Year: 1861

|


United States. In this anticipation was moi


mistaken. On Saturday last, an additional
requsltlon was made upon me for twenty five


regiments of infantry and one regiment of cav


airy and there have been already more CON-
| panieS rendered than will make up the entire
| complement.


| Before the regiments could be clothed, three
| OF them were ordered by the National Govern


ment to proceed from this point to Philadel-
phla l cannot too highly commend the pa
triotlsm and devotion of the men who, at "a


moments warning, and without any prepara-


tion, obeyed the order. Three of the regi-


ments, under similar, circumstances by di-


rection of. and accompanied by officers of the


United States army, were transported to Coc-


keysville, near Baltimore, at which point they


remained for two days, and until by directions


of the General Government they were order


ed back and went into camp at York, where


there are now five regiments. Three regiments


mustered into service are now encamped at
Chambersburg, under orders from the General
Government; and five regiments are now in
camp at this place, and seven have been or
ganized and mustered into the service at Phil
adelphia.


The regiments at this place are still suppli-
ed by the Commissary Department of the
State. Their quarters are as comfortable as
could be expected their supply of provisions
abundant, and under the instructions of COM
petent officers, they are rapidly improving in
military knowledge and skill. l have made
arrangements to clothe all our regiments with
the utmost dispatch consistent with proper
economy, and am most happy 10 say that before
the close of the present week all our people
now under arms will be abundantly supplied
with good and appropriate uniforms, blankets
and other clothing.


Four hundred and sixty of our volunteers,
the first to reach Washington from any of the
at at cit
provided for by the General Government; but
1 design to send them clothing at the earliest
possible opportunity. am glad to be able to
state that these men, in their progress TO the
National Capital, received no bodily injury,
although they were subjected to insult in the
city of Baltimore, such as shonld not have
been offered TO any law-abiding citizens, much
less to loyal men, who, at the call of the Pres
idcnt, had promptly left their own State in the
performance of the highest duty and in the
service of their country. A large body of un-
armed men who were not at the time organiz-
ed portion of the militia of this Common
wealth, under the command of officers without
commissions, attempted under the call of the
National Government, as [ understand, to
reach Washington and were assaulted by arm
eG men in the city of Baltimore, many of their
number were seriously wounded, and four
were killed. The larger part of this body re-
turned directly to Philadelphia; but many of
them were forcibly detained in Baltimore
some of them were thrust into prison, and
others have not reached their homes. l have
the honor to say that the officers and men be-
have with the utmost gallantry. This body is
now organized into regiment and the Off
GERS are commissioned they have been ac-
cepted snto the service, and will go to Wash
ington by any route indicated by the Federal
Government. | have established camp at
Pittsburgh, at which the troops from Western
Dnn Suly mia yyitt I,1t, i,,fo
and organized and diciplined by skilful and
experienced officers.


l communicate to you with great satiSfac-
ton, the fact that the banks of the Common
wealth have voluntarily rendered any amount
of money that may be necessary for the com
mon defence and general welfare of the State
and the nation in this emergency and the
temporary loan of five hundred thousand dol
lars authorized by the Act of the General As
sembly of the 18th April 1861, was promptly
taken at par. The money is not yet exhaust
ed; as it has been impossible to have the ac-
counts properly audited and settled with the
accounting and paying officers Of the govern
ment as required by law. and accounts of this
expenditure cannot now be furnished. The
Auditor General and State Treasurer have
system of settlement and payment,
of which entirely approve, that provides am
ply for the protection of the State, and to
which all parties having claims will be obliged
to conform. much larger sum will be re-
qured than has been dstinctively approprIa-
ted but l could not receive nor make engage
ments for money without authority of law,
and have called you together, not only to
provide for complete reorganization of the
State, but also, that you may give me author
ity to pledge the faith of the Commonwealth
to borrow such sums of money as you may, in
your discretion, deem necessary for these extra
ordinary requirements. 1t is impossible to
predict the lengths to which s'the madness
that rules the hour in the rebellious States
shall lead US, or when the calamities which
threaten our hitherto happy country shall ter
inmate. We know that many of our people
have already left the State in the service of
the General Government, and that many more
must follow. We have a long line of border
on States seriously disaffected, which should
be protected. To furnish ready support to
those who have gone out, and to protect our
borders we should have we'll regulated mill
tary force. l therefore, recommend the i'm
mediate organization, diciplining and arming
of at least fifteen regiments of calvalry and in
fantry, exclusive OF those called into the SER
vice of the United States; as we have already
ample warning of the necessity of being pre-
pared for any sudden exigency that may arise.
1 cannot too much impress this upon you.


cannot refrain from alluding to the gener-
Gus manner in which the people of all parts Of
the State have, from their private means, pro-
vided for the families of those of our citizens
who are under arms. In many parts of the
Commonwealth, Grand Juries, and Courts and
corporations have recommended
the appropriations of moneys from their pub
lie funds, for the same comme endable purpose.
l would recommend the passage of an Act le-
galizing and authorizing such appropriations
and expenditures.


1t may be expected that, in the present de-
rangement of trade and commerce, and the
withdrawal of SO much industry from its ordi-
nary and productive channels, the selling vai-