Eleven days in the militia during the war of the rebellion: A journal of the 'Emergency' campaign of 1862

In Short

This journal chronicles an eleven-day mobilization during the American Civil War, when Pennsylvania’s governor issued an emergency call to repel General Robert E. Lee’s 1862 invasion. The narrative follows a group of volunteer militiamen—lawyers, merchants, and laborers from Reading—as they trade their civilian lives for rifles and "hard tack" to guard the state border. It is a rare, grounded account of the "Emergency" campaign, capturing the chaotic, often humorous, and ultimately sobering transition from amateur citizen to soldier during a national crisis.

The Story

The narrative begins in September 1862, a moment of profound uncertainty for the Union. As General Lee’s Confederate army crosses the Potomac into Maryland, the threat to Pennsylvania becomes immediate. In response, Governor Curtin calls for fifty thousand "freemen" to defend the state. The author, a member of the Reading militia, captures the frantic, almost domestic scramble for readiness: men raid hardware stores for old rifles, gather bed blankets, and prepare haversacks. This is not a professional army; it is an assembly of the community’s social fabric—lawyers, doctors, and railway officials—all answering a call that levels their differences.

The journey to Harrisburg is marked by the amateurism of the recruits. Upon arrival, these men find themselves in a state of administrative chaos, sleeping on the Capitol grounds, setting up makeshift tents, and grappling with the realities of army rations. The journal vividly details the "hard tack" diet, the necessity of tobacco, and the camaraderie that forms in the face of discomfort. As the company moves toward the Maryland border, the tone shifts from the novelty of camp life to the gravity of war. The distant, rhythmic thunder of artillery from the Battle of Antietam reaches their ears, transforming their drills from mere exercise into a grim preparation for sacrifice.

The climax arrives when the militia reaches Hagerstown, Maryland. Rumors of a Confederate advance spread, and the men are issued their first ammunition. They are moved into lines of battle, standing in ploughed fields with fixed bayonets, waiting for an enemy that remains just over the horizon. The author describes the eerie contrast between the picturesque autumnal landscape and the looming threat of combat. While no major engagement occurs for the militia, they face the constant tension of pickets, signal rockets, and the sight of local farmers fleeing with their belongings.

Eventually, the pressure subsides as the primary Union forces under McClellan stabilize the region. The militia’s period of service draws to a close, marked by a final period of relaxation and "blanket-tossing" in the woods. Their return home is bittersweet; while the governor praises their "heroic" presence for deterring the enemy, the campaign ends in tragedy when a train collision on the return journey kills and injures members of the Reading companies. The journal concludes with the formal discharge of the men, leaving them to reflect on their brief, pivotal role in the "War of the Rebellion."

How It Unfolds

The call to arms The narrative opens with the governor’s urgent proclamation, triggering a city-wide mobilization where everyday business grinds to a halt. Men scramble to gather disparate weapons—from antique pistols to shotguns—and prepare for an indefinite stay in the field.

The camp at Harrisburg The volunteers reach the capital, where they navigate the initial confusion of disorganized quarters and rudimentary rations. This section explores the leveling of social classes, as professionals and laborers share meager meals and endure the lack of formal military discipline.

The march to the border The company advances into Maryland, moving closer to the active front lines near Antietam. The atmosphere intensifies as the men hear the distant artillery, realizing that their presence is no longer a symbolic gesture but a genuine contribution to a wider, lethal conflict.

The watch at Hagerstown Stationed in the path of a potential raid, the militiamen wait in battle lines, enduring the suspense of impending combat. They observe the tactical movements of cavalry and the frantic exodus of local civilians, highlighting the visceral reality of a state under invasion.

The return and reflection The emergency passes, and the company is ordered home to Pennsylvania. The journal ends with the relief of a safe return, the somber news of a fatal rail accident, and a final acknowledgment of the men’s contribution to the Union’s defense.

The People

The author, an observant and thoughtful participant, acts as the lens through which the reader views the transformation of the group. He is consistently fair-minded, balancing his own physical ailments—such as recurring bouts of "sick-headache"—with an appreciative eye for the character of his companions.

Captain Franklin S. Bickley serves as the steady, organizing hand for the first company of Reading men. He is tasked with the impossible job of managing a group of enthusiastic but untrained civilians, navigating the bureaucratic hurdles of the state government with quiet efficiency.

The cook, W.P.D., emerges as a memorable figure—an "autocrat" of the ration bags who guards the sugar with vigilance. His rough exterior and dedication to equitable food distribution provide a touch of humanity to the grind of camp life.

D.E., a candidate for District Attorney, is portrayed as the quintessential "erratic soldier." He struggles with the constraints of military life, reflecting a common frustration among the men who are eager for action but frustrated by the slow, often inexplicable nature of military maneuvers.

Finally, the men of the various Reading companies—lawyers like H.V.R. and merchants like L.B.—are presented not as soldiers in the traditional sense, but as "moral heroes" who demonstrate that strength of character in civilian life translates into a steadfast, if unpolished, commitment to duty on the field.

In Its Own Voice

"The women nobly seconded the appeal to arms, and assisted in the work of preparation."

This observation highlights the community-wide effort required to mobilize the militia, showing that the home front was as much a part of the preparation as the camp itself.

"A dull gruff belch, at irregular intervals, accompanied by a sense of concussion, told the story of the distant conflict."

The author describes the visceral, sensory experience of hearing the Battle of Antietam, emphasizing how the reality of war intruded upon the lives of the volunteers from miles away.

"I could not help observing how strikingly the predominant characteristics of men are developed in critical emergencies."

This reflection serves as the book's core argument, as the author observes how the pressures of the campaign reveal the true nature of his comrades, stripping away their civilian status to expose their underlying grit or frailty.

What It's Really About

At its heart, this is a study of the citizen-soldier and the porous boundary between peace and total war. The text asks what happens when a society is forced to pivot, almost overnight, from commerce and law to defense and survival. It examines the nature of civic duty, questioning whether an untrained, undisciplined force can provide meaningful aid in a national catastrophe. The narrative also probes the psychological impact of being a "reserve"—waiting in the shadow of a great battle, hearing the carnage but remaining on the periphery. It ultimately argues that the value of such service lies less in tactical brilliance than in the shared commitment to protect one’s state, revealing the depth of patriotism in those who were never intended to see the front.

Why Read It Today

Modern readers who appreciate the granular, day-to-day texture of history will find this account rewarding. It feels less like a military history and more like a time capsule of 1862, full of the smells of camp cookery, the anxieties of waiting, and the strange, quiet dignity of men carrying rifles they were never trained to use. Those who enjoy the "everyman" perspective on great events will be drawn to the author’s warmth and his ability to see the humor in the chaos.

However, the reader should be prepared for the pace of a journal written in a nineteenth-century style, which can be deliberate and occasionally bogged down in the minutiae of troop movements and local lists. The text reflects the period’s specific attitudes, including the author’s candid, sometimes blunt observations about his peers and the "contrabands" he encounters. It is not an action-packed thriller, but rather a quiet, reflective piece of personal history. What stays with you long after the final page is the image of lawyers and bankers sitting on railroad sills, writing letters home while waiting for an enemy that might never arrive, embodying the fragility and the resilience of a nation under fire.