Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1865-01-12
HEADQUARTERS FIRST CORPS,

WASHINGTON, D. c., Dec. 81, 1864
a. His Ercelency Hon. A. G. Curtin, Governor of
Pennsylvania.
a SIR have the honor toacknowledge to the receipt
al vour communication of the 29th instant and
h '. referred the same to the War Department. l
4 mk Won for your kind expression of personal
q rl will and regret that there should be any oc-
ssjon for hesitation your part to lend your Off
III influence, as Governor, to the raising Of the
crps as proposed by the War Department. 1t is
mi within my province, perhaps, to discuss the
nan Of organization, rs | am acting under the di-
Il ,t orders of the War Department, and my own
Avs therefore, are of no practical moment. |
u ~ saw however, that have no knowledge of the
aaniZation other than what have derived from
A. orders and circulars of which mailed you Off
III copies December 5. | cannot see how volun-
h4s for this corps from your State lose any of the
advantages attaching to those for other organiza-
A. They are credited to the localities where they
a their families are doIniciled, and count the
aOota of your State. 1t should be borne i'll mind
Hat this is an effort to get men into the service
sho are not subject to draft. / have the honor
d remain, very respectfully, your obedient ser
nmt, WINFIELD 5. HANCOCK,
Maj Gen. U. S. Vols, commanding 1st Corps.
DIRECTIONS AGAINST THE CORPS.
The only act of Congress for raising vol
unteers, that | am aware of requires that
h. field and line officers shall be commits
soned by the Governors of the several
Bates. The men in this corps, are not to
b. formed into organizations of the respect
H. States, and it is proposed that its Off
ecrs shall be appointed by the General Gov
ernment. know Of no act of Congress or
OF Assembly under which men so raised
FilI be entitled to pensions or their families
g. benefits from the United States or State
Government In addition, | will observe
ihat, without any feeling of jealousy, | am
bill not ready to participate actively in
to the United States illegally
the right of appointment vested in the State
and which the State authorities can eXer-
eise with more discrimination by reason Of
having greater familiarity with the merits
tf the citizens of their own State than the
United States authorities can possibly have.
] will transmit any further communication
that may receive on this subject 1t will
b. perceived by reference to the correspond
manner provided by law, two or three reg
iments Of veterans for Hancock's corps My
6esire is to assist the Government in every
legal mode in raising men, and especially
l. facilitate an Officer-a native Pennsylva-
lian-so distinguished as Gen. Hancock, in
bis efforts to organize new corps.
| shall throw no obstacles in his way on
the present occasion, but ! cannot, certain
y, be expected to invite violation of law
D. carrying out a plan which sacrifices the
lights of the State under existing laws, and
would leave the men unprotected by them,
, far as concerns future provision for their
comfort and that of their families.
NUMBER OF STATE SOLDIERS IN SERVICE.
will further observe that it appears by
ahe report of the Adjutant General, here
Nrith transmitted, that the State under the
system established by law, has put into the
military service of the United States, since
the commencement Of the war, the follow
lng number of men, viz:
TROOPS SENT INTO SERVICE DURING 1864.