Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1866-02-07

the rleh granarics, manufactures and
store-louses Of the North, i deemed
il mysduty to converue the Leglsla-
turc, that adequate provision might
be made to enable me to render the
military power Of the State as avalia-
bic and efficient as it should be, for the
common defence of the State and the
General Government; and according.
lon thc 10th OF April, 1851, issued nv
proclamation, calling for meeting OF
the General Assembly, on the Both of
the same month.
In my message to the Legislature
at It's opening, / recommended the
immediate organization, disciplining
andarming Of at least fifteen regi-
ments, exclusive of those called into
the service of the United States.
The Legislature acted promptly
upon this suggestion, and made full
provision for its effectual accomplish
ment. The result was he'early and
complete organization, clothing equip
ping and equipment Of the Pennsyl-
wanna Reserve volunteer corps, with
its thirteen regiments of infantry. one
of light artillery, and one of cavalry.
under the supervision Of George A .
MCall, who was selected to command
it, with the commission and rank of
Major General. This corps contained
1881 men, and the whole expense of
raising, clothing. snbsisting and pay
ing them, until their entry into the
United States service, was sos, ,444 81.
They were encamped in different parts
of the State, excepting two Of the
regiments, commanded by Colonels
Charles j. Biddle and Seneca G. Sim
mons, and two batteries of artillery,
under the command of Colonel Charles
I. Campbell, which, at the request of
the War Department, were sent on
tho 22d of juno, 1861, to the relief of
Colonel Wallace, at Cumberland, Mary
land, and remained for about six weeks
there, and in Western Virginia, en-
gagged in active operations. Towards
the close of July the whole corps was
called for and taken, on a requisition,
into the service of the United States.
Within four days after the disaster at
Bull Run, eleven regiments, in all re-
spects ready for active service, were
in Washington and Baltimore.
The troops sent to West Virginia
were recalled, and with the other two
regiments ofthc corps, forwarded to
washington.
On the 26th of July, 1861, the Sec
retary of War expressed his gratif-
cation and thanks for the prompt re-
sponse from Pennsylvania
The wisdom of the Legislature in
providing for the formation of this
corps, for the interests of the State
and nation, was fully shown by sub
sequent events. Most of the men who
filed its ranks had been accepted by
me under the call for twenty-five reg
iments, which was afterwards rcscind-
| ed.
. They had left their families and
homes under the deep sense of duty to
their country, and to have sent them
back unaccepted would have caused
serious difficulty in making future en-
liStmcnts.
BY act of Congress of22d and 25th
OF July, 1861, the President was au.
thorized to call upon the several States
for volunteers TO serve for three years.
Under this authority requisilions were
made on this State, and fourteen reg
iments were promptly furnished, ln
the meantime authorities had been
granted by the President and the War
Department to number of individu-
ais to raise regiments in different parts
OF the State, which seriously interfcr-
cd with the action ofthe State author
tics ia filing acquisitions regularly
made under tie acts Of Congress.
The cmbarrassments arising from
this conflict of authorities became at
length so serious that Twas constrain-
cd to call the attention of the Prcsi-
dent and Secretary of War to the sub
ject, by a communication, dated the
lst of August, 1861, and on the 25th
of Sep. following,and order was issued
requiring these Independent regiments
to report to the Governor, and placing
them under his authority and control.
Acting under this order, many of the
independent regiments were filed up,
others consolidated and seventy-threc
regiments, with an aggregate strength
OF s9,o4s men, were promptly sent
forward.
During the year 1862 draft was
ordered by the Gcneral Government,
which was executed under the State
authorities.
Ofthe quota Of the State, undcr tho
call ofJuly Z, 1862, forty-three regi-
mcnts of volunteers, aggregating 40
3S3 men, were put inservice, and un-
der the draft, ordered August 4th of
the same year, fiftecnregiments, con
tanning an aggregate force of $4,000
man nrfro rsvaI a,I cr~t