Summary:
Early in the war, Chambersburg served as a staging ground for new Union regiments
arriving at the front. In this May, 1861, letter, Union General Robert
Patterson, commanding troops in Pennsylvania and Maryland, writes Assistant
Adjutant E. D. Townsend to notify him of the location and status of his men. He
mentions that he sent two unequipped regiments to camps of instruction in
Chambersburg.
Lieut. Col. E. D. TOWNSEND,
Asst. Adjt. Gen., Hdqrs.
of the Army, Washington City:
PHILADELPHIA, PA.,
May 1, 1861.
SIR:
I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt from the Gen.-in-Chief of two communications, dated April 28 and 29, relating to moving troops upon Baltimore via York and Havre de Grace.
Anticipating the wishes of the Gen.-in-Chief, I have, since the withdrawal by the President of troops placed at Cockeysville, given attention to the demonstrations designed, and have posted unequipped regiments in camps of instruction at points from which they can be easily withdrawn and distributed on these lines of communication, viz: At York, 6 regiments; Chambersburg, 2; Lancaster, 6; Harrisburg, number unknown, but probably 6; and in this vicinity, 6.
The impoverished condition of the quartermaster's department here in regard to tents, canteens, and other camp and garrison equipage and the depleted arsenals, will prevent the execution at an early day of any plan of operations. The troops are not fully armed, and are very incompletely equipped, having but few cartridge-boxes, no canteens, tents, or cooking utensils. Articles ordered for troops in advance will exhaust the supply for the next three days. I have directed these commands to be drilled and made efficient, and by the time they are equipped I hope to be able to move on Baltimore with an effective force of six thousand men via York and six thousand via Havre de Grace, and have sufficient to guard the road as they advance.
To effect this I request my requisitions may be filled as rapidly as forwarded, or the depot quartermaster here and the arsenal at Frankfort be directed to fill them direct from me. I will keep you informed of my progress and my probable advance in time for concerted action. I shall lose no time, but for success take care not to be too fast.
I have authority to draw good volunteers from this State, but I desire, if regular artillery companies are en route to Washington City, to obtain one to serve as artillery with the column from York.
The railroad companies here, and also via York to Baltimore, are now ready to repair their roads, but the troops cannot advance. As soon as the men are equipped they will be thrown to the front, and in a few days the lines will be in working order. Col. Andrew Porter has gone to York to hasten the organization of that column.
Maj. Porter, governed by the prospect of being able to use for our purposes the bridges on the Baltimore and Ohio Road, deferred arranging for their destruction, and sent parties to examine the bridges and a portion of the road. He is informed that the large bridges are each guarded by about two hundred men, and so carefully that they cannot be injured. The road, however, will, under his plans, be rendered impassable for our opponents as soon as desired, and he will act when convinced that the present hopes of submission in Maryland prove delusive.
I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
R. PATTERSON,
Maj.-Gen., Commanding.
Bibliographic Information : Letter Reproduced from The War of The Rebellion: Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series 1, Volume 2, Serial No. 2, Pages 615-616, Broadfoot Publishing Company, Wilmington, NC, 1997.
