Robert Patterson to Assistant Adjutant-General, May 11, 1861

~ASSISTANT ADJUTANT-GENERAL, Headquarters of the Army, Washington, D. C.:

Sir: I forward for the information of the General-in-Chief, on a department return, a detailed statement of the regiments mustered into: the service of the United States, which are or have been in the department, and the present condition of the equipments.* Eight regiments. in excess in the Pennsylvania quota arises from troops having been mustered in at this place by authority and no attention taken of them at Harrisburg. Ihave urged and pressed the equipping of these regiments. The commander of Frankford Arsenal reports he cannot filk before the 25th instant the orders now in his possession for twelve regiments, three of which are at Chambersburg and three at York. No requisition for ordnance equipments for General Negley’s command has. been received, and Lieutenant Treadwell, the ordnance officer at the arsenal, is, by. orders from Washington, providing only for twelve thousand four hundred men, the Pennsylvania quota. I am aware that . Maryland has been invaded from Virginia at Harper’s Ferry, but in the present condition of my command am powerless.

I make the above statement that the General-in-Chief may not rely at present upon these regiments in his plan of attack upon Harper’s.

two in this city will be provided with accouterments. I request to be i informed if troops from York are to march through or around Baltimore, and whether the regiments on that line are to be pushed to Washington. The railroad hence to Baltimore will be opened in a few q days. I desire also to be informed if there is any objection to using f this route through Baltimore. i

very respectfully, your obedient servant, '