Summary:
Union General Robert Patterson writes Pennsylvania Governor Andrew Curtin in
June, 1861, to notify him that planned military movements would leave the
Pennsylvania border unprotected. He designates Chambersburg as a town of
military importance and suggests the Governor post state troops in the town for
an adequate defence. Patterson also discusses the possibility of federalizing
state troops in case of an emergency.
HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF PENNSYLVANIA,
His Excellency A. G. CURTIN,
Governor of
Pennsylvania, Harrisburg, Pa.:
Hagerstown, Md.,
June 25, 1861.
GOVERNOR:
As in the course of the military operations of the command now in this department this force may be withdrawn form this vicinity and that of Frederick and Cumberland, leaving the frontier of Pennsylvania unprotected, I consider it my duty to notify you, that you may take such steps as may appear to you proper to be prepared to defend your State from encroachment should the offensive be assumed by the insurgents. As you now have a considerable force of reserve troops, which at any moment the General Government might wish to use for common defense, I trust you will pardon me for suggesting that they be posted at points on the frontier of Pennsylvania which to my mind are the most exposed, and from which at any moment, if the Government desired their services, they could be pushed as Federal troops into this State, or sent by rail to other threatened parts of our country. The places of importance in a military point of view are Bedford, Chambersburg, Hanover or Gettysburg, and York. State troops at these points would sustain U. S. forces in Maryland, and check, in case of their being withdrawn, encroachments from Virginia. York has the additional advantage of supporting Hanover, and of being on an easy line of communication with Washington. At all of them a Federal officer, authorized by the Government, can speedily turn the State into Federal troops, and throw them where they may be required.
I respectfully present this subject to your consideration, trusting my views may meet your approbation, and be found to coincide with State policy in authorizing a reserve of State troops.
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 724-725, Broadfoot Publishing Company, Wilmington, NC, 1997.
