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

10 no 1000. - UtO
Do do 1866. .......................... 25 $40
1852 284
This statement is exclusive OF militia and
enlistments tor the United States navy.
| refer, for more perfect details of all the mill
ary operations of the State to the reports OF the
Adjutant.Genera of the other military depart
NJ ents of the State, and to my previous annual
messages. This brief military record would be
imperfect il l failed to commend the fidelity,
ZEAL and industry OF the military departments
OF the State, and to express my personal obliga-
tons for the ready obedience and constant sup.
port have uniformly received from the chiefs
OF the departments and officers of my personal
staff.
An approximate judgment of the amount Of
labor performed by these departmen nts, and in
the office of the Secretary OF the Common wealth,
may be made, when it is stated that iorty-three
thousand (43,000) military commissions were
issued during the war.
The first request for troops from this State was
dated at Washington, on the 10th OF April, 1861,
and on the 10th the telegraph announced to the
War Department that over four thousand men
were at Harrisburg, awaiting marching orders.
1t is our proud privilege to have it remem-
bered, that the first military aid from the loyal
States which reached Washington, was the force
OF AGO Pennsy lvanitns, 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
Pennsylvania Reserve Corps were the first
troops sent forward.
From the beginning OF the war 10 Its close the
State has never taltered in Its support OF the
Government.
Proceeding in the strict line of duty, the re-
sources of Pennsylvania, whether in men or
money, have neither been withheld nor squan-
dered. The history of the conduct of our people
in the field is illuminated with incidents of
herosm worthy OF Conspicuous notice; but it
woulo be impossible to mention them in the
proper limits of a message without doing injus-
tice, or, perhaps, making invidious distinctions.
Arrangements are in progress to have q COM
plete history of our regiments, such as has been
contemplate and is provided tor in an act OF
Assembly already passed. and on this subject
commend the report of the Executive Military
Department to your favorable consideration.
1t would be alike impossible to furnish his
tory of the associated benevolence and of the
large individual contributions TO the comfort of
our people in the field and hospital, or of the
names and services, at all times, of our volunteer
surgeons, when called to assist in the hospital
or on the battle6eld nor is it possible to do
| justice TO the many patriotic Christian men who
were always ready to respond when summoned
to the exercise of acts OF humanity and benevo-
| lence.
Our armies were sustained and strengthened in
the field by the patriotic devotion OF their friends
at home; and we can never render full justice 20
the heaven-directed, patriotic, Christian beneyo-
| lence of the women of the State.
During the war had occasion, from time TO
time, to communicate freely with the Legislature
| on subjects bearing upon the interests of the
It is with sense of unfeigned gratitude that
| acknowledge how cheerfully and promptly the
Legislature and the people acted upon my sug-
! gestions whether for the support OF the Govern
meut, the enlistm ent and organization of troops,
| or for the comfort OF our people already in the
| field
without this generous confidence and liberal
| support, the labors of the Executive would have
| been in vain; the treasure that has been ex-
| pended would nave been wasted, precious lives
! lost would have been an empty sacrifice, the
| bruised hearts of kindred and friends would
| have been without solace, the strong men,
| whose health has been broken and whose bodies
| have been manned, would have been monuments
OF heroism wasted and the honor oil TINS great
| Commonwealth would have been degraded
amidst the fallen ruins of the institutions OF the
| republic.
The report of the Hon. Thomas H. Burrowes,
| shows the gratifying result, under his active
| management of the system adopted by the
State for the maintenance and education OF the
orphans of our soldiers His report exhibits the
| fact, that 1912 orphans are now actually admit
| ted TO the schools, and that 1876 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. viii be for this and the two ensuing
| years, and that then the amount will be gradu-
| ally reduced. have heretofore commended this
| charity to you, and deem it unnecessary to
| add another word in asking continuation oi
| educate the best blood of the State, and support
the living legacies which have been bequeaChed
| us by the men who laid down their lives for the
| country. When we remember that every sort
| ofpubiic and private pledge that the eloquence
| of man could devise or utter was given to our
! soldiers as they went forward, that II they fell
| their orphans should become the children OF the
State, cannot for an instant suppose that you
| will hesitate to continue an appropriation
which is to bless their little ones, providing
comfortable homes, instead OF leaving them In
want and destituton, many of them to fall vic
tins to vice and crime.
| AZ the time of the invasion OF the North, in
1894. by the Rebel amy, the President made a
| reduistion on me for militia to serve during
the emergency. The men came forward
nromptly, to the number of 36,58S of whom
nnwards of 25 600 refused TO be mustered into
the service of the United States, in consequence
of circumstances of prior occurrence not neces
sary to be here stated.
In this embarrassment, the emergency being
very pressing, after consultation with the Presi
dent he authorized and requested me to call
them on behalf of the State, and for the defense
! of the State, the United States paying all the