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- [S1993] Newspapers.com: Potter Journal Leader Enterprise-, 13 Jun 1861, Thu • p2 Potter County Rifles, Statements, Mis-Statements, & Corrections- Camp Curtin- Committee.
Edwin Lyman (1) fact
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Potter County Rifles, Statements, Mis-Statements, & Corrections- Camp Curtin- Committee
CLIPPED FROM
The Potter Journal and News Item
Coudersport, Pennsylvania
13 Jun 1861, Thu • Page 2
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BYwetzupdoc · 18 seconds ago06 Nov 2022
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By request, we Copy the following card and editorial From the Harrisburg Daily Telegraph, May 21:
EDITOR TELEGRAPH:- Being among those who have leit the "Potter Rifles" for home, we wish to make a plain statement of the facts that have led us to take this step. Soon after the call of the President for the first quota of men from our State, we had an opportunity of enlisting; beieving that the flag of our nation was eudangered, we readily rushed to its support. We were told to take no clothiug with us excepting such as we wore, as the Government would supply us immediately on our arrival in camp. Our march for seventy five miles was through a new country, over rough roads, rendered muddy by recent and heavy rains. We arrived at the railroad station covered with mud, wet, weary and foot sore , nearly in this "Condition we entered Camp Cur tin.
We expected on our arrival here to be indulged, not with the con forts of home,, but at least with clean clothes and a sufficient supply of healthy fund, and to be mustered into service a id placed under drill. Wc have bceu here about throe weeks, and no member of our company has received a single article of clothing, and during a part of that time, ninety-six men have subsisted on the rations of seventy seven. We were enlisted for three month's service; we came before that requisition was full; ice were not received. Twenty-one of our men then went home; many of us wore indignant at tiicrn for this course, believing that true policy required us to enlist for the war. A full company expressed our willingness to serve for that time, yet ice were still Jcejgi out of (he service and KEPT IN RAGS. All this we doull bar; hunger, cold and fatigue could be endured ; but we had loved our State as we did our mothers; we were proud of her r( putation and jeal. ous of her honor, and when we received news from Washington, and tire camps below us, of the situation of our men there, and the jeers at the "ragged army of Pennsylvania," we determined that we would not be the passive instruments whereby that honor was to be farther prostrated. We arc ready to serve our country for the war -we are ready to face ihe enemy on any battle field -and we are ready to submit to all the necessary exposure and privations of a soldier's life; but we request -aye, demand -to be treated with decency, and as men.
For the ladies of Harrisburg and all other places who have manifested an interest in our Wellfare, we tender our sincere thanks; their efforts have been a link binding us to the homes we left behind us, and preventing us from forgetting that we were yet surrounded by the luxuries of civilized society. With this statement of facts we arc willing to submit our actions to the impartial judgment of the people of tlie State aud of the nation. POTTER COUNTY.
GOING HOME.--The Potter Rifles, a company of fine-looking, able bodied and intelligent men, who arrived here : ume three weeks ago, and have remained in Gamp Curtin up to this time in a ragged and starving condition, yesterday disband eu ovying to their non-acceptance by the Governor, and about fifty of thorn determined to return home. Wc print in another column a well-written and patriotic card from the Rifle?, axplauatory of their action, and descriptive of their life in Camp, which speaks for i.seif. It is to be regretted that the country has, by the injudicious course of tbe "powers that be," lost the services of 'a body of men who are not surpassed in gallantry or patriotism by any troops in the volunteer scrvb-m.
And also the following, published in the same paper of May 25:
CAMP CURTIN, May 25, 1801.
The undersigned members of the Potter County rifles have been appointed by their comrades a committee to correct the mis-statements of a card which appeared in your paper of yesterday.
It is true thai we had a weary march and suffered many hardships born on the seventy-five miles walk over the mountains spoken of, and coming down the river on the rafts; but it is not true that at my time since our arrival in camp ninetysix men have subsisted on the rations of seventy sever. It is also untrue that not a single article of clothing has been furnished to any member of the company." On the contrary, every man while here, who desired it, was furnished a change of a new aud superior flannel shirt, kindly presented by our gallant commander, Col. Kane.
In addition to the garments in haversacks, previously supplied by the patriotic ladies at home, one of these shirts was seen to be carried on the back of each man who returned. Each was furnished a blanket on his arrival in camp. Seventy gray flannel shirts have also been distributed by the State An abundant supply of provisions bus been received daily, and it has been invariably of the best quality.
We do not deny that we have had to submit to some hardships, but in this hour of our country's need we do not think it to be the part of patriotism to swell the burden of complaint upjustly. We can appreciate the difficulties which impede the action of the State authorities, and we express our opinion that they have done the best in their power under the circumstances to make us comfortable in camp.
- John F. Wentz, Edwin Lyman, Coudersport;
- A. L. Chapin, Oswayo;
- Patrick Kaine, Genesee;
- John Harden, Sharon ;
- Wm. J. S. Allen, Pleasant Valley,
--- Committee.
Clipping location on The Potter Journal and News Item page 2
CLIPPED FROM
The Potter Journal and News Item
Coudersport, Pennsylvania
13 Jun 1861, Thu • Page 2
wetzupdoc Member Photo
BYwetzupdoc · 18 seconds ago06 Nov 2022
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Potter Co Civil War PotteRifles 18610613PottEntp2 20221106GHLn-
Potter County Rifles, Statements, Mis-Statements, & Corrections- Camp Curtin- Committee
CLIPPED FROM
The Potter Journal and News Item
Coudersport, Pennsylvania
13 Jun 1861, Thu • Page 2
wetzupdoc Member Photo
BYwetzupdoc · 18 seconds ago06 Nov 2022
THOSE "EXTRACTS"
By request, we Copy the following card and editorial From the… |
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