History of Pennsylvania volunteers, 1861-5; prepared in compliance with acts of the legislature, by Samuel P. Bates.

540 RESERVE CORPS,
cuted in every part of the Commonwealth. In the meantime, the severed cornmunication with Washington was restored, and the national authorities not
being prepared for the acceptance of more forces, ordered the call of General
Patterson for the additional force to be countermanded. Recruiting was accordingly suspended, but many of the companies thus called together did not
abandon their organizations.
Recognizingthe danger to which Pennsylvania, by its long line of border
on States seriously disaffected was exposed, and finding that adequate provisions did not exist by law to make the military power of the State available
for its protection, Governor Curtin issued his proclamation on the 20th day of
April, 1861, calling the Legislature to convene in extra session on the 30th instant. In his message, which was delivered at the opening of the session, the
Governor said: " The time is past for temporizing or forbearing with this rebellion, the most causeless in history. The North has not invaded, nor has she
sought to invade a single guaranteed right of the South. On the contrary, all
political parties, and all administrations, have fully recognized the binding force
of every provision of the great compact between the States, and regardless of our
views of State policy, our peoplehave respected them. * * * The insurrection must now be met by force of arms; and to re-establish the Government
upon an enduring basis, by asserting its entire supremacy, to re-possess the forts
and other Government property so unlawfully seized and held, to ensure personal freedom and safety to the people and commerce of the Union, in every sece
tion, the people of the loyal States demand, as with one voice, and will contend
for, as with one heart, and a quarter of a million of Pennsylvania's sons will
answer the call to arms, if need be, to wrest us from a reign of anarchy and
plunder, and secure for themselves and their children, for ages to come, the perpetuity of this government and its beneficent institutions. * * It is impossible to predict the lengths to which the madness that rules the hour in the
rebellious States shall lead us, or when the calamities which threaten our
hitherto happy country shall terminate. * * * To furnish ready support to those who have gone out, and to protect our borders, we should have a
well regulated military force. I, therefore, recommend the immediate organization, disciplining and arming of at least fifteen regiments of cavalry and infantry, exclusive of those called into the service of the United States. As we
have already ample warning of the necessity of being prepared for any sudden
exigency that may arise, I cannot too much impress this upon you."
This message was immediately referred to a select committee of the House,
consisting of seven members, Messrs. Ball, Sheppard, Williams, Hill, Smith,
of Berks, Lawrence and Leisenring. In compliance with the recommendations
of the Governor a bill was reported on the second of May, to create a loan and
to provide for arming the State, which, in the usual course of legislation, became a law on the 15th. Among other provisions the act authorized and required the Commander-in-Chief to organize a military corps, to be called the
"Reserve Volunteer Corps of the Commonwealth " to be composed of thirteen
regiments of infantry, one regiment of cavalry and one regiment of light artillery; to be armed and equipped, clothed, disciplined, governed and officered,
as similar troops in the service of the United States; to be enlisted in theservice of the State for a period of three years or for the war, unless sooner
discharged, and to be liable to be called into the service of the State at such
times asthe Commander-in-Chief should deem their services necessary for the pur