Franklin County: Alexander K. McClure to Eli Slifer, June 9, 1863

I called together half a dozen of our leading & most prudent men, and submitted your letter. They have sent out for one of the County [unclear: Commissioners] a very prudent man (brother of Jim Scotts) and will have him and several of the [unclear: Town] Council in a confidential consultation tonight.

I am perplexed as to what course to adopt. If the Rebels come they will come much stronger than before, and I doubt not with a much more destructive . Our raiders south have been wantonly destructive with private property and the lex talionis may come back upon us.

We will at first arrange for communication with a telegraphic instrument at Greencastle. [unclear: London] and a few good scouts on the view, we may avoid surprise, and thus save much valuable property. In connection with the Hagerstown, Greencastle, Mercersburg, Williamsport and Hancock people, we can I think arrange a perfect police system, and be able at this point to have timely notice of any movement.

The [unclear: Governor] will fail at Washington I fear, [unclear: Staunton] is so bitterly against him that he will interfere against any movement the [unclear: Governor] may desire. He seems to be [unclear: actuated] all the time by the impression that Governor [unclear: Curtin] is only seeking popularity in all these efforts: and he does not particularly deserve to be popular.

Write me daily how things look. You need not fear any sensations from any facts or opinions you may give for we shall be careful of all that.

I fear Curtin is assenting an [unclear: in-tarily] to the use of his name for renomination. If [unclear: Franklin] is nominated on the 17th every consideration of prudence will dictate his [unclear: peremtory] [unclear: withdrawal] and under any circumstances it is of much more than doubtful wisdom.