Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1866-02-08
This statement is exclusive of militia am,

1862. .284
3 This statement is exclusive of militia am,
, enlistments for the United States navy
J | refer for more perfect details of all the
: military operations of the State to the re
ports of the Adjutant General Of the other
military departments OF the State and to
my previous annual messages. This briei
military record would be imperfect if | fail
ed to commend the fidelity, zeal and indus
try of the military departments of the State
and to express my personal obligations for
the ready obedience and constant support
have uniformly received from the Chiefs of
the Departments and officers of my person
al staff
An approximate Judgment of the amount
OF labor performed by these departments,
and in the Office of the Secretary of the
Commonwealth, may be made, when it is
stated that over forty-three thousand (43,-
OOO) military commissions were issued dur
ing the war
The first request for troops from this State
was dated at Washington, on the 18th of
April, 1861, and on the 10th the telegraph
announcement to the War Department that
over 1000 were at Harrisburg, awaiting
marching orders
1t is our proud privilege to have it remcm-
bered, that the first military aid from the
loyal States, which reacted Washington,
was the force Of AGO Pennsylvanians, who
arrived there on the 18th day of April and
that, when the Capital of the Nation was
the second time threatened. after the battle
of Bull Run, the regiments of the Pennsy-
vania Reserve Corps, were the first troops
sent forward.
From the beginning of the war to its
close, the State has never faltered in it's
support of the Government
Proceeding in the strict line of duty the
resources Of Pennsylvania, whether in men
or money, have neither been withheld or
squandered. The history of the conduct OF
our people in the field, is Illuminated with
incidents of heroism worthy of conspicuous
notice but it would be impossible to men-
tion them i'll the proper limits of message,
without doing injustice or perhaps. making
! lnvidous distinctions. Arrangements are
i'll progress to have complete history OF
our regiments, such as has been contempIa-
ted and is provided for in an act of Assem-
bly, already passed and OH this subject
Commend the report of the Executive Mill
tary Department to your favorable consid-
GRAFTON. 1t would be alike impossible to
furnish history of the associated benevo-
I ence and of the large individual contribu-
tions to the comfort of our people in the
field and hospital, or of the names and SER
vices, ,at all times, of our volunteer surgeons,
when called to assist in the hospital, or Oh
the battle field nor is it possible 10 do JUS
! tlce to the MANY patriotic Christian men
who were always ready to respond when
summoned to the exercise of acts of human.
ity and benevolence.
Our Vemies were sustained and strength
ened i'll the field, by the patriotic devotion
of their friends at home and we can never
render full justice to the heaven-directed,
christian benevOlence of the wu-
, men of the State.
| During the war had occasion, from time
10 time, to communicate freely with the
Legislature on subjects bearing upon the
interests Of the men representing the State
i'll the armies of the Republic
! 1t is with d sense of untelgned gratitude
that | acknowledge how chcerfully and
promptly the Legslure and the people act
| cd upon my suggestions, whether for the
support OF the government, the enlistment
| and organization of troops, or for the COM
fort of our people alread in the field.
Without this generous Confidence and
liberal support, the labors of the Executive
would have bten III vain /; the treasure that
has been expended would have been wasted,
precious lives lost would have been an eni-
pity sacrifice, the bruised hearts of kindred
and friends would have been without solace.
The strong men, whose health has been bro
ken and whose bodies have been manned
would have been monuments of herOism
wasted, and the honor of this great Com
monwealth would have been degraded am
Idst the fallen ruins of the Institutions of
the Republic.
The report of the Hon. Thomas II. Bur-
rowes, shows the gratifying result, under
his active management,of the system adopt
ed by the State, for the maintenance aud
education Of the orphans of our soldiers
HIS report exhibits the fact, that ,242 or
phans are now actually admitted to the
schools, and that $40 applications in all
have been allowed, and orders issued for
their admission, many of whom have been
admitted since his report. 1t will also be
seen. that the largest appropriation, that
ever will be required, will he for this and
the two ensuing years, and that then the
amount will be gradually reduced | have
tlliS 10 you,
and deem 1t unnecessary to add another
word, in asking a continuation OF an appro-
priation which is to provide for and educate
the best blood of the State, and support the
living legacies which have been bequeath-
ed us by the men who laid down their lives
for the country. When we remember that
every sort of public and private pledge that
the elOqucnce of man could device or utter,
was given to our soldiers as they went for
ward, that if they fell, their orphans should
become the children of the State, cannot
for an instant suppose, that you will hesi-
tate to continue an appropriation, which is
to bless their little ones, providing comfort
able homes, instead of leaving them in
want and destitution many of them to fall
victims to wee and crime
At the time of the invasion of the North,
in 1868, by the rebel army, the President
made requstion on me for militia to serve
during the emergency. The men came for
ward promptly, to the number of sc, ,59S of
whom upwards of 25, 600 refused to be mus
tered into the service of the United Stat s,
III consequence of circumstances of prior
occurrence not necessary to be here stated
la this embarrassment, the emergency