Summary:
Union General Darius Couch, commanding the Department of the Susquehanna at Chambersburg, writes Provost Marshal-General James B. Fry in August, 1863, concerning drafted men serving in the militia. Couch requests that they be allowed to postpone reporting until after their existing regiment has been mustered out, and outlines the justifications for the request.

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Col. J. B. FRY,
Provost-Marshal-Gen., Washington, D. C.:

Chambersburg,

August 15, 1863.

DEAR SIR:

I telegraphed yesterday asking you to allow drafted men in the militia to report to their district provost-marshal within ten days after their regiment was mustered out. If my request had been granted I think perhaps these ninety-days' men would be more inclined to stay in service, and Governor Curtin would not have that pressure upon him which he now complains of, and consequently I should have one less obstacle in the way of keeping troops here to assist in completing the draft. If the Governor consents to let a few regiments remain, most of the commanders say that the regiments will be much demoralized by the drafted men leaving. You are probably aware that I am, or shall be, pretty short of men if the militia all go out of the service. I believe the enrollment is now completed in the mining regions.

I am, sir, respectfully,

D. N. COUCH,
Maj.-Gen.

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Bibliographic Information : Letter Reproduced from The War of The Rebellion: Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series 3, Volume 3, Serial No. 124, Pages 680-681, Broadfoot Publishing Company, Wilmington, NC, 1997.