USA > Pennsylvania > Pennsylvania, colonial and federal : a history, 1608-1903, Volume Two > Part 28
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40
388
Curtin's Administration
Previous to the selection of the camp site all available lands in the city were occupied by the constantly incoming troops, and tempo- rary shelters and barracks were provided for their accommodation. As evidence of the early importance of Camp Curtin it may be said that between the 18th of April and the end of that month twenty-five regiments of troops were formed there and sent to the front for active service.
Dial Rock The sun dial of the early settlers in Wyoming Valley; also called Campbell's Ledge. Engraved for this work from a photograph in possession of Wyoming Historical and Geological Society
The second call for volunteers was made in May, the quota for Pennsylvania being ten regiments, but the services of these regiments the government refused, on the announcement by Sec- retary of War Cameron that as the State had twenty-five regi- ments already in the field its force ought not to be increased at that time.
At an extra session of the legislature was passed the act of May 15, for organizing the "Reserve Volunteer Corps of the 389
Pennsylvania Colonial and Federal
Commonwealth," to comprise thirteen regiments of infantry, one of cavalry and one of artillery. This corps was organized under the command of Major-General George A. McCall, and was placed for military instruction in camps at Easton, West Chester, Pitts- burg and Harrisburg. On June 22 two of its regiments were ordered to Cumberland, Md., and soon afterward rendered excel- lent service at New Creek and Piedmont in Western Virginia until ordered to the lower Potomac regions. On the 22d of July, the day after the disaster at Bull Run, a requisition was made on the State for its Reserve corps, and as quickly as the means of transportation could be provided, eleven thousand of these troops, fully armed and equipped, were sent to the defences of Washington, and a few days later the regiments were mustered into the United States service for three years, or the war.
This was the beginning of the history of the familiarly known Pennsylvania Reserves, an organization which, during the later years of the war, won fame on many battlefields, and many of whose members are sleeping beneath the sod in Southern States. Its record certainly was one of unquestioned merit and reflected honorably on the entire military system of the State. The aggre- gate number of officers and men comprising the several regiments of the Reserve corps in 1861 was 15,856.
Previous to the mustering of the Reserve corps into the service of the United States, the government authorized the organization of four independent regiments in the State, and the result was to promptly raise an aggregate of 4,71I officers and men. Subse- quently, direct requisitions were made for sixteen additional regiments of infantry and two regiments of cavalry, all of which were recruited and organized with equal dispatch, and the men were sent forward to such points as were designated by the war department. On September 25 the department placed under control of the Governor all brigades, regiments, battalions and companies which from time to time it had authorized individuals to raise. These amounted to ten regiments, including five of
390
Curtin's Administration
cavalry, one of artillery, and also twenty-seven companies, in- cluding five of cavalry and three of artillery.
From what is stated in preceding paragraphs it will be seen that on the Ist of January, 1862, the State of Pennsylvania had in the service of the government an aggregate of 130,594 men, inclusive of the three months' regiments and also inclusive of fourteen regiments and five companies which at that time were preparing for duty. Recapitulating briefly, it may be said that the regiments in actual service at the time indicated comprised sixty-five of infantry and riflemen, a total of 71, 189 men ; eleven of cavalry, 12,690 men; one of artillery, 1,077 men ; seven com- panies of infantry, 707 men ; six companies of cavalry, 578 men ; and six companies of artillery, 936 men. The grand total of these commands amounted to 87, 177 men, to which must be added 6,400 Pennsylvanians who enlisted and were credited with serv- ing in regiments recruited in other States, chiefly in New York, with a less number in New Jersey and Ohio.
Notwithstanding the splendid contribution of men who were in active service at the close of the year 1861, at that time fourteen regiments (12 of infantry, I of cavalry and I of artillery) and five companies (4 of artillery and I of cavalry ), with a grand total of 16,038 men, were in the several camps and recruiting stations awaiting orders and organizing for service. On January I, 1862, this State had in service and in preparation for service (exclusive of those whose enlistments had previously expired) a total of 109,615 men.
Three distinct calls for troops were made in 1861 : First, the President's call of April 15, to which Pennsylvania responded with 20,979 three months' men ; second, the call of July 22, which was answered by the famous Reserve corps and a total of 15,856 men; and third, the general organization of troops under the act of Congress of July 22, which called out a total of 93,759 men.
In 1862 the exigencies of the war made a serious drain on the resources of the State, yet during that year less troops were sent
39I
Pennsylvania Colonial and Federal
to the front than in 1861. By this time, although the heavier battles were yet to be fought, our sturdy Pennsylvanians had become accustomed to the dire events of war, and with great for- titude did they meet every demand upon their resources and material strength; and this done there appeared to be an abun- dance of excellent material yet in reserve.
In his annual message to the Assembly in January Governor Curtin carefully and frankly reviewed the situation of the State with regard to the great events then in progress, and made espe- cial reference to the subject of finance, for during the preceding year the total receipts from the specially authorized military loans had amounted to $3,119,379.45, and of this vast sum $2,728,872.04 had been expended for the purposes for which the fund was created. The Governor also referred to the splendid action of the Pennsylvanians in promptly answering the call to arms, and he mentioned in detail the location and condition of the State troops then in service of the government; and he also made allusion to the presentation of regimental colors, as provided for by a resolution of the Assembly.
The year 1862 was a period of constant activity in military affairs in Pennsylvania, and the camps at Harrisburg, Pittsburg and in the vicinity of Philadelphia, were kept alive with troops preparing for duty at the front. In the early part of the year the regiments recruited but not sent forward in 1861 were organized and placed at the disposal of the war department, but other than this there was no direct call for more men until July 7, when forty-three regiments, aggregating 40,383 men, were organized and put into service.
The Governor himself had been informed of the necessity of this call for additional troops, and on the 4th of July had issued a proclamation in which, among other things, he said: "Pennsyl- vania has hitherto done her duty to the country. Her freeman are again called on to volunteer in her defence that the blood of her sons who have already fallen may not have been shed in vain,
392
William Jackson
Aide-de-camp to Washington; assistant secre- tary of war, 1782-1783; secretary of the con- vention which framed the Federal Constitution, 1787; private secretary to Washington during his first administration; publisher of the daily "Political and Commercial Register," 1801-1815. Reproduced especially for this work from an original panel by Trumbull, in the Historical Society of Pennsylvania
Curtin's Administration
and that we may hand down to our posterity the blessings of union and civil and political liberty, which we derived from our fathers. . . . Our noble Commonwealth has never yet faltered and must stand firm now when her honor and every thing that is dear to her is at stake."
It was such sentiments as these expressed by Governor Curtin and thousands of other patriots throughout the State that kept alive the ardor of the people in general and spurred them on to still greater efforts in behalf of the cause of union and liberty, and when the President's call for 300,000 more men was formally issued this State was among the very first to furnish its quota of more than forty thousand men. In a way, however, Pennsyl- vania was well prepared to meet the call of July 7. The intelli- gence of the attack of May 25 upon General Banks at Winchester by the vastly superior force of Ewell's and Jackson's divisions, had created an intense feeling not only in Pennsylvania but throughout all the loyal States. On the following day, under general orders issued by the Governor, for the muster of all the militia organizations to resist an expected attack upon the frontier of the State, the available militia were hastily organized into regiments and battalions. But this emergency passed without an invasion, whereupon the order for the assembling of the three months' volunteer militia was revoked. However, many of the companies preserved their organization and were among the first to respond to the call of July 7.
About this time a new scheme for securing enlistments was brought into existence, and had its beginning in the neighboring States, especially in New York, where counties, towns and asso- ciations of persons created funds for the payment of bounties to recruits in order to fill their quotas under the drafts ordered in 1862. This offer of bounties in adjoining counties in other States had the effect to attract enlistments from Pennsylvania and threatened inroads on the militia of our State to such an extent that an extra session of the legislature to deal with the
395
A
Pennsylvania Colonial and Federal
subject seemed necessary; but this necessity was soon obviated by the action of our own counties and townships in creating bounty funds, and the legislature was not called upon to act in the matter.
In many respects the bounty system, however well regulated in certain' localities, proved iniquitous through the schemes of designing persons, and as a result the ranks of the volunteers became filled with men who possessed none of the qualities of loyal soldiers, and whose sole purpose was to secure the money offered them and then desert and re-enlist for another bounty of escape across the borders into other States or into Canada. This class of persons was known as "bounty jumpers," and while they were too numerous for the welfare of the service, they by no means carried disorder into the ranks of the army in general ; and there were thousands among those who enlisted under the bounty offer who proved as good and faithful soldiers as ever carried a musket or responded to an order to charge the enemy.
Among the several varied events which took place within this State during the second year of the war, that known as Stuart's raid on Chambersburg, in Franklin county, on October 10, was by far the most important; and it was accomplished so stealthily and quickly that no arm was raised in defence of the town. The people living in that particular locality had for some time been apprehensive of an attack, for there was much in the geographical surroundings to tempt an invasion of Pennsylvania territory by way of the Cumberland valley, where nature had provided easy and safe means of entrance and departure from the south. Chambersburg itself was an attractive place, delightfully situated in a fertile region of country, and was also the site of a military storehouse where large quantities of arms and munitions of war were deposited. This fact evidently was known to the confed- erates, and their first invasion of the territory of our State un- doubtedly was for the double purpose of wanton pillage and the capture of the military stores.
396
Curtin's Administration
In the early part of September the confederate forces had made incursions into Maryland and even then threatened an in- vasion of the southern region of Pennsylvania. To prepare for such an event a call was made by general orders upon all the able-
John McMillan
Educator; started a Latin school and the theo- logical seminary which afterward became Can- onsburg academy, 1791, and later Jefferson college. Photographed for this work from an engraving in possession of Mrs. William M. Darlington
bodied men of the counties to organize for the defence of the State, and on the IIth of that month fifty thousand freemen were called for immediate service. Harrisburg was the designated rendezvous for the troops, and every train of cars brought thousands of volunteers into the city, and to provide for them the capitol grounds were transformed into an immense military
397
Pennsylvania Colonial and Federal
camp. Companies were rapidly formed, regiments were as quickly organized and sent forward into the Cumberland valley, where, under Brigadier-General John F. Reynolds, who had been temporarily detailed from the command of the Pennsylvania Reserves, this new army was reorganized for the defence of the State against the threatened invasion. Fifteen thousand of this force of volunteers were pushed forward to Hagarstown and Boonsboro, Md., ten thousand others were posted in the vicinity of Greencastle and Chambersburg, and about twenty-five thou- sand were kept at Harrisburg ready for transportation to any desired point. One other regiment was sent to guard the Dupont powder mills in Delaware. However, on September 24, the necessity for further service having passed, the volunteer militia was discharged by order of the Governor.
In October Chambersburg was less prepared to resist an attack, and the invading force of rebels under Generals Stuart and Hampton met with no opposition during their raid. Late in the afternoon of October 10 these daring officers with a body of about two thousand cavalry and artillery entered the town, having crossed the Potomac, and by hurried marches made their way into the State without the least warning of their approach. The night was spent in plundering and destroying the houses and property of the residents, and on the following morning the military store- house was made the object of especial attack. The building was stripped of its contents, large quantities of arms and ammunition were carried away, and whatever remained was destroyed by fire, together with the storehouse itself. Then the invaders departed as quickly as they had come, passing out by way of South Moun- tain and the Potomac river.
To repel this invasion, although the action was too late to be effective, the Governor called into service the Anderson cavalry, then encamped at Carlisle, and two companies of regulars who were in the barracks at the same place. These were at once pushed forward in the direction of Chambersburg and South Mountain.
398
Curtin's Administration
The cavalry at Camp Curtin, consisting of one full and two im- perfect regiments, were armed as infantry, and with two com- panies of infantry, and a battery of volunteer light artillery of Harrisburg, were held in readiness to go forward, when General Wool arrived and assumed command of all the forces. He had previously ordered a part of his command from Baltimore and marched the troops to Gettysburg. But the confederate forces marched with such celerity that they were not met by any of Gen- eral Wool's troops and thus escaped from the State without being attacked.
Within the borders of the State and in the field of active opera- tions in the South the year 1862 witnessed many important and several serious events so far as concerned the Pennsylvania sol- · diery. During the year the requisitions for troops drew upon the militia resources of the State to the extent of 69,742 men in addi- tion to those credited to the preceding year, and at the close of 1862 it was found that a total of 200,336 men had been sent out since the beginning of the war; and if to the above there is added the twenty-five regiments of infantry, eleven companies of cav- alry and four batteries of artillery that marched on special service into the Cumberland valley, the aggregate contribution of the State thus far would amount to more than a quarter of a million of men. Yet the resources of the State were not exhausted, and there still remained for future emergencies more men, money and undoubted loyalty for the further support of the government and the defence of the Union.
A careful analysis of the reports of the adjutant-general for the year 1862 shows Pennsylvania's contribution of men for the service to have been as follows : Organized under the President's call of July 7, for 300,000 men, regiments 116 to 157 inclusive, and including five regiments of cavalry (159 to 163 inclusive) and three batallions of artillery, on special requisitions, 40,383; organized under draft ordered by the President, August 4, for 300,000 militia to serve for nine months (regiments 158, 165 to
399
Pennsylvania Colonial and Federal
169 inclusive, and 171 to 179 inclusive), 14,800; drafted men in camps sent forward, 300; recruits furnished to regiments in ser- vice by Captains Dodge and Lane, and Lieut .- Col. Ruff, superin- tending the volunteer recruiting service at Harrisburg and Philadelphia, 9,259; enlisted in organizations of other States, 5,000; total, 69,742.
Thus from the middle of April, 1861, to the close of the year 1862, a period of a little more than twenty months, there were recruited and organized in Pennsylvania for the service of the government a total of one hundred and eleven regiments for three years, including eleven regiments of cavalry and three regiments of artillery ; twenty-five regiments for three months; seventeen volunteer regiments for nine months ; fifteen regiments of drafted militia, and twenty-five regiments of militia called out for emer- gency purposes ; in all a grand total of one hundred and ninety- three regiments, embracing in the ranks of the federal armies more than two hundred thousand men.
Notwithstanding the heavy drains upon the State during the previous years of the war, a careful estimate of the strength of the military and financial departments at the beginning of the year 1863 found Pennsylvania well prepared to meet the further demands of the government. At that particular time the general aspect of affairs of the war was not encouraging, and the enemy was gradually pushing forward toward the southern border of our State. Yet there was no faltering step on the part of either Federal or State government, and on every hand there was mani- fested a spirit of determination to accomplish that which was begun. In his annual message to the Assembly in January, 1863, Governor Curtin said: "Notwithstanding the pressure of public calamity which has weighed heavily on the country during the past year, it has pleased Divine Providence not only to enable the people of Pennsylvania to perform in full all their duties to our common government, but to give to this Commonwealth domestic peace, plenty and prosperity."
400
JAMES ROSS
Etched for this work by Albert Rosenthal from the painting by Thomas Sully Owned by the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts ennsylvania Colonial and Federal
16g inclowe, and >1 to 179 inclusive), 14,800; drafted men in camps en forward 300; recruits furnished to regiments in ser- vice " Captain Dodge and Lane, and Lieut -Col. Ruff, superin- tending the inteer recruiting service at Harrisburg and Philadelphia 0.259: enlisted in organizations of other States, -0000; tojal 009.742.
Thus inai the middle of April, 1861, to the close of the year 902, a [- od of a little more than twenty months, there were recruited wol organized in Pennsylvania for the service of the 00. rmn it a total of one hundred and eleven regiments for three ear-, including eleven regiments of cavalry and three regiments of artillery : twenty-five regiments for three months ; seventeen wwwteer regiments for nine months, fifteen regiments of drafted montra, and twenty-five regiments of militia called out for emer- gency purposes ; in all a grand total of one hundred and ninety- three regiments, embracing in the tanks of the federal armies nore than two hundred thousand men.
Notwithstanding the heavy drams ipon the State during the previous years of the war, a careful estimate of the strength of the military and financial departments at the beginning of the year 1803 found Pennsylvania well prepared to meet the further demands of the government. At that particular time the general aspect of affairs of the war was not encouraging, and the enemy was gradually pushing forward toward the southern border of our State. Yet there was no faltering step on the part of either Federal or State government. and on every hand there was mani- Urted a spirit of determination to accomplish that which was begun. In his annual message to the As embly in January, 1863, Governor Curtin said : "Notwithstanding the pressure of public calamity which has weighed heavily on the country during the past year, it has pleased Divine Providence got onh to enable the people of Pennsylvania to perform in full all their duties to our somnion government, but to give to this Commonwealth domestic force, plenty and prosperity."
4.00
Thomas Fuking Pana.
Fort Rosenthal.
Etichet, by
-
١
Curtin's Administration
Such, indeed, was . the case at the time of which we write. Disaster had followed disaster to the Union arms, and while there had been substantial achievements in favor of the North, the gen- eral results had not been satisfactory, although not at any time was there harbored the thought that the cause of the South would prevail. Within the State there were heard only expressions of
John McMillan's Log Building
Fulton Farm, Washington County, where he started his theological seminary and Latin school. The old cabin is now on the campus of Washington and Jefferson college. Engraved for this work from a negative by Anna Buckbee
confidence as to the ultimate result of the struggle, and loyal hearts and hands stood ever ready to contribute still more and more means in support of the government. Not at any time during these years had the State been financially distressed, or even tem- porarily at loss to command all the money necessary to carry forward the great work its government had undertaken. In proof of this it may be said that on December Ist, 1861, the public debt of the State amounted to $40,580,666.08, and on December Ist,
2-26
401
Pennsylvania Colonial and Federal
1862, amounted to $40,448,213.82, thus showing strength to with- stand any further demands, and that despite the fact that within the next few months the theatre of war was destined to be tempo- rarily transferred to Pennsylvania territory.
In the message previously referred to the Governor mentioned in particular the offer of the city of Philadelphia to the government to give League Island for a navy yard, to be used for the purposes of construction of iron-clad vessels and the establishment of a naval station under national control. At the time the matter was under consideration in Congress a majority of the House com- mittee was disposed to decline the offer and to favor a site at New London, Conn., but the minority of the committee strongly urged the acceptance of the offer, and in their advocacy of it they were supported by the secretary of the navy, whose counsels finally pre- vailed and resulted in the establishment of the present League Island naval station, one of the most valuable properties of its kind on the Atlantic seaboard.
From the time of the confederate descent upon Chambersburg in the fall of 1862 the military authorities in Washington and also in Pennsylvania were apprehensive of a general invasion of the State, as every action on the part of General Lee seemed to indicate a northward movement by his army, yet the winter of 1862-3 passed without serious event. However, early in May, 1863, it became evident that Lee really intended to invade the State, and communications were immediately sent to the war department urging preparations for effective defence without delay. The urgency of the appeal and the evident knowledge of Lee's inten- tions on the part of the war department prompted the latter, as an initial step toward a proper defence of the State, to establish two new military departments, known, respectively, as the department of the Monongahela, including the territory west of Johnstown and the Laurel Hill range of mountains, together with certain counties in Virginia and Ohio; and the department of the Sus- quehanna, including that part of the State east of Johnstown and
402
Curtin's Administration
the Laurel Hill range just mentioned. The former of these departments was placed under command of Major-General Wil- liam T. H. Brooks, with headquarters at Pittsburg, and the latter under Major-General D. N. Couch, with headquarters at Cham- bersburg, although much of the work of organization was accom- plished at Harrisburg. Both departments were established under general orders issued June 9, 1863.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.