Colonel Smith to Theo. Talbot, April 19, 1861
No. 3. Washington, April 19, 1861.
The Military Department of Washington is extended so as to include, in addition to the District of Columbia and Maryland, the States of Delaware and Pennsylvania, and will be commanded by Major-General
Patterson, belonging to the volunteers of the latter State.
The major-general will, as fast as they are mustered into service, post the volunteers of Pennsylvania. all along the road from Wilmington, Del., to Washington City, in sufficient numbers and in such proximity as may give a reasonable protection to the lines of parallel wires, to the road, its rails, bridges, cars, and. stations.
Washington, April 19, 1861—7.30 p. m.
General R. PATTERSON, Philadelphia :
Have you received General Orders, No. 3, sent by telegraph this afternoon? Major Porter,A. A. G., started this morning, with order for issue of 5,000 arms to troops near Harrisburg, and to secure line of communications from Pennsylvania line to Baltimore, along route from Harrisburg to Baltimore. Answer by telegraph.
PHILADELPHIA, April 19, 1861.
My DrAaR GENERAL: I have orders to march and am intensely anxious to be with and support you, but a very large proportion of my men are without muskets, all are without ammunition, service clothing, greatcoats, blankets, knapsacks, haversacks, canteens, &c., and it is impossible to get them except from the Frankford and Gray’s Ferry Arsenals, where there is abundance of everything. Mr. Dayton, of New Jersey, has telegraphed General Cameron to supply these things. Iimplore you to go to the Secretary and have an order sent for a full supply. If you cannot get for ten thousand, get for five thousand men. It secms very strange that the people of the South seize the Government property to carry on rebellion, and the men of the North cannot get it to defend the flag of the Union. The law of necessity overrides all laws; we must “have arms, ammunition, clothing, and equipments. The State authorities say that if the Government requires it, the State will pay for the clothing at cost price, and the stock can be replenished. Please attend to this at once, and I can have 5,000 men in Washington in five days. General Cadwalader is as decided as I am that our men shall not be made inmates of hospitals for want of comfortable garments, which the Government has at our doors, and which may be taken by others. Say to my good friend the Secretary I entreat him not to hesitate. The moment, the peril of the capital,
_ and the necessities of the case fully justify him in, making the order.
Faithfully, yours, R. PATTERSON, Major-General, Commanding.
Miah
Maj. J. C. Pemberton, Fourth Artillery, will, with his company, immediately proceed to the steamboat landing, seize and hold possession, in the name of the President of the United States, until further orders, of all the steamers plying between Washington City and Aquia Creek that are now lying at the company’s wharves, or that may arrive during the next twenty-four hours.
By order of Colonel Smith: