Summary:
Union General Darius Couch, commanding the department of the Susquehanna at
Chambersburg, writes Assistant Adjutant Edward D. Townsend in January, 1864,
regarding militia troops mustered to help defend Pennsylvania during the
Gettysburg campaign. Couch discusses which units refused to be subsequently
mustered into Federal service.
Col. E. D. Townsend,
Asst. Adjt. Gen., U. S. Army,
Washington, D. C.:
Chambersburg, Pa.,
January 31, 1864.
Col.:
I have the honor to report the following in reference to your letter of the 27th instant, directing me to furnish, for the information of the Secretary of War, what troops called out by the Governor of the State during the recent invasion refused to be mustered into the United States service. The Gray Reserves, a Philadelphia regiment, refused to be mustered either for six months or for the existing emergency; they were afterward mustered into State service as the Thirty-second Regt. Militia. The City Troop--a horse company from Philadelphia--reported for service; demanded no pay; would not be mustered. This company scouted at or beyond Gettysburg. Capt. Spear's company of policemen, of Philadelphia, as well as Col. Mann's company, from the same place, were to the best of my knowledge not mustered. Am under the impression that they were never asked to be, either in State or United States service.
From the 15th to the 26th of June, the latter being the date of the Governor's proclamation calling out the militia for State service, some thousands of those assembled at different rendezvous must have returned to their homes. They were unorganized masses. A hundred excuses were given by those who returned. It is somewhat singular, or would seem so to one not present in the State at that time, that there was a general impression among the militia that, if sworn into the United States service, they would be retained for any length of time. Lying, disloyal people were the authors of this mischief.
This letter should have been written sooner, but I was unable to do so.
I am, colonel, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
D. N. COUCH.
Maj.-Gen., Comdg. Department.
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 856-857, Broadfoot Publishing Company, Wilmington, NC, 1997.
