The Ebensburg Alleghanian. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1865-1871, 1866-02-08
egiments Of the corps forwarded to Wash

On the Goth of July, 1861, the Secre-
tary of War expressed his qualification
and thanks for the prompt response from
Pennsylvania. A.
The wisdom of the Legislature in pro-
vidiug for the formation Of this corps. for
the interests of the State and Nation,
was 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 after
wards rescihded.
They had left their families and homes
under deep sense of duty to their coun-
try,sand to have sent them back unaccep-
ted would have caused serious difficulty
In making future enlistments
BY acts of Congress of 22d and 18th
OF July, 1861, the President was authori-
zed to call upon the several States for vol
unteers to serve for three years Under
this authority acquisitions were made on
this State, aud fourteen regiments were
promptly furnished. In the mean time
authorities had been granted by the Presi-
dent and the War Department to num-
Der OF individuals to raise regiments IN
different parts of the State, which serious
ly Interferad with the actior of the State
authorities in films acquisitions regular
ly made under the acts of Congress-
The embarrassments arising from this
conflict of authorities became at length SO
serious tha. was constrained to call the
attention of the President and Secretary
of Wsr to the subject, by communica-
ton, dated the lst of August, 1861, and
on the 25th of September following, an
order was issued requiring those indepen-
dent 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 were consolidated, and seventy
three regiments, with an aggregate
strength of S9,04S men, were promptly
sent forward.
During the year 1862 draft was Or
dered by the General Government, which
was executed under the State auth critics.
Of the quota of the State, under the
call of July J, 1862, forty-three regiments
of volunteers, aggregating 40,3S3 men,
were put into service, and under the draft,
ordered August 4th of the same year, if
teen regiments, containing an aggregate
force OF l5,000 men, organized and sent
forward. During the same period, nine
independent batteries of artillery were or
ganlzed in the State, with an aggregate
strength of |, 1853 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 especial thanks and to re-
quest me to express them to the people of
the State
During the year 1853, 1906 men
were furnished for the service, principally
to fill regiments in the field which had
been reduced by the exigencies of war.
During the year 1864, under the vari-
Gus calls of the General Governments
thirty-two regiments, two battali0ns, and
eight unattached companies of different
arms of the service aud for various peri
DDS, were organized and sent to the field,
aggregating, with re-enl;stments In the
field amounting to 1876, an aggregate
force of 81 ,7O4 men, furnished for that
year.
On my suggestion, the policy of consol-
idating our reduced regiments, and filling
them up by the assignment of new COM
panies, was adopted, and in 1865, under
this system, besides organizing three en-
tire new regiments, seventy-fve compa-
MES were assigned to reduced regiments,
by which they were again flied to the
regimental standard. These three new
regiments and seventy-ive companies,
with volunteer recruits for regiments in
the field, reported oy the superintendent is
of that service, amounted in the aggregate
co 25,790 men for this year.
In the month of September, 1862, after
the second disaster of 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 border of Pennsylvania.
Under the sanction of the President of
the United States, on the 11th day of that
month, | issued my proclamation calling
to immediate service fifty thousand of the
freeman of this State. Under this call
twenty five regiments and four companies
OF infantry, fourteen unattached compa-
nies of cavalry, and four batteries of ar
tillery were Immediately organized and
sent to the border, the greater portion
advancing beyond the State liue into Ma
ryland General John F. Reynolds, at
that period commanding the Pennsylvania
Reserve Corps, was temporarily assigned,
by the Secretary of War, to the command
of these troops, by whose orders they were
returned to Pennsylvania, and by my
proclamation disbanded on the 24th of
the same month. In Acknowledgment oe
the services rendered by the men of
Pennsylvania, Major-General Mcclellan,
commanding the Army of the Potomac,
by ietter~dated the 9th of Septernber.