The Potter journal. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1857-1872, 1866-02-06

State as available and efficient as it should
be, for the common defence of the State and
the General Government; and accordingly,
on the 10th of April, 1861, issued my procia-
nation, calling for meeting of the General
Assembly, on the 30th of the same month
In my message to the Legislature at its
opening, | recommended the Immediate or
ganization, disciplining and arming of at least
fifteen regiments, exclusive of those called into
the service of the United States.
The Legislature acted promptly upon this
suggestion, and made full provisions for its
efectual accomplishment The result was
the early and complete organization, clothing
and equipment of the Pennsylvania Reserve
Volunteer Corps, with its thirteen regiments
of infantry, one of light artillery and one OF
cavalry, under the supervision of George A.
M'Call, who was selected to command it,
with the commission and rank of Major Gen
eral. This corps contained 1856 men, and
the whole expense Of raising, clothing, equip
ping, subsisting and paying them, until their
entry into the United States servi6 was
S855,44 81. They were encamped in diff
ferent parts of the State, except two OF
the regiments, commanded by Colonels
Chas. J. Biddle and Seneca G. Simmons, and
two batteries of artillery, under the com
mand of Colonel Charles 7. Campbell,
which, at the request of the War Department,
were sent on the 22d of June, 1861, to the
Maryland, and remained for about six weeks
there, and in Western Virginia, engaged 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 respects
ready for active service, were in Washington
and Baltimore.
The troops sent TO Western Virginia were
recalled, and with the other two regiments oil
the corps, forwarded to Washington.
On the 26th of July, 1861, the Secretary OF
War expressed his qualification and thanks
for the prompt response from Pennsylvania.
The wisdom of the Legislature in providing
for the formation of this corps, for the inter-
ests of the State and the Nation, was fully
shown by subsequent events. Most of the
men who filled its ranks had been accepted
by me under the cali for twenty-five regiments,
which was afterwards rescinded.
They had left their families aud homes
under deep sense of duty to their country,
and to have sent them back unaccepted would
have caused serious difficulty in making future
enlistments.
BY acts of Congress OF 22d and 25th July,
1861, the President was authorized to call
upon the several States for volunteers to serve
for three years. Under this authority requi
stions were made on this State, and fourteen
regiments were promptly furnished. In the
meantime authorities had been granted by
the President and the War Department TO q
number of individuals to raise reg iments in
different parts Of the State, which seriously
interfered with the action of the State authori-
ties in filing acquisitions regularl made under
the acts of Congress.
The embarrassmeGts arising from this con-
fict of authorities became at length so seri'
Gus that | was constrained to call the atten'
ton Of the President and Secretary of War
to the subject, by q communication, dated
the l5t of August, 1861, and on the 25th oi
September following, an order was issued re-
quiring 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 filled up, others consolidated, and sew
enty-three regiments, with an aggregate
strength of S9,04s men, were promptly sent
forward.
During the year 1862 draft was ordered
by the General Government, which was exc.
Of the quota of the State, under the call oi
July I, 1862, forty three regiments of volun-
teers, aggregating DC, 1888 men, were put into
service, and under the draft, ordered August
4th of the same year, fifteen regiments, con.
tanning an aggregate force of $1,000 men, or
ganized and sent forward. During the same
period nine independent batteries of artillery
were organized in the State, with an aggre.
gate strength of 1858 officers and men.
1t will be remembered that the ardor and
promptness of our people, under such trying
circumstances, in pressing the troops forward,
was such as to call from the President espe.
cial thanks and TO request me to express
them to the people of the State.
During the year 1863, forty three thousand
and forty-six ,046) men were furnished
for the service, principally to fill regiments in
the field which had been reduced by the exi.
gencies of the war.
During the year 1864, under the various
calls of the General Government, thirty-two
regiments, two battalions and deightunattached
companies of different arms of the service and
for various periods, were organized and sent
to the field, aggregating, with enlistments
in the field, amounting to 1850, an aggre.
gate force Of 81 ,704 men, furnished for that
year.
On my suggestion the policy of consoli-
dating our reduced regiments, and filling
them up by the assignment of new companies
was adopted, and in 1866, under this system,
b esides organizing three entire new regi,
ments, seventy-Gve companies were assigned
to reduced regiments, by which they were
again filled to the regimental standard. These
three new regiments and seyenty-fve compa-
MES, with volunteer recruits for regiments in
the field, reported by the superintendents OF
that service, amounted, in the aggregate, to
%, 790 men for this year.
In the month of September, 1862, after
the second disaster Of Bull Run, it be-
came evident that the enemy had adopted an
aggressive policy, and was about to invade
the Northern States through Maryland and
the southern border of Pennsylvania. Under
the sanction of the President of the United
States, on the Ilth day Of that month is
sued my proclamation, calling to immediate
service fifty thousand Of the freemen of this
State. Under this call twenty-five regi-
ments and four companies of infantry, four
teen unattached companies of cavalry, and
four batteries of artillery were Immediately
organized and sent to the border,
the greater. portion advancing beyond
the State line into Maryland Gene
raj John +. Reynolds, at that period COM
manding the Pennsylvania Reserve Corps,
was temporarily assigned, By the Secretary OF
War, to the command of these troops, by
Al u 4