Summary:
Union General Darius Couch, commanding at Chambersburg, writes Captain R. I.
Dodge in October, 1864, concerning reinforcements and troop assignments in
Pennsylvania.
Capt. R. I. DODGE, U. S. Army,
Actg. Asst.
Provost-Marshal-Gen., Harrisburg, Pa.:
Chambersburg, Pa.,
October 31, 1864.
CAPT.:
Your three communications of the 29th instant in reference to matters in Clearfield, Snyder County,&c., are received. I fully agree with you as to the necessity of immediately sending troops into those two counties, but I have not a man to place at your disposal, excepting artillery. You can have one or, if necessary, two sections of that. The companies at York and Carlisle, you are aware, were assigned by directions of the War Department. It is not deemed advisable to order any troops from Philadelphia at this time; indeed, there are none to spare, nor are there any that could be taken away from Pittsburg, unless it be from Camp Reynolds. I have asked Gen. Halleck to send me some dismounted cavalry for the very purpose you wish troops, but have had no reply. There is one company of infantry now at Bloody Run that perhaps can assist you after the election. The cavalry you mention as intending to order from Columbia County I consider are there by superior orders. I was asked what were my reasons for ordering them away, and replied that they could probably return. This was after Sheridan's last victory. It is hoped that after election that something will be done for the necessities of this department.
I am, captain, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
D. N. COUCH,
Maj.-Gen.
Bibliographic Information : Letter Reproduced from The War of The Rebellion: Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series 1, Volume 43, Serial No. 91, Pages 526, Broadfoot Publishing Company, Wilmington, NC, 1997.
