Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1864-08-17

iii J.. .,~'e ''"ue ior thelr payment, i
VIII De necessary ,tkPnld you approve N,
purOose' pra.oo, TO make pprpriatiOn for rha
Feeling it TO besthe duty osthe Genera
Government to afford full fgotec.ion tt
the people OF Pennsy ylvania and MARYLAND
by the defence Of the line of the Potomac
| united with Governor Bradford in IN,
following letter to the President, dated
tJuly 2lst, A. D. 1864:
STATE OF MARYLAND, EXECUTIVE DEP'T
ANNAPOLIS, July 81, 1864.
'iiS nronlla-",., -.Liauain Lincoln, pesl-
dent of the United States;
SIR: The repeated raids across The Po-
tomac river made by portions Of the rebel
army, and the extent of the damage they
nave succeeded so frequently in inlictinc.
nave most injuriously affected the people
OF Mary land and Pennsylvania, in The
nelghborhood of that river, and .uapy of
them, 1t is believed, as the only security
against such lcsses in the future, are seri-
ously considering the propriely Of aban-
donlng their present homes and seeking
safety at the North.
lt'seems to Us that not merely in this
sectional view of the case, but in its ma
tional relations, the security of this bor-
der line between the loyal and rebellious
States is an object justifying and reouir-
ing disposition ofa portion OF the ma
ional iorce with an especial view to it's
defence: The Potomac river can only be
crossed IN IT'S ordinary state Of water az
some hVe or SIX lords, and we pror ose TO
enlist from our respective States volun-
teer force that shall be sufficient, with the
AID OF the Notifications, which the force
itself can speedily construct, to etIectual-
ly guard them all
we ask the Government that the re-
crults SO raised shall be credited to the
quotas OF ous several States on the call
last made, and be armed, equipped and
supplied as other volunteers ia The SER
vice.
we are aware that as general rule well
founded objections exist to the enlistment
OF force to be exclusively used for home
or local defence, but we regard such ser
wee as we now suggest rs an exceptional
case, and the complete protection of this
part OF our frontier rs of admitted nation
al importance.
Soon after the outbreak Of this rebellion
the importance OF a special defence of the
region bordering on the upper Potomcc
was recognized by the Government, and
the Hon. Francis Thomas, of Maryland,
ments with view TO tie Protection ft ton of the
counties on either side of that river.
These regiments were raised but the sub
sequent exigencies Of the service reouired
their employment else where, and they
therefore afford at present no particular
security to thatregion beyond other troops
in the service.
The necessity, we think, for some such
peculiar provision has now become so OBJ
vlous that we would, with great respect,
but most earnestly urge upon your Ex-
cellency, the expediency of acceedins to
the suggestions we have made, and we
Will i'hmediately set about raising the for.
ces required, and we have no doubt they
will be promptly procured.
We have the honor TO be with great res
pect, your obedient servants,
(Signed A. w. BRADFORD,
A. G. CURTIN.
The following letter from the Assistant
AdJutant General, dated August lst, A. D.,
is the only reply received by me up to
this time:
WAR DEPARTMENT,
ADJUTANT GENERALS OFFICE,
WASHINGTON, D. c., August lst, 1861.
His Excellency, the Governor OF Pennsyl-
vania Harrisburg, Penn'a
SIR: | have the honor to acknowledge,
the receipt of the joint letter from your
self and the Governor Of Maryland, dated
July 81, 1864, asking authority to raise
volunteer force in your respective States,
to be exclusively used for home or local
defence, aud for guarding the fords of the
Potomac.
In reply, l am directed by the Secreta-
ry of War to inform you that the PROPOSE
ton has been fully considered, and that
the authority asked for cannot be granted.
in this connection please sec the act of
Congress, approved February -, 1862, as
promulgated in General Orders No. Is,
series OF 1862, from this office.
have the honor to remain, sir, very
respectfully, your obedient servant,
(Signed) THOMAS NJ. VINCENT,
Assistant Adjutant General.
Men, Similar letter sent His ErceKenty,
the Governor Of Maryland this aa,c.
low inc reason given Tor the refusal to
act on this proposition, can be made con-
sistent with the enlistment of men for one
hundred days, to serve in Pennsylvania,
Maryland and at Washington, and vicini.
ty, it is hard to perceive
On this suggestion made by citizens OF
the border counties, the following COM
munication dated Odd July, 1864, was
made by Major General Couch TO the Sec
retary of War:
HEADQUARTERS, DEP'T SusQUEnANNA,
Harrisburg, Pa, July %, 1861.
Hon. Edl0m W. Staaton Secretary Of War.
SiR:-During the recent raid into Ma
ryland, the citizens of Chambers burg turn
ed out with the determination to stand by
the few soldiers present, and hold the town
against any cavalry force tina: might as
sault it. 500 citizens of York, irrespect-
i've OF party, volunteered, were armed, and
went down to the Northern Central rail-
road to guard the bridges or hold their
town. This is stated in order TO show you
that the "border citizens" are beginning
to realize that by united action they have
the siren 9Th to protect themselves against