Summary:
Pennsylvania Governor Andrew Curtin writes New Jersey Governor Joel Parker in
June, 1863, to request that he send emergency state troops to help defend
against Lee's invasion of his state. Curtin mentions that the Confederates
occupy Chambersburg and have plundered southern Franklin and Fulton
counties.
His Excellency Joel Parker,
Governor of New Jersey:
Harrisburg, Pa.,
June 24, 1863.
Sir:
I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 22d instant from your secretary. The Secretary of War ordered volunteer forces, for temporary service in this military department, from New York and some of the New England States, and the impression rested on my mind that an order of the same kind was made upon you as Governor of New Jersey. The troops raised in Pennsylvania are mustered to serve "during the emergency;" those sent by New York are mustered for thirty days, unless sooner discharged; and to satisfy the apprehensions of men who have taken up arms under the calls, by consent of the War Department, the troops are to be discharged when, in my judgment as Governor of the State, the emergency has expired. The enemy is still in the State, and occupies the country from Chambersburg, in Franklin County, to the Maryland line. He has plundered the southern portions of Franklin and Fulton Counties, and our last advices are that he is north of Greencastle with a force of not less than 8,000 men. It is impossible for us to obtain accurate and reliable information of the number of troops this side of the Potomac, or in the valley immediately south of it. Gen. Couch, who is in command of this department, is under the impression that the number within our borders and threatening the State does not exceed 30,000, and may be much less. He thinks this morning there are indications of a movement in this direction in large force. I suggest that under the circumstances you should continue to prepare troops for this service, and Gen. Couch will communicate with the authorities at Washington to-day on the subject of their enlistment and term of service. When we hear from Washington you will be advised immediately, and it is the more important, as we do not desire to tax the generosity of the State of New Jersey by the payment of any troops she may furnish, whether mustered into the service of the United States or not. Any troops furnished by your State will only be called into service for the military department established in Pennsylvania, and will be discharged when, in my judgment, the emergency has expired, and if there should be a limitation to their term of service, they will be returned to your State at your pleasure if the emergency should not have expired.
I cannot close this communication without expressing to you the thanks of the people of Pennsylvania for your promptness in responding to their calls, and to the people of New Jersey for the patriotic disposition they so truly manifest, and their willingness to take up arms for our defense.
Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
A. G. CURTIN.
Bibliographic Information : Letter Reproduced from The War of The Rebellion: Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series 1, Volume 27, Serial No. 45, Pages 1081, Broadfoot Publishing Company, Wilmington, NC, 1997.
