American citizen. [volume] (Butler, Butler County, Pa.) 1863-1872, 1865-01-11
NUMBER 5


corps Of veterans, to be called the First
corps. One Of the regulations is that
upon application by the Governor of any
State, recruiting officers viii be designa-
ted for such State, | have been redues-
ted by Gen Hancock to make such ap-
plication, but have hitherto declined to
comply 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 fam
lies ofvolunteers. lhaye inquired ofGen
Hancock whether the proposed corps is 70
form part of the regular army or of the
volunteer force, and if the latter, under
what act of Congress is it to be raised
lie has referred that communications TO
the War Department, from which ! have
as yet received no answer to it,
The following letters have passed be-
tween Gen. Hancock aud myself on this
subject:
PENNSYLVANIA Executive CHAMBER,
HARBIsBUBG Pa, Dec 10th, 1861
GENEBAL:--I received your letter at
the moment Of ny departure for Phila-
delphis on Monday last. returned this
morning and hassened to reply.
Having no knowledge of the organiza-
tion Of the corps you are to command
than what appears in the newspapers and
orders, | viii be obliged if you will in
form me If tits to be regarded as a part
Of the regular army Of the United States
or as part Of the volunteer service.
II it IS pert Of the army Of the United
States, | certainly have no connection
with it, as Governor of the State II it
is organized as volunteers, bo pleased to
inform me under what act Of Congress.
need not say, General that would
be most happy to do all in my power, per-
s0ually and officially, to raise a force to
be commanded by you Can We notraise
you two or three regiments in Pennsylva-
mia, in the usual manner and according to
the act Of Congress, for your corps? or
course would consult you in tie selae.
tion Of officers, and only commission
where you approved
/ cannot understand the Importance Of
my asking that persons be sent to Penn
| sylvania to induce veterans to gotothe Dis
| trctof Columbia to enlist. | certainly
will do nothing to embnrrass the plan
kproposed.
We have benefits, by general and spec
ial legislation in Pennsylvania, which at
tach 10 the volunteer and his family.
While | will do nothing to deter the yet4
Grams OF the State from entering your
corps, hesitate to connect myself with
model Of onlistmont which may de-
priye them OF such benefits, unless 1t i5
my duty under the law.
am, General, very respectfully,
Your obedlent servant,
a. G. CUBIlN.
MAJOR General Winfield d Hancock
HEADQUARTERS FIRST CoRPs,
EAsmNGToN, D. G., Dec 81 1861
70 lis ErctilncY, Uom H. q. Cipta,
Goee4or # Pl2aylronio
SIR-l have the honor to acknowledge
the receipt Of your Communication Of the
29th inst, and have referred the same to
the War Department. | thank you for
/ your kind expression Of personal good
will, and regret that there should be any
accession for hesitation on your part to
/ lend your Official influence, as Governor,
to the raising Of corps as proposed by the
! War Department.
tits not within NV province. perhars.
70 discuss the plan OF organization. as t
am acting under the direct orders of the
! War de4aftment. and INV own views
therefore arc of no practical moment
may e,y. however that I hayeno knowl-
edge of the organization other than what
I have derived from the orders and eireu-
lars Of which [ mailed vorr official con.
| les December 5tb.
Icannot soo how volunteers from th;s
CORPS from YOUR State lose anv Of the adj
yantar s attaching to these fer other or
eanizatious.
They arc credited to the localities
where they or their families are dondcil-
ed and count on the quota Of vour
State.
TtshouH be borne in mind that this il
an effort TO oct men into service who are
not snbieot to n draft
/ hoSa tho honor IN re,,,aio ,ov, roo.