The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-01-30

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 interests
OF the State and the nation, was fully shown oy
subsequent events. Most of the men who filled
its ranks had been accepted by me under the call
for twenty-five regiments, which was afterwards
rescinded
They had left their families and homes under
deep sense of duty to their country, and to
have sent them back unaccPpted would have
caused serious difficulty in making future en-
lstments.
1861, the President was authorized to call upon
the several States for volunteers to serve for
three years. Under this authority acquisitions
were made on this State, and fourteen regiments
were promptly furnished. In the meantime au-
tholihes had been granted by the President and
the War Department to number OF individuals
to raise regiments in different parts OF the
State, which seriously interiered with the action
OF the State authorities in filling acquisitions
regularly made under the acts of Congress.
The embarrassments arising from this conflict
OF authorities became at length so serious that
was constrained TO call the attention OF the Pre-
sident and Secretary OF War to the subject, by a
communication dated the lst OF August, 1861
and on the 25th OF September following an order
was issued requiring these independent regi-
ments TO report to the Governor, and placing
them under hls authority and control. Acting
under this order, many of the Independent regi-
ments were filled up, others consolidated, and
strength of 89,048 men, were promptly sent for
ward.
During the year 1862 draft was ordered gby
the General Government, which was executed
under the State authorities
OF the quota of the State. under the call of
July z, 1862 forty>three regiments OF volunteers,
aegregatlng 40,3S3 men, were put into service;
and under the draft ordered August 4th of the
same year, fifteen regiments containing an
aggregate force OF 900 men, organized and
sent forward. During the same period nine inde-
pendent batteries OF artillery were organized in
the State, with an aggregate strength of 1858
officers and men.
1t will be remembered that the ardor and
promptness of our people, under such trying cir
cumstances, in pressing the troops forward, was
such as to call from the President especial
thanks, and to request me to express them to
the people Of the State.
During the year 1868 iorty.three thousand and
forty-slX (43,046) men were furnished for the
service, principally to fill regiments in the
field which had been reduced by the exigencles
or the war.
During the year 1864, under the various calls
| of the General Government, thirty-two regi-
| ments, two battalions, and eight unattached
| companies, of different arms OF the service and
| for various periods, were organized and sent to
| the field, aggregating. with re-enlistments in
| the field, amounting to 1856 an aggregate
| force of 81, ,7O4 men, furnished for that year.
On my suggestion, the policy of consolidating
our reduced regiments, and hlling them up by
| the assignment of new companies, was adopted,
and in 1865, under this system, besides organlz-
| ing three entire new regiments, seventy-fve
| companies were assigned to reduced regiments,
| by which they were again filled to the regimen
! tai standard. These three new regiments and
seventy-fve companies with voiHnreer recr1Ifss
Tor regiments in the field, reported by the super
intendents of that service, amounted, in the ag
| gTegate, to 25, 100 men for this year.
| In the month OF September, 1862, after the
| second disaster at Bull Run, it became evident
| that the enemy had adopted an aggressive
policy, and was about to invade the Northern
| States through Maryland and the southern bor-
| der of Pennsylvania Under the sanction of the
| President of the United States on the 18th day
| Of that month, issued my proclamation, calling
into immediate service fifty thousand of the
freemen of this State. Under this call twenty
| five regiments and four companies of infantry
fourteen unattached companies of cavalry, and
four batteries of artillery, we're Immediately
| organized and sent to the border, the greater
portion advancing beyond the State line into
| Maryland.
General John F. REYNOLDS, at that period
I commanding the Pennsylvania Reserve Corps,
| was temporarily assigned, by the Secretary of
| War, to the command of these troops, by whose
| OF der they were returned to Pennsylvania, and
| by my proclamation, disbanded on the Gath of
the same month. In acknowledgment of the
| services rendered by the men of Pennsylvania,
| Major-General Mcclellan, commanding the Army
| of the Potomac, by letter dated the 9th of Sep
tember, 1862 ackno wledgng the service and
thanking the State, uses the following Ian
| guage:--
-"The manntr in which the people OF Pennsylvania
responded TO your ca ana 1aSteneu 10 the defense
Of their frontier doubt exercised great influence
| upon the enemy" and the Governor of Mary land.
HIS ExcellencY A. W. Bradford, IN an order dated
september 20, 1862, used the following language
| in regard to these troops:-"Ih readiness with
which they crossed the border and took their stand
beside the Maryland Brigade shows that the border
is in all respects but ideal line, and that in such
cause as now unltes us, Pennsylvania and Mary
land are but one." D..
In the month of June, 1868, it again became
evident that the Rebel army was advancing
North, threatening also the western border of
Pennsylvania, and on the 26th OF that month, l
again issued my proclamation, calling the militia
of the State into immediate service. In the De-
partment of the Morongahela, i've regiments of
infantry, one company OF cavalry, and one bat
terry of artillery. for ninety days service, and
one battalion OF infantry, one battalion of cav
airy, and one battery of artillery, for six months
United States service, were organized. In the
Department OF the Susquehanna, twenty-three
regiments and five unattached companies of in
fantry, and two unattached companies Ofcavalry,
for ninety days; one battalion of infantry, one
battalion of cavalry, and iour independent bat
terles of artillery, for three months; three regi
ments of cavalry two battalions of infantry,
and three independent batteries of artillery, for
siXmonths' United States service, were organized.
| There were also organized in this department.
for the emergency term" eieht regiments, one
battalion and a number OF unattached companies
Of infantry, two independent batteries of arti
lery, and two companies of cavalry.
| In the Department OF the Monongahela, the
troops under this call were commanded by
MalorGeneral w. Il. II. Brooks, and in the De
partment of the Susquehanna, by Maior-General
ID. n. Couch, severally detailed by the Wan
Department.
The details of the services of the militia on
these occasions as well as the generous assist
ance rendered by the militia of the States of New
York and New jersey have been fully recognized
in previous messages.
Acting under orders, they did not hesitate tC
| cross the State line, and enter Ohio and Western
| UiToinio i'm the West. and in the East they de