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

forty-five cavalry, and n scotion of a battery OF
artillery In all less than one hundred AMI City
men.
The six companies of men enlisted for one huu-
| dred days remaining in tue State, and two com
| panios OF cavalry, had, under orders from Wash.
| inRton, as l am unotticialy advised, Joined
/ ANerill. The town of Chambersburg was held
until daylight by the small force under General
| Couch, curing which the Government stores and
| train were saved
! Two batteries we're then planted by the enemy,
| commanding the town, and IL was invested by
| the whole command OF johnson add MeCa1s-
! lhnd. At A VI. six companies OF dism Juuted
| men, commanded by Sweeny, entered the town,
| followed by mounted men under GilmOr.
The main force was in liue Of battle, Gul
| demand was made for one hundred thousand
dollars in gold, or five hundred thousand dollars
| I'm Government funds, as ransom, and number
| Of citizens we're arrested and held as hostages
| for its payment.
| The ontr OF money was made by the citizens
/ Of the town and even if they had any Intention
| Of paying a ransom, no time was allowed, as the
| Rebels commenced Immediately to burn and pu-
lage the Town, disregarding the appeals Of women
/ and children, the aged and intrm; and even the
bodies Of the dead were not protected from their
| brutality.
1t would have been vain for all the citizens of
/ the town, If armed, to have attempted, in con-
nectiOn with General COUGHS small command TO
/ defend IL. General Couch Withdrew his com
mRnd, and did not himself leave until the enemy
! were actually in the town.
! ONuNIhl ANeIlll = command DelnE within nine
miles OF Chambersburg, It was hoped he would
| arrive in time TO save the town, and Efforts were
! made during the nighttO communicate with him
In the meantime the small force of General
| Couch held the enemy nc bay. General Averll
| marched on Chambersburg but did no, arrive
| until after the town was burned and the enemy
| had retired. He pursued and overlook them NJ
| McConnellsburg, In Fulton county, in time 70
| save that place from pillage and destruction He
promptly engaged and defeated them, driving
| them 70 Hancock and across the po omac.
commend the homeless aud ruined people
! OF Chambcrsburg to the liberal benevOlence OF
the Legislature, and suggest that sufficient ap-
! proprialicn be made for their relief. Similar
! charity has been heretofore exercised, in the
| case Of an accidental and destructive FIRE at
| Pittsburg, and ! cannot doubt the disposition OF
| the Legislature on the present occasion.
On the 9th day of the month a large Rebel
army was in Maryland, aud at various points on
the Potomac as far west New Creek; and rs
there was no adequate force within the Sta'e,
deemed IL my duty on that day TO call for thirty
thousand volunteer militia for domestic pro-
lection.
They will be armed, transported, and supplied
by the United States but as no provision is made
for their payment, IL will be necessary, should
you approve my action, to make an appropriation
for that purpose.
Feeling it to be the duty of the General Gov
ernment to AFT I'd full protection 10 the people of
Pennsylvania and Maryland by the defense OF
| the line OF the Potomac, | united with Governor
Bradford In the following letter to the President,
dated July 81, 1854 -
STATE or MARYLASD, Executive Department,
| Annapolis, July u, 1864. His EXcellency,
| Abraham Lincoln, President OF the United ST.
SIN 1.-THE repeated raids across the Potomac
river made by portions ofthe Rebel army, aud the
extent of the damage they have succeeded so fire.
gu, ntly in ncting, have most njuriously affected
| the people of Nary land and Pennsylvania in the
| neiRhborhood OF that river, and many of them,
IL Is believed, as the only security against such
losst in the future, are seriously considering the
| proprety OF abandoning their present homes, and
| seeking safety at the North.
II seems to us that not merely in the sectional
aspect of the case, but in its national relation,
the security of the border line between the loyal
| aid rebelOus States is an object justifying aud
requiring disposition of portion of the nationi
| force with an especial view 10 its defense.
The Potomac river can only be crossed in its
ordinary state OF water at some five or six tords,
and we propose TO enlist from our respects,
States volunteer force that shall be sufficient,
| with the aid of the fortiicatiOns which
| The force itself can speedily construct,
10 efectually guard them all. We ask of tue Gov
eIDment that the recruits so raised shall be
| credited TO the quotas of our several State and
| the cal last made, 10 be armed, equipped, and
| supplied as other volunteers in the service.
We arc aware that, as q general Tule, we'll
| founded objections exist 10 the enlistment of 4
| rec 10 lie exclusively used for home or loc II
| defense, but We regard such a service as we )w
suggest as an exceptional case, aud the comple.e
| protection OF this part of our frontier as of adj
| mirted national importance.
For after the outbreak of the Rebellion, the
impor ance Of a special defense Of the region bOr-
| Geripg on the Upper Potomac was recognized by
The GOyerun ent, and the Hon. Francis rnOm vs.
tf Maryland, was authorized by IL TO raise three
regiments, with view 20 the protection Of the
counties on either side Of that river.
Regiments were raised, but the subsequent eXi-
gencies of the service required their employment
cl ewhere and they therefore afford, at present,
noparticuar security to that region beyond other
troops IN The service.
The necessity, as VIC think, for some such pc
culiar provision has now become so obvious that
We would with great respect, but most earnestly,
urge upon your EXcellGncy the eXpedlency of
accediDg to the suggestions we have maje, aud
we will Immediately set about raising the forces
required, and we have NJ doubt they will be
promptly procured.
We have the honor to be, with great respect,
your obeoient servants,
(Signed) A. w. BRADFoRD, and
\. q. CURTIN.
The following letter from the Assistant Adju-
tant. General, dated August !, 1861 is the only
reply received by me, mp 10 this time.
WAR DEPARTMENT, ADJUTANr.GENRRAL's 5
OFFICE, Washington, d. c., August |, lS6i.-His
ExceIlency, the Governor OF sylyana.-Sr (:
Il have the honor 20 acknowledge the receipt of
| the joint letter from yourself and HE Governor
| of Maryland, dated July 2l, 1864, asking au-
thoTity 10 raise volunteer force in your respec-
| tive States, TO be exclusively used for home or
local defense, 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 tn the authority asked
| for cannot be granted. In this connection please
see the Act of Congress, approved February l6,
| 1862, as promulgated In General Orders No. 10,
\ series of 1862, from this office.
have the honor 10 remain, sir, very respect
| fully, your obedlent servant,
| (Signed) Thomas NJ. VINCENT
| Assistant Adjutant-Gencral.
| Mem.-Similar letter sent 20 his EXceency
| the Governor OF Maryland, this date.
The reason given for the refusal to act on this
proposition can be made consistent with the en-
| siment of men for one hundred days, TO serve
| in PeDnsylvania, Maryland and at Washington
| and vicinity.
| The following communication, dated 22d July,
| 1864, WAS made by MajOr-Genera Couch TO the
| Secretary Of War
| HEADoUARTERs DEPT. OF SCsQUEHANSA, At
| HAHRIsBURG, July ~ Hon. Il. NJ. Stanton,
| Secretary Of War-Sir during the recent raid
| into Maryland, the citizens Of Chambersburg
| turned out with determine ion TO stand by the
| few soldiers present and hold tine town against
any cavalry force that might assault 1t. Five
| hundred citizens of York, irrespective of party,
volunteered and were armed and went down the
Northern Central Railroad and! repaired the
! bridges.
In order 10 show you that the border citizens
| are beginning 10 realize that by united action
| they have the strength to protect themselves
against TN ordinary raiding party, enclosed IN
| yite your attention 10 letter addressed to the
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