Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1864-08-17

pie Of Chambersburg to the liberal beneVo'
lence Of the Legislature, and suggest that {
suitable appropriation be made for their re
lief Similar charity has been heretofort
exercised in the case Of an accidental ana
destructive fire at Pttsburg, and / canno
doubt the disposition of the Legislature OF
the present occasion.
On the fifth day of this month large
rebel army was in Maryland and at various
points on the Potomac as far west as New
| Greek, and rs there was no adequate force
within the State I deemed it my duty on
that day to call for Thirty Thousand Volun-
| teer Militia, for domestic protection. They
will be armed, transported and supplied by
the United States, but, as no provision Is
made for thair payment, 1t viii be necessary
should you approve my action, to make an
appropriation for that purpose.
Feeling it to he the duty of the General
/ Government to afford full protection to the
people of Pennsylvania and Maryland by
! the defence of the line of the Potomac, |
united with Governor Bradford in the fol-
lowing letter to the President, dated July
2lst, a. d. 1861
STATE OF MARYLAND, EXECUTIVE DE-
PART,IENT, ANNAPOLIS, July u, 1864.
His Excelency, ABRAHAM LINCOLN, Presi-
dent Of the United States
DIX ne TGtCdJCtt iiitiS dCtOSo Iilc i OlD-
mae river made by portions Of the rebel ar
my, and the extent Of the damage they have
succeeded so frequently in intiictIng, have
most injuriously affected the people of Mary
! land and Pennsylvania, III the neighborhood
Of that river, and many OF them, it is be-
! lieved, as the only security against such los
| seS in the future are SerlOuiy considering the
| propriety of abandoning theirpresent homes
and seeking safety at the North.
1t seems 10 us that not merely in this
| sectional aspect Of the case, but in its ma
/ tionaI relations, the security Of this border
| line between the loyal and rebellous States
| Is an object justlfylng and requiring a dis
| position Of portion of the National force
with an especial view TO its defence The
| Potomac River can only be crossed in its
ordinary State OF water at some five or SIX
| fords, and we propose to enlist from our re
| pectiye states volunteer force that shall
| be sufficient with the aid Of the Notifications
| which the force itself can speedily construct
to effectually guard them all.
" e ask the GOVCTHment that the recruits
so raised shall be credited to the quotas Of
our several States on the call last made, and
be armed, equipped and supplied as other
volunteers III the service
We are aware that as general rule well
| founded objections exist to the enlistment Of
a force to be exclusively used for home or
local defence, but we regard such a service
as we now suggest as an exceptional case,
and the complete protection Of this part of our
frontier as OF admitted national importance.
Soon after the outbreak Of this rebellion
the importance OF special defence of the
region bordering on the upper Potomac was
recognized by the Government, and the
Hon. Francis Thopas Of Maryland was au-
thorized by it to raise three regiments with
view to the protection of the counties on
either side of that river These regiments
were raised but the subsequent eXigencieS
Of the service required their employment
elsewhere, and they therefore afford at pres
ent 40 particular security to that region be-
yond other troops in tlre@service
The necessity, rs we think, for some such
peculiar provision has now become 50
| obvious that we would, with great respect,
! but most earnestly urge upon Your Excel
| lencv the expediency Of accedng to the sug-
gestions we have made, and we will immedi-
| ately set about raising the forces required,
and we have no doubt they will be prompt
ly procured.
We have the honor to be, with great re-
spect, your Obedient servants
A. w. BRADFORD,
\. G. CURTIN.
The following letter from the Assistant
Adiutant General, dated August Ist A u.
1864, is the only reply received by ME up to
this time:
WAR DEPARTMENT,
ADJUTANT GENERAL S OFFICE
WASHINGTON, u. c., August lst, 1864.
His Excellency, the Governor of Pennsylya-
MIA, Harrisburg Penn'a
SIR Il have the honor TO acknowledge
the receipt Of the joint letter from yourself
and the Governor of Maryland, dated July
2lst, 1864. asking authority to raise vol
unteer force IN your respective States, to be
exclusively used for home or local defence,
and for guarding the fords of the Potomac.
In reply, | am directed by the Secretary
of War to inform you that the proposition
has been fully considered, and that the au-
thority asked for cannot be granted.
In this connection please see the act of
Congress, approved February l3, 1862, as
promulgated in General Orders No. 10, Sc
ries of 1862, from this office
[ have the honor to remain sir, Very
respectively, Your obedient servant,
Thomas NJ VINCENT,
Assistant Adjutant General
Mem. Similar letter sent HIS Eccellency,
the Goresmor Of Na'ylaad, this date.
How the reason given for the refusal to
act on this proposition, can be made con-
sistant with the enlistment of men for one
hundred days, to serve in Pennsylvania,
Maryland and at Washington and vicinity
it is hard to perceive.
On the suggestion made by citizens of
the border counties, the following commu-
nication dated 22d July, 1864. was made by
Major Gen Couch to the Secretary or
War: (Copy.)
HEADQUARTERS, DEPT SUsoUEHANNA,