Darius N. Couch to Edwin M. Stanton, June 18, 1863

Hon. E. M. Stanton, Secretary of War:

Sir: Milroy’s 1,700 reported this afternoon at Bedford, most of them, I fear, without arms. The rebels could not have been in much force near Hancock, or these men would have been captured. (General Milroy leaves this evening to join his men. I may hold him in that section until he reorganizes. Their presence will be valuable. Some 4,000 or 5,000 militia are assembled at Altoona and other points west of this. They are not mustered yet.

Men are mustered with the greatest difficulty. A better feeling exists this evening, however. I was obliged, in order to get companies, to give an order to muster them, even if not up to the minimum required by regulations and existing orders, It had to be done in order to prevent them from stampeding. You must sustain me, and I will endeavor to work it out all right in the end.

I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant,