sep
tember the Volunteer Militia were dis
charged by me from service, having by
their spirited demonstration greatly aided
in preventing the intended invasion of
this State by the rebels, and in compell-
ing their sudden evacuation of that por-
ton of Maryland which they had polluted.
For these services, the thanks of the Gov
ernor of Maryland and the Commander
of the Army of the Potomace were rem
dered to our patriotic troops through me.
Measures have been taken to secure the
payment in full of these troops, and on
the expenses attending their services, by
the United States, in accordance with the
terms of the call by the President. A
large portion of the amount has already
been paid. Having accompanied this
force to Hagerstown, [ am enabled to
speak of the courage, fidelity and cheer
fulness with which the men suffered un-
accustomed privations, and bore the fire of
the rebel force, performing with alacrity
all the service that was required of them.
On the 4th of August last, draft Of
three hundred thousand militia, to serve
for nine months, was ordered by the Pres
ident under the act of Congress Of l7th
July, 1862, and regulations were made
by his authority in pursuance of that act,
under which regulations the enrolment
and draft were conducted in this State,
our militia laws being found to be defec-
tive. Several counties and districts hav-
ing already supplied by volunteers their
proportion of the quota of this State, were
exempted from the draft, aud time was
given to enable others to raise the required
number of men by voluntary enlistments.
The draft was generally proceeded with
throu2ho the State on the 10th day Of
October last, and the drafted men were
directed to be placed in the several camps
of rendezvous established under the reg
ulations, where they were organized and
selected their officers, and have since gone
forward to the army in the field. The
draft was eminently successful, and when
the men had been marched to the rendez-
vous, my agency in the matter ceased,
and all authority and control ever the
men developed on the United States Off
GERS. | cannot but commend the people
of Pennsylvania for their cheerful obedi-
ence to the requirements Of the Govern
ment OH this occasion. All the expenses
of the draft are, of course, to be paid by
the Uniled States, and | learn that off
GERS are now in the State, charged with
the settlements and payments.
Including the three months volunteers,
Pennsylvania has furnished to the gener-
al government, more than two hundred
thousand men since the breaking out of
the rebellion, besides some fifty thousand
who were in service, or actually ready for
it, as volunteer militia, under the call CT
18th September last, making in the whole
more than two hundred and fifty thou
sand men.
In October last, a body Of rebel cavalry
with battery of artillery, suddenly
crossed the Potomac and made their way
as far as Chambersburg, plundering what
they found of supplies useful to them and
committing other depredatiops. They
went out of the State by crossing the .
South Mountain, and thus reaching the
Potomac below Harpcr's Ferry. The
troops in the field were not prepared at
the moment to punish the attempt on her
soil, and it is to be much regretted that
efficient measures could not have been
taken by the army to capture the rebels
on their return to the Potomac. Imme.
diately after I received notice that this
force had crossed the line Of the State.
called into service the Anderson Cavalry,
then encamped at Carlisle, and two com
panies of Regulars at the Barracks at that
place. These troops were pushed forward
n the direction of Chambersburg and
South Mountain. The cavalry at Camp
Curtin, consisting of one full and two i'm
perfect regiments, were armed as infantry,
and, together with two companies of in
santry and battery of volunteer light ar
:illery of Harrisburg, were held in readi
ness to go forward, when Major General
Wool arrived and assumed the command
IF all the forces. He had previously or
lered part of his command from Baltl-
more and marched the troops to Gettys-
burg.
The rebels marched with go much ce-
erity that they did not encounter any of
he forces of General Wool, and esca ped
rom the State. [ recommend that ap-