The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1865-01-12

sion of the Legislature, providing for
the appointment Of commission to
ascertain the damages done In the
counties of Bedford, Fulton, Franklin,
Cumberland, York and Adams, by the
Rebel army in 1864, which failed in the
Senate for want of time.
/ commend to your consideration the
propriety Of the passage of such oi'l our
ing the present session. 1t is just 70 lnI
people of those counties who have suhereo'
as we'll as to the Government, that tueo1
damages should be fairly ascertaInea' anu
the evidence perpetuated, whatever may
be the view to be taken, on future con-
sidertion, by the United States or state
Governments as to the propricty OF pay
ing such claims.
Major G eperal Hancock has been au-
thorized by the War Department to raise
corps of veterans, to be called the First
Corps. One of the regulations is that on
application by the Governor Of any State,
recruiting officers will be designated for
such State. | have been requested by
General Hancock to make such applica-
ton, but have hitherto declined to com
ply with the request. 1t appears to ME
that the families of men raised on the
plan adopted by the War Department
would probably not be entitled to the re-
lief provided By our own laws for the
families Of volunteers. | have inquired
of General Hancock whether the pro-
posed corps is to form part Of the regular
army or of the volunteer force, and if
the latter, under what act of Congress 1t
is to be raised. He has referred that
comm mnnication to the War Department,
from which | have as yet received no
answer to it.
The following letters have passed between
General Hancock and myselfo this subject:
PENNSYLVANIA EXECUTIVE CHAMBER,
Harrisburg, Pa, Dec 20, 1864.
General Il received your letter at the
moment of my departure for Philadelphla on
Monday last | returned this morning and
hasten to reply.
Having no knowledge of the organization
of the corps you are to command than what
appears in the newspapers and orders, lwlll
be obliged if you will inform me if it is to be
regarded as part Of the regular army of the
United States OF as part of the volunteer ser
vice.
If it is part of the army of the United
States. cert inly have no connection with
it as Governor of the State. If it Is organ
lied as volunteers, be pleased to inform me
under what act Of Congress!
/ | need not say, General, that | would be
I
and officially. to raise force to be comman-
ded by you. CIn we not raise you two or
three regiments in Pennsylvania, in the usual
manner and according to the act OF Congress,
for your corps! OF course | would consult
you in the selection of officers, and only COM
mission where you approved.
/ cannot understand the Importance of my
; asking that persons be sent TO Pennsylvania
to induce veterans to 60 into the District OF
Columbia to enlist. | certaily will do moth
inc 10 embarrass the plan proposed.
We have benefits by general and special
| Legislation in Pennsylvania, which attach tu
the volunteer and his family. While | will
Go nothing to deter the veterans of the State
from entering your corps, hesitate to con-
meet myself with a mode of enlistment which
NAV deprive them of such benefits, unless II
is my duty under the law.
| am, General, very respectfully, your O.
bedient servant, A. u. CURTIN.
Major Gen. Winfield S. Hancock.
HEAp-OUaRTERs FIRST CORPS,
Washington, ID. c., Dec. 81, 1864.
To His Excellency Hon. A. G. Curtin, Gov.
ernor of Pennsylvania
Sir:-l have the honor to acknowledge
the receipt of your communication of the 29th
inst. and have referred the same 10 the War
Department. thank you for your kind ex-
preston of personal good will, and regret
that there should be any occasion to for hesi-
taton on your part TO lend your official in
huence, as Governor, to the raising of the
corps as proposed by the War Department.
1t is not within my province, perhaps, to
discuss the plan Of organization, as am act
ing under the orders Of the War Department,
and my own views, therefore, are of no prac
I tical moment. ] may say, however, that had
no knowledge of the organization other than
what have derived from the orders and cir
cuiars of which | mailed you official copies
December 6.
cannot see how volunteers for this corps
from your State lose any of the advantages
attaching to those of other organizations.
They are credited to the localities where
they or their families are domiciled, and
count on the quota Of your State
| 1t should be borne in mind that this is an
effort to get men into the service who are
not subject TO draft.
| / have the honor to remain, very respect
| fully, your obedient servant,
WINFIELD S. HANCOCK,
Msjor General United States Volunteers,
Commanding First Corps.
The only act of Congress for raising volvn-
teers, | am aware Of requires that The field
and line officers shall be commissioned by the
Governors of the several States. The men
In the corps are not to he formed into organ
izations of the respective States, and it is
proposed that its officers shall be appointed
by the General Government know of no
act of Congress or of Assembly under which
men so raised will be entitled to pensions or
their families to benefits from the United
i1 al