USA > Pennsylvania > History of the First regiment infantry, National guard of Pennsylvania (Grey Reserves) 1861-1911, pt 2 > Part 36
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Thus for years the Volunteer Corps of Philadelphia lingered on, withop aid from the Commonwealth or the City, and without that encouragemet! from the Citizens, to which, by their frequent services in quelling riot, aqi disturbances of the public peace, they were eminently entitled. Sustained by themselves and their immediate friends who contributed their anual mite to defray in part, their expenses.
In consequence of the failure of the State and Municipal Government to provide adequately or even partially for the wants of the Military, a .. 1 the general indisposition of the comuninity to encourage or even tolerate Volunteers Corps; the City of Philadelphia-the second City in the Union was not prepared upon the call of the President of the United States in April of the past year for troops. to defend the National Capitol to furnish a single regiment. To the honor of the then existing Volunteer Corps, however be it said, that without a single exception, they commenced recruiting and immediately tendered their services for the period required in the proclain.c- tion of the President. A number of Regiments were either filled up or promptly formed and marched to the defence of the Capitol or to the immediate vicinity .
The City of Philadelphia was thus left without any military for. whatever and the organization of a company to take the place in part of those who had been called away was suggested. Such was the response to the call of Col. C. G. Child, and others issued on the 17th of April, 1561. that instead of a company a Regiment was formed and regularly organized under the Militia Law of the Commonwealth as the 3rd Regiment Infantry (Gray Reserves) and attached to the First Brigade. Subsequently as you are aware the Regiment by special act of the Legislature was made a part of the Reserve Brigade.
At any other time the organization of a regiment of volunteers would have been not only impracticable but impossible, but such was the excite. ment consequent upon the attack on Fort Sumter and the doubt and appre- hension in regard to the future that all classes who could not, for various reasons, take the field even for a limited period, freely enrolled their names for the defence of the City. Public Institutions and patriotic Citizens aided in perfecting the organization. From the State or ( ity not one dollar w .- received. nor has any aid been furnished by either. from the date of the organization up to the present time. arms and accontrements, which the State by its own enactments was bound to provide, could not be furnishel
The former as you are aware were loaned by the General Government ani the latter were purchased and paid for, by the Committee of Public Safety : an organization which we have a right to claim as having been auxiliary to if not actually a part of our Regiment. as the said Committee was appointed at the Second meeting of Citizens favorable to the ohjeet.
By an examination of the books of the several Companies composing the Regiment, it appears that in addition to the amount received from the Committee of Public Safety. the enormous sum of Twenty-one thousand seven hundred and forty dollars and sixty-three (821.740.63) cent- 11- expended during the first year of the existence of the organization: Iwill. . incurring an aggregate debt of Eight hundred and eighty-four dollar- and twenty-seven ($884.27) cents which had to be provided tor.
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Thus it will be seen that an aggregate sum of nearly Twenty-three thou- sand dollars ($23,000.00) was expended in one year by the individual members of the Regiment.
Whether the regiment has met the expectations of our fellow citizens. we leave to the public to determine, certain it is that although organized for the special defence of the City the members have in more than one instance promptly responded to the wishes and requirements of the State, and National Governments, with commendable alacrity. When in August last it was apprehended that troops would be required for a limited period to meet a supposed emergency, your commanding officer was authorized to tender to General Government through the Executive of the Commonwealth at least six hundred men, within six days for a tour of duty at any point wherever their services might be required for a period of thirty to sixty days.
On the 7th day of May last on the requisition of the Governor a force of some one hundred and sixty (160) men were dispatched in a few hours to Schuylkill County to quell a disturbance and on the following day an additional force of nearly an equal number were sent in the same direction, whilst some two hundred more were held in reserve.
Again and quite recently upon the urgent appeal of the Secretary of War, your commanding officer was authorized to tender the services of not less than 600 men to leave within thirty hours for Washington City and to serve for three months and without wishing to digress your committee must be permitted to say that to the honor of the members and the friends of the Regiment, who rallied to our standard in less than three days after the order for additional troops was promulgated a full regiment of $00 men would have been ready to embark for Washington or any other point, had not the said order been countermanded.
How has the patriotie zeal of the officers and men in two in-tances and the actual services in another been acknowledged or requited ?
For the tender of our services in the first instance we received the thanks of the Governor of the Commonwealth.
On our return from the recent expedition to Schuylkill County on which occasion many personal sacrifices were made in consequence of being obliged to leave on two or three hours' notice, besides incurring expenses for ammuni- tion. ete .. we encountered the ridienle of a portion of the Press, and the taunts and jests of a considerable part of the community. Nor was this all.
When application was made for the pay, to which, under the laws of the Commonwealth. officer- and men were entitled and for means to reimburse actual expenditures and to meet necessary contracts for supplies, etc .. we were informed by the Adjutant General of the State. that as it was a " local riot" we were called upon to suppress, notwithstanding we had been ordered out by the Governor, our claims must be presented to the Com- missioners of Schuylkill County for settlement.
And again when an urgent demand was made by the Secretary of War for all the troops Pennsylvania couldl furnish, six hundred men were immedi- ately tendered with the assurance that the Regiment would be recruited to the full minimum standard within two or three days, and here we will remark that while New York was sending forward her skeleton Regiments. day after day equipped and transported at the expense of the Commonwealth we could get no positive information other than that the State would not incur any responsibility, until two days after the first and most imperative 4S
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order was issued, we were directed to discontinue recruiting, as the Guvern- ment did not require any more three months' men from Pennsylvania.
This order, so discouraging and mortifying you are aware, came at a time when it was ascertained to a certainty that the Regiment would have been prepared to leave with full ranks the following day.
In order to make the contrast complete between the action of our State authorities and those of New York, we append the orders of the Adjutant General and ask for each a careful perusal.
State of New York, General Headquarters, Adjutant General's office, Albany, May 27th, 1862.
Special Orders, No. 134.
The 5th, 12th, 13th, 47th, 69th, 19th and 28th Regiments National Guard will proceed to Washington forthwith. The Commandants of the several Regiments will make requisitions upon the chiefs of the Several Departments of this State for such arms, ammunition. equipment and supplies as they may require for the use of their regiments.
Upon application to Col. George Bliss, Jr., No. 51 Walker Street, New York, they will receive orders for transportation. On their arrival in Washington the Commandants of the several regiments will report to the Adjutant General of the army.
Major Generals Sandford and Duryea are charged with the execution of this order, with reference to the regiments of their respective divisions.
By order of the Commander-in-Chief.
THOMAS HILLHOUSE, Adjutant General.
Headquarters Pennsylvania Militia, Harrisburg. May 26th, 1SB2.
General Orders No. 23.
On the pressing requisition of the President of the United States, in the present emergency it is ordered,
That the several Major Generals, Brigadier Generals and Colonels of Regiments throughout the Commonwealth muster without delay all the military organizations within their respective divisions, or under their control, together with all persons willing to join their commands, and proceed forth- with to the City of Washington or to such other points as may be indicated by future orders.
By order of A. G. CURTIN. Governor and Commander-in-Chief.
A. L. RUSSELL. Adjutant General.
Headquarters Pennsylvania Militia, Harrisburg, May 26th, 1862.
General Orders No. 24.
General Orders No. 23 of these headquarters dated this day being issued under the requisition of the President of the United States no com-
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manding officer of a higher grade than Captain will be accepted by the United States excepting where the regiment is already organized, and all expenses under it is to be defrased by the General Goverment.
By order of A. G. CURTIS; Governor and Commander in Chief.
A. L. RUSSELL,
Adjutant General.
THE MILITIA TO SERVE FOR THREE MONTHS
Harrisburg, May 26th, evening.
The following additional order has just been issued :
Headquarters of the Pennsylvania Militia, Harrisburg. May 26th, 1862.
General Orders No. 25.
The call for troops by general orders of these Headquarters Nos. 23 and 24 of this date, is for three months' militia men, as stated in the requisition of the President of the United States.
By order of A. G. CURITY,
Governor and Commander-in-Chief.
A. L. RUSSELL.
Adjutant General.
THE VOLUNTEERS
CIRCULAR FROM THE ADJUTANT GENERAL TO THE MAJOR GENERALS
Harrisburg, May 27th, 1862.
To Major Generals commanding Divisions of the Pennsylvania Militia.
" General: I enclose you General Orders Nos. 23, 24 and 25 of these headquarters. In carrying these orders into effect you will make known to the volunteer militia in your command, and to such persons as are willing to form new companies with a view to service for three months, that volun- teers for the war will be raised in a different manner.
" FIRST -- That all regiments or companies now, or that shall be, organ- ized under the requisition from the General Government, shall report to you. "SECOND-On receiving such return. you will, without delay, report the same to me. specifying the officers of the Regiment. number of com- panies, names of captains, and number of men, or in case of companies the name of the captain and number of men, the United States not receiving any company with less than eighty men rank and file, that I may hand over the same to the United States Officers in charge, who will furnish tran-porta- tion, etc .. under the laws of the United States, to such rendezvous as may be designated, the State assuming no liability for any expense whatever.
A. L. RUSSI.LL, Adjutant General of Penna."
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THE CALL FOR THREE MONTHS' VOLUNTEERS COUNTERMANDED.
Harrisburg. May 27th.
The following important general order has just been i-sued: General Order No. 26.
FIRST-The Governor being notified by the Secretary of War, by a 1. graphie dispatch received this afternoon. that the President will ho bar require any other troops from Pennsylvania to be mustered into the U. s. service but those who volunteer for three years or during the war, Con 1 .! Orders No -. 23, 24, 25 of these headquarters, dated on the 20th inst., calle. for three months' volunteer militia, are hereby countermanded and row's ..
SECOND-All commanding officers who may have issued their ordet. for the mustering into the service of the United States their respective con. mands, under the said orders of the 20th inst., are hereby ordered to counter mand the same.
THIRD-The Governor, in issuing this order, congratulates the propi. of Pennsylvania on the information received from the War Department tha' the emergency which seemed to the Government of the United States - imperatively to demand their immediate service no longer exists, and won !! also commend the patriotie zeal and alacrity manifested in every section of the Commonwealth to meet it.
By order of A. G. CURTIN, Governor and Commander-in-Chief.
A. L. RUSSELL.
Adjutant General.
Thus it will be seen that whilst New York was prepared to furnish everything necessary, even transportation, in order to facilitate the pruty' departure of her troops. Pennsylvania could not furnish a single set . : accoutrements nor was she willing to assume any " liability for any expense whatever."
In appending the-e orders to our report we desire to be distinctly under- stood as not wishing to criticise the action of or to cast censure upon fi- Executive of the Commonwealth. From the commencement of the pre- ut rebellion he has done everything he possibly could to maintain the honor and credit of the State. His first and proudest effort was revealed in fly Organization of the Reserve Corps consisting of some fifteen regiment .. . force which promptly took the field upon the expiration of the ter. .: the three months' men. and filled a vacuum at a critical moment. su! -.. quently his efforts were directed to the Legislature. Members were un ! to take such steps as might be necessary to revive the Militia System. ... that he might be enabled to respond to any call from the General Governi .n'. His advice and appeal. however. were unheeded, and he was left as we four. ! him in the recent emergency without power or means to comply with i. demand of the Secretary of War.
Your Committee indulge the hope that the experience of the past will induce a united and determined effort on the part of the people to see if" such Legislation at the next cession as will promote the efficiency of 1. Volunteers of our State.
APPENDICES
Whilst your committee complain of the want of proper State Legislation they must at the same time again refer to the absence of any interest in or encouragement of the Citizen Soldiery by the City Government. 1 sufficient number of young men could at all times, be found willing to keep the ranks of Volunteer Corps full, were it not for the enormous expenses to) which they are liable. As little as the City could do by way of return for services, which in the past she has frequently needed and in the future way require, would be to furnish Armories for the several regiments and corps. This is all the existing organizations require and in the opinion of your committee, in view of the lavish expenditure during the past year upon the Home Guard they have a right to demand.
Finally we would most respectfully urge upon the Public Press, to aid as in many instances it has recently, in effecting a change in public sentiment on a subject which has been proven of vital importance. Every citizen should feel that his interests are indentified with ours. That even in times of profound peace volunteer organizations should be fostered and encouraged, so that at all times we would be prepared to quell disturbances, suppress insurrections and repel invasion. We would appeal especially to those having the management of public institutions, and to our business men generally. to consult their own interests of the community and the commonwealth by changing their terms in regard to the duties of their employees. That instead of making a condition with young men that they should resign from or not become connected with Military Organizations in order to retain or secure a place; that a disposition to become somewhat acquainted with the duties of a soldier should be encouraged. Pennsylvania may give us all the Legislation we ask, and the City may furnish such aid as we need, but so long as the determination of the people remains unchanged we may hope in vain for a Military organization such as New York, Massachusetts, Rhode Island and other eastern States can point to with pride.
All of which is submitted.
P. C. ELLMAKER, Colonel and Chairman. CHARLES S. SMITH. Captain
Committee Jos. N. PIERSOL, Captain A. SMITH, Lieutenant WM. W. KEYS, Lieutenant
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APPENDIX C.
REPORT OF BRIG. GEN. WILLIAM F. SMITH. U. S. ARMY, COMMANDING FIRST DIVISION, OF OPERATIONS, JUNE 26-JULY 15. WAR RECORDS. VOL. XXVII, SERIES I, PART II, PAGE 220 ET SEQ.
(Extract ) H'DQ'RS FIRST DIVISION, DEP'T. OF THE SUSQUEHANNA,
Greencastle, Pa., July 18, IS03.
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On Tuesday, learning that the rebel infantry had lit Carlisle, the cavalry was ordered forward. and found the enemy at Sporting Hill. General Ewen. New York militia, in command of the Twenty-second and
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Thirty-seventh New York State Militia, went forward to support Lieutenant Stanwood, and a section of Landis' battery, under the direction of Lieutenant Muhlenberg, was immediately ordered up. The enemy was found in position. and attacked about 4 p. in. The artillery arrived on the ground about 5 p. m., and soon silenced the fire of the enemuy.
General Ewen's command was ordered forward to occupy Carli-le but did not march until the next morning. Captain Boyd, First New York Cavalry, with 120 men, was also ordered by the Trindle Spring road, Vit Churchtown, to Carlisle. Ile stopped at Churchtown, and entered Carlish. on the morning of July 1.
Colonel Brisbane, commanding the Pennsylvania Brigade, was orderel to move on Carlisle by the mud road at daylight, but, owing to a want of transportation, did not move until about 9 a. ni.
I visited the headquarters to receive instructions and make arrange- ments for supplies and transportation, and, recrossing the river, the remainder of the command, under Brigadier-General Knipe, U. S. Volunteer-, was directed to march as far as practicable and encamp, and to move at an early hour in the morning.
The Eleventh New York Artillery, under Colonel Forbes, refused to mareh under certain pleas, and the matter was referred to General Couch. This delayed my starting till 3.30 p. m., and finally, leaving orders with General Knipe to carry out the instructions with reference to the refractory regiment, 1 left to join the advance. Hearing rumors on the road of a large cavalry force in the vicinity, I sent out scouts on the cross-roads, and pushed on, entering Carlisle at sunset.
General Ewen had passed through the town on the Baltimore turnpile about 116 miles, and, while going on to examine his position, word came from my scouts that a large cavalry force of the enemy was in the immediate vicinity, on the York road, and, turning back, before I entered the village. their guns had opened on us. The road for several miles back of us w .. filled with stragglers from the brigades of General Ewen and Colonel Bris- bane, and the men with me were wearied with a long march, to which they were unused.
Under these circumstances, I determined to content myself till morning with simply holding the town, but before I could get a line of skirmishers out, a summons was sent by General Fitzhugh Lee to surrender the town. or send out the women and children. I sent an answer that the women and children would be notified to leave. In less than half an hour, another message was sent to the purport that, if not surrendered. the town wou !! be burned. The answer was returned that one answer had already been given. I then sent a volunteer aide, Mr. Ward, of Harrisburg, to com- municate with General Knipe, and order him to march at 3 a. in .. and to report to General Couch the position of affairs. In the meantime the enemy opened a battery on the town. to which, by my orders. our artillery did not reply, as I deemed the fire too inaccurate, and wished to save my ammunition.
About 11 o'clock I sent another volunteer aide, Mr. James Dougherty. to try and get to General Knipe with orders to move immediately. Mr. Dougherty was captured and his orderly wounded, and about 12 m. a thi! ! and last summons came to surrender, to which the reply was given that the message had been twice answered before.
About 1 o'clock: the firing ceased, with the exception of three guns
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about 3 a. m., soon after which reports came in that the enemy was moving off on a country road which came into the turnpike about 212 miles from Carlisle, and by daylight there was nothing opposed to us.
The casualties were 12 wounded, none fatally.
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REPORT OF MAJ. GEN. J. E. B. STUART, O. S. ARMY, COMMANDING CAVALRY, ARMY OF NORTHERN VIRGINIA. WAR RECORDS, VOL. XXVII, SERIES I, PART II, PAGES 696-697 ET SEQ.
(Extract )
H'DQ'RS, CAVALRY, ARMY OF NORTHERN VIRGINIA,
August 20, 1863.
GENERAL: I have the honor to make the following report of the operations of the Cavalry Division, Army of Northern Virginia, from the time of crossing the Rappahannock on June 16, to July 24, when, having recrossed the Blue Ridge after the Pennsylvania campaign, our pickets were re-established on the south bank of the Rappahannock:
Reaching Dover, Pa., on the morning of July 1, I was unable to find our forces. The most I could learn was that General Early had marehed his division in the direction of Shippensburg, which the best information I could get seemed to indicate as the point of concentration of our troops. After as little rest as was compatible with the exhausted condition of the command, we pushed on for Carlisle, where we hoped to find a portion of the army. I arrived before that village, by way of Dillsburg, in the afternoon. Our rations were entirely out. I desired to levy a contribution on the inhabitants for rations, but was informed before reaching it that it was held by a considerable force of militia (infantry and artillery), who were concealed in the buildings, with the view to entrap me upon my entrance into the town. They were frustrated in their intention, and although very peaceable in external aspect. I soon found the information I had received was correct. I disliked to subject the town to the consequences of attack; at the same time it was essential to us to procure rations. I therefore directed General Lee to send in a flag of truee, demanding unconditional surrender or bombardment. This was refused. I placed artillery in posi- tion commanding the town, took possession of the main avennes to the place, and repeated the demand. It was again refused, and I was forced to the alternative of shelling the place.
Although the houses were used by their sharpshooters while firing on our men, not a building was fired excepting the United States cavalry barracks, which were burned by my order, the place having resisted my advance instead of peaceable surrender, as in the case of General Ewell. General Fitz. Lee's brigade was charged with the duty of investing the place. the remaining brigades following at considerable intervals from Dover. Maj. Gen. W. F. Smith was in command of the forces in Carlisle. The only obstacle to the enforcement of my threat was the scarcity of artillery ammunition.
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The whereabouts of our army was still a mystery; but, during the night. I received a dispatch from General Lee (in answer to one sent 1; Major Venable from Dover, on Early's trails that the army was at fiett burg, and had been engaged on this day (July 1) with the enemy's advan I instantly dispatched to Hampton to move 10 miles that night on the rovi to Gettysburg, and gave orders to the other brigades. with a view 1. reaching Gettysburg early the next day, and started myself that night.
APPENDIX D.
THE VISIT OF THE SEVENTH REGIMENT, N. G., S. N. Y., TO PHILADELPHIA AND CAPE MAY, JULY, 1870, TAKEN FROM THE " HISTORY OF THE SEVENTH REGI. MENT."-COL. EMMONS CLARK. VOL. 11, PP. 182-187. ( BY PERMISSION. )
" An invitation having been received from the Mayor and many di- tinguished citizens of Philadelphia to visit that city in July, the regimen' after due consideration, decided to accept the courtesies tendered, and to extend the trip as far as Cape May. At S A.M. on Thursday, July 14th, it left New York with over five hundred men. The march from the armory to the Jersey City Ferry was a very fatiguing one, for the heat was already oppressive. The day proved to be intensely hot, and grave apprehension- were carly expressed that the unusual temperature would seriously interfere with the success and pleasures of the excursion. Upon its arrival at Phil. delphia the Regiment proceeded up Walnut, Third, and Chestnut Street tu Tenth Street, and was received with great enthusiasm by the crowds of people that thronged the sidewalks and filled the windows and bou-top- along the route. But the sun was now at its zenith, and not a breath oi air was stirring, and when the regiment finally reached the Continental Hotel the men were well nigh overcome by the intense heat of the day. But ti Continental Hotel, the headquarters of the regiment, abounded with comfort .. and after an hour's rest officers and men were in their usual gay spirits.
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