American citizen. [volume] (Butler, Butler County, Pa.) 1863-1872, 1866-02-07

tiFely cut OH. Oenefai Patterson, prompt
ed by the necessities Of the situation,
made, on the 25th of April, requisition
upon me for twenty-five additional regi-
ments of infantry and one of cavalry. to
be forthwith mustered into the service of
the United States Under this requisi-
ton, accepted, from among the many
pressing to be admitted into the service,
sufficient number of companies to fill it;
care being taken to allow to each county,
as nearly as possible, fair representation.
Only eleven regiments, however, in addi-
tion to the fourteen called for by the Pres
idcnt, were organized and mustered into
the service, before the order of General
Patterson was countermanded by him,
under instructions from the War Depart
ment
On the 14th day of May, 1861, the
Secretary of War, in letter commuui-
eating the plan of organization, for three
years regiments, confirmed the revoca-
tion of the order in the following Ian
guaee: "Ten regiments are assigned to
Pennsylvania, making, in addition to the
thirteen regiments of three months mill
tia, already called for. twenty-three reei-
ments 1t is inportantsto reduce, rather
than enlarge this number, and in no
event to exceed it. Let me earnestly
recommend to you, therefore, to call for
no more than twenty three regiments, of
which only ten are to serve during the
war, and if more are already called for, to
reduce the number by discharge
The twenty-five regiments raised as
above stated, comprised 20,970 men,
The ardor of our people was undated
Many of the companies, under my order,
had arrived in camp at Harrisburg, and
others maintained their organizations at
home at their own expense, aud by con-
traditions from their neighbors and
friends.
In the critical condition of the country
and anticipating that, in case of reverse
to our arms, the borders of Pennsylvania
would be the portals to the rich granar-
les, manufactures and store houses of the
North, deemed it my duty to convene
the Legislature, that adequate provision
might be made to enable me to render
the military power Of the State as avaia-
bic and efficient as it should be, for the
common defense of the State and the
General Government; and, accordingly,
on the Goth of April, 1861, issued my
proclamation, calling for a meeting ofthe
Goperal Assembly, on the 3oth Of the
same month
In my message to the Legislature at its
opening, recommended the immediate
organization, discipliping and arMing of
at least fifteen regiments, exclusive of
those called into the service of the Uni
ted States.
The Legislature acted promptly upon
this suggestion, and made full provisions
tor its efiectual accomplishment. The
result was the early and complete organi
cation, clothing and equipment of the
Pennsylvania Reserve Volunteer Corps,
with its thirteen regiments of infantry,
one of artilla,y and e.of cavalry, un-
der the supervision of George A. M'Call,
who was selected to command it, with the
commission and rank. of Major General
This corps contained 14,S56 men, and
the whole expense of raising, clothing,
subssting and paying them,
until their entry into the United States
service, was SS55,444 81. They were
escamped in different parts of the State.
excepting two of the regiments, command
ed by Colonels Chas. j. Biddle and SEN
eca G., Simmons, and two batteries of ar
tillery, under the command of Colonel
Charles I. Campbell, which at the re-
quest of the War Department, were sent
on the 22d Of juno, 1861, to the relief
of Colonel Wallace, at Cumberland, Mar
yland, aud 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 requisltion, into the serv-
ice of the United States. Within four
days after the disaster at Bull Run, cley-
en- regiments, in all respects ready forac
tive service, were in Washington and
Baltimore.
The troops sent to Western Virginia
were recalled, and with the other two
regiments of the corps, forwarded to
Washington.
On the 26th of July, 1861, the Sec
retary of War expressed his qualification
aud thanks for the prompt response from
Pennsylvania.
The wisdom of the Legislature in pro-
vidips for the formation of this corps,
for the interests of the State and the Ma
tion, vas fully shown by 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 coun-
try, and to have sent them back unac-
cepted would have caused serious diff
Guilty 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 volun-
teers to serve for three years. Under
this authority, acquisitions were made on
this State, and fourteen regiments were
promptly furnished, In the meantime
authorities had been granted BY the Pres
ident and the Var Department to
number of individuals to raise regiments
in different parts of the State, which Sc
riously interered with the action of the
State authorities in filing acquisitions
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