Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1866-02-07
cLEARnELD, PA, WEDNESDAY, FEB. 7, 1866.


ken by this State IN aiding to main
tain the unity Of the Government, and
in its defence against the assaults OF
its enemies.
In my first inaugural address, !
took occasion to declare that Pennsyl-
vania would, under any circumstan-
ces, render full and determined sup
port of the free institutions Of the
Union. The pledge so made was
based upon my knowledge ofthe solid
patriotism Of her citizcns At that
time danger threatened, but no one
anticipated that it would break forth
SO suddenly, nor that it would grow
to such fearful proportions as it in a
brief time assumed.
My confidence in Pennsylvania, in
her even, yet stubborn will, her abili-
ty and resources, has been fully iusti-
fed by the manner in which she has
done her duty during the late event
full period
On the request Of the President Of
the United States, made commu-
nication to the Legislature on the 9th
day Of April, 1861, setting forth that
military organizations OF formidable
character, which did not seem to be
demanded by any existing public exi-
gency, had been formed in certain of
the States, and that, whilst Pennsyl-
vania yielded to no State in her re-
.spect for and willingness TO protect,
ny all needfnl guarantees, the consti.
tutional rights and constitutional in
dependence Of her sister States, no
contemplated attempt to resist the
enforcement Of tho National law could
meet with hsympathy or encouragement
from the people ofthis Common wealth,
and asked for authority and means TO
organize a military bureau at the cap
ital, and TO so amend and modify the
militia laws rs to give vitality and
energy to the military organizations
Of the State. On the 18th day of the
same month, / signed bill providing
for the purposes indicated in my mes
sage.
1t viii be remembered that this pa
triotic action of the Legislature occur
red before it was known that hostili-
ties bad actually commenccd-and is
believed to be the first official action
by the authorities of any State, or BY
the National Legislature.
The first allmade by the president
for troops to aid in suppressing the
rebellion, was on the 18th of April,
1861, for sevcnty-fivc thousand men
and that of this number, the quota of
Pennsylvania was settled at fourteen
regiments, TO serve three months, un-
less sooner discharged. With unsur-
passed alacrity and earnestness, vol
unteers answered to this call, in such
numbers as manifested the intuitive
conviction of the people, that the mon
strous wiclSedncss which had concciv-
cd an armed rebellion against tho Con
stltution and the laws, could not be
suppressed but by a colossal force.
Major General Robert Patterson
was assigned, by the General Govern
ment, to command, which included
the forces raised in Pennsylvania.
Within a week alter the call of the
President, communication with Wash
ington was almost entirely cut off.
General Patterson, prompted by the
necessities Of the situation. made, on
the 25th of April, a requisition upon
me for twenty-five additional regi-
mcnts of infantry aud one of cavalry,
to be forthwith mustered into the ser
vice of the United States. Unlor this
requisition, | accepted, from amongst
the many pressing to be admitted into
the service, n sufficient number ofcom-
panies to fill it; care being taken TO
allow to each county, az nearly as pos
sible, n fair representation. Only clev-
en- regiments, however, in addition TO
the fourteen called for by the Prcsi-
dent, were organized and mustered
into the service, before the order of
Gen. Patterson was countcrmanded
by, him, under Instructions from the
War Department.
On the l4th day of May, 1861, the
Secretary of War, in letter commu-
nicating the plan of organization, for
three year regiments, confirmed the
revocation Of the order in the follow
ing language: "Ten regiments are
assigned to Pennsylvania, making, in
addition to the thirteen regiments of
three months militia, already called
for, twcnty-three regiments. II is
important to reduce, rather than on
large this number, and in no event 20
exceed it Let me earnestly recon-
mend TO you, therefore, to call for no
more than twenty-three regiments, of
which only ten are to serve during
the war, and if moro are already cali
ed for, TO reduce the number by dis
charge"
The twenty-five regiments raised as
above stated, comprised 20,979 men.
The ardOr of Our poOnle woe rnahotad