American citizen. [volume] (Butler, Butler County, Pa.) 1863-1872, 1864-08-17
WAR DEPARTMENT.

up to this time:
WAR DEPARTMENT,
ADJUTANT GENERALS OFFICE.
WASHINGTON, d. c., Aug, 1st, 1864. J
HIS EXcELLENCY, the Governor of Penn
sylvania Harrisburg, Pa:
SIR Il have the honor to acknowledge
the receipt of the joint letter from your
self and the Governor of Maryland, dat
ed July 21st, 1864, asking authority to
raise volunteer force in your respective
States, to be exclusively used for home or
local defense, and for guarding the fords
of the Potomac.
In reply, l am directed by the Secre-
tary of War to inform you that the prop
osition has been fully considered, and that
the authority asked for cannot be grant
ed.
In this connection please see the act Of
Congress, approved February 13, 1862, as
promulgated in General Order No. 10, Sc
ries of 1862, from this Office.
| have the honor to remain, sir,
Very respectfully,
Your obd't servant,
(Signed) THos NJ VINCENT,
Assistant Adjutant General
MEM-,Simiiar letter sent His Erect
lency, the Governor Of Nyyland, this
date.
How the reason given for the refusal
to act on this proposition can be made con-
sistent with the enlistment of men forone
hundred days to serve in Pennsylvania,
Maryland and at Washington and vicini-
ty, it is hard to perceive.
On the suggestion made by citizens of
the border counties, the following COM
munication dated 22d July, 1864, was
made by Maj Gen. Couch to the Secreta-
ry of War: (Copy.)
HEADoUARTERs DEPT sUsaUBHaSSs,
HARRISBURG, PA, July 22d, 1864.
Hon. EDWIN NJ. STANTON, Secretary of
War:
SIR During the recent raid into Ma
ryland, the citizens of Chambersburg
turned out with determination to stand
by the few soldiers present, and hold the
town against any cavalry force that might
assault it. Five hundred citizens of York,
irrespective of party, volunteered were
armed, and went down to the Northern
Central Railroad to guard their 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 strength to protect them
selves against an ordinary raiding party.
Enclosed, / invite your attention to a
letter addressed to the Governor, together
with his Endorsement upon the subject of
forming special corps from the six bor-
der counties most exposed. IF 10000
men can thus be organized -its existence
would be a protection and give confidence
am informed that the general senti-
ment of the people in question is in IA
vor of something being done at once, and
as a military measure, think it will be Of
essential service to the General Govern
ment, ard recommend that the War De-
partment encourage the movement by au-
thorizing the loan or issue of uniforms,
provided the law in question is enacted.
tits believed that the new militia law
of this State will practically prove of no
value, excepting that an enrolment will
probably be made.
/ am sir,
Very respectfully,
Your obd't servant
(Signed) d. N. CouoH,
Maj. Gen. Comd'g Dept
HEADo'Rs Dept SUsoUEHAsNA,
HARRISBURG, Aug. 4, 1864.
A true copy respectfully furnished for
the information of His Excellency, Gov
A. G. Curtin.
JNo. S. SCHULTZ,
Assistant Adjutant General.
On the same dayI approved in writing
Of the proposition, and expressed my opin-
ion that the Legislature would pass an act
in accordance with it at its adjourned ses-
o,n,, ~, +ho 0Dd oc A,.os..ct t am fiIr-