The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1864-08-09
(corY)

| of July, relative 10 the United States providing
| uniforms for q special corps of militia from GER
/ tain border counties Of Pennsylvania.
| In reply, am directed 20 Inform you that the
/ subject has been carefully considered by the
! Secretary Of Wrr, who cannot sanction the issue
/ Of the clothing in question.
am, General, very respectfully, your obedient
| seryant,
(signed) Tnos. VI. vlNcrSr, 4. A. Gen.
! Headquarters Department OF the sus Iuehannl,
! Harrisburg, August 6, lS64.-A true copy. R,s-
| spectfully furnished Tor the information Of his
] EXcJlency, Governor 4. G.. Curtin, Sgned,
| John Schulz 2, A. A. General.
In each of the three years, 1862, 1863, and 1891.
II has been found necessary 10 call out the State
militia for the defense Of the State, aud this he
| been done with the assent aud assistance of the
General Government
From the want of organization ge have been
obliged 10 rely exclusively ON volunteer military,
and with few exceptions TO organize ane for
such occasions.
This has caused confusion and a loss OF yalu-
able time and has resulted in sending to the
held bodies OF men in great measure undis-
/ ciplined.
| The Militia bill passed at the last session is
think, for ordinary tlmes, the best militia Law
we have ever had, but under the existing extri-
ordinary circumstances ii seems to require moli-
| flea ion.
suggest that the Assessor be directed 10 make
an immediate enrolment, classifying theinlit!a as
NAV be thought best
That the OIL er be appointed by the Governor.
! on the recommendation, approved by him, OF a
Board OF Examination, conf posed OF three NJ lior-
! Generals for each Division, Of whom the Major
| General OF the Division shall be on the othertSo
! 20 be designated by the Governor, from adjOin-
! ing division, or in such other modes rs the
Legislature may think t that in all cases the Oti-
GERS shall be selected by preferences from officers
and men who have been In service, and shau
| have been hOnOraby discharged by the United
| States, and that efcctual provision be m Ide for
drafting the militia when required.
ha 40,
| Is made 10 avoid the angry dissenuon, and too
| often political jealousy, which divide military
| organizations by the election OF officers,
and TO secure the services OF the most
deserving and competent men. The election of
| officers in the volunteer forces in the field has
| been found to be injurious ~ the service while
| promotions by seniority and appointments of
meritorious iyates have produced bravery, and
new organizations, the pan adopted of granting
! authority 10 officers TO recruit companies has
| been found to be the best policy.
1 also recommend that the Governor be
| authorized 10 form, either by the acceptance Of
volunteers or by draft, in such parts of the State
as be may deem expedient, a special corps of
militia, TO consist in due proportions of cavalry,
| artillery, and infantry, 10 be kept no
| 10 the full number of fifteen regiments, to
/ be styled Minute Men, who shall be sworn and
mustered into the service of the State for three
| years; who shall assemble Tor drill Mt such times
and places as he may direct, who shall be
clothed, armed, and equipped by the stare, and
paid when assemb' cd for drill or called into SER
| vice; and who shall at all times be liable to be
called into immediate service for the defense Of
the State, independently Of the remainder of the
! term enlisted for.
As this force would be subject to sudden calls
| the larger part of IL should be organized in the
| counties adjoining Our exposed border, and as
| the people of those counties have more personal
interest in their protection, the recommend ion is
| made 10 authorize the Governor to designate the
- al, "a u. IL
| save the time and expense of transporting troops
| from remote parts of the State, and the sub
| eistence and pay in going TO and from the hor-
| der. body of men so organized will il
is believed, be effective to prcventraids and incur
| siOns.
1he expenses of clothing, arming, and equip
ping such force cannot be correctly ascertnined,
| but the Quarterma>ter General has been directed
to approximate estimates for your information,
| which will be independent of pay and Of subsst-
| eDcc.
The State should provide at least six four gun
| batteries Of field artillery, with all the modern
| quenlly made by more rejecting persons that the
State should raise a force and keep it perma-
nently in the field for her defense.
Apart from other considerations, IL is 70 be OBJ
! served that the expenses of such me lsure
wonld he quite beyond The present ability Of the
| State.
To raise and maintain an army of fifteen regi-
merits land any smaller force would be male
!
moro ihan fifteen millions Of dollars.
The plan which have above proposed would
think, give the State efficient protection, and il
| the Legislature should think tit TO adopt il the
expense can be readily provided for by loan or
otherwise.
Having an organized force under the control
of The authorities OF the State. and mustered into
| service for domestic protection, we would not, as
heretofore, lose time in arranging for trdnsporta
i~tion and supplies with the National Government
! when hppnmpg
| field.
When thoroughly organized, it should DC In
| all lis appointments an army which could be in
| creased from our enrolment of classified citizens.
The plan which | have above suggested Is the
| result ofthe reflection and experience whi;h have
had during the last three years, and have fclt IL
to he my duty TO submit it for your considera-
ton, for the purpose of providing for the eiIectual
defense Of the State.
If the Legislature should prefer the adoption
| of any other plan, more efficient and econ imica
| than that which have herein proposed, it will
give me pleasure TO cooperate heartily in carry
| ing il INTO effect
| In accordance with the act of March 4, 1861
| have appointed for the Eastern armies, Colonel
| +. Jordan as Agent at Washington, and Lieutc-
nant- Colonel James Gillian as Assistant Agent
at that place; and also for the Southwestern
| armies, Lieutenant Colonel James Chamberlain
| as Agent at Nashville.
These agents are now actively engaged 10 the
performance of their duties, and IL is desirable
that our people should be aware that part of
| them consist in the gratuitous collection Of all
| CLAIMS by Pennsylvania Volunteers or their legal
repIes entatives lon the State and National Gov
| ernments.
| Volunteers having claims on either Of these
| Governments can have them collected through
these agents without expense, aud thus be
| secured from the eXtortions 20 which il Is feared
| they have sometimes heretofore been subjected.
Having received information from the agents
| OF the State that our sick and wounded were suf-
| feTing greatly from the want of comforts aud
! even necessares, have been recently compelled
to call on the people to contribute supplies
mainly in kind, for their relief; and it gives me
pleasure to say that this appeal has been cheer
fully responded TO, as have been all my former
| appeals to the same end.
| 1t seems impossible 20 exhaust the liberality of
our generous people, when the well-being Of our
brave volunteers is in question.
In my special message of Both of April stated
the circumstances attending the advance, by
banks and other corporations, Of funds for the
| payment Of the militia called out in 1868.
In consequence, the Legislature passed the act
| of May 4, 1864, authorizing a loan for the pur-
pose of refunding, with interest, the amount thus
! advanced, In case Congress should fail to make
the necessary appropriation at its then current
session.
l regret to say that Congress adjourned
without making such appropriation. The
| balance in the Treasury being found sutii-
cent 10 reimburse the funds so advanced
without unduly diminishing the Sinking Fund
have deemed IL advisable not to advertise for