Franklin Repository

It is not to be disguised that the people of Franklin county have been much exercised during the last few weeks, because of the general apprehension that cavalry raids may be made upon us, plundering our people of horses, cattle and provender. We consider the apprehension well grounded, and unless the people themselves shall take prompt and effective steps to guard against such incursions, there can be no doubt about the result. We have had frequent complaints from different sections of the county against the government because it has not placed a large force upon our border. Such complaints are unreasonable and unjust. What force Gen. Couch has about him and at his disposal, it would not be best to state; but if he had 50,000 men he could not protect the border of the States from rebel raids. It must be remembered that there are hundreds of miles of border exposed, all opening into rich valleys, and it is an utter impossibility to guard the entire line against well drilled and mounted men with daring and skil[l]ful leaders. They might be caught as was Morgan in Ohio and Streight in Mississippi; but they have every advantage in such an enterprise, and usually pay no respect to armies. Thus Stuart spent three days in Pennsylvania, plundering indiscriminately, during which he ran the arc of the circle around a Union army of 100,000 men; and although he was never over twenty miles from it, he escaped with his booty. So Stoneman made his grand raid around Lee, with rebel soldiers on every side; penetrated into the fortifications of Richmond, and returned in safety with his command. So Carter did in Tennessee, Grierson in Alabama, and Averill in Western Virginia, and so it will be until the end of the war.

It is time our people understood that armies are no serious obstacle to cavalry raids. They may protect certain points, and by chance capture the raiders, but as a rule, when it is important to make a raid, the existence of an army is not deemed an insuperable obstacle. If the country be clear of armed citizens, raids can be made almost anywhere, and in spite of almost any numbers or the most skil[l]ful generalship. This has been the safety of our cavalry when penetrating into the enemy's country. The able bodied men are all in the rebel army, and if they only avoid the rebel armies, they have no resistance. So in the North, although abounding with able bodied men, they have been unorganized and unarmed, and could offer no obstacles.

There is but one way to prevent raids, and in that one way they can be most effectually prevented. Cavalry detachments cannot penetrate a densely populated country like ours if the citizens are organized and armed. If we had 2,500 men organized in Franklin county, with experienced leaders such as we have in abundance in every district, and with their muskets and well filled cartridge-boxes at home, ready to fill up their company ranks as soon as a rebel should cross the Potomac, and to offer resistance in every locality where marauding parties should appear, there would be no raids attempted upon us. No raid could be made with such organizations assailing it at every step, for the contest would be too unequal and deadly. Every thicket, every hollow, every pass, would be fruitful of death, and the assailants could protect themselves almost entirely in such warfare. No rebel cavalry officer would dare to enter Franklin county if he knew that in every district there were experienced officers with well armed bands ready to cut him off and assail him from every shelter; but if Gen. Couch had 50,000 men in his Department, and the citizens unorganized and unarmed, Gen. Stuart would not hesitate an hour to traverse portions of our county, and he would have every advantage in the way of escape.

Copperheads are ever ready to whisper in the ears of our people that the government is neglecting us; that without troops we are at the mercy of rebel plunderers; and loyal men are appealed to in every way to desert the government and throw themselves into the arms of traitors. We ask our people to look at the history of this war, and a little reflection will satisfy any honest, unprejudiced mind, that unless troops should be encamped immediately about him, they can afford no protection against raids. If we would not be plundered this fall, we must put every able-bodied man in a military company under tried soldiers--have them well armed and supplied with ammunition, and ready to fly to arms the moment a foe enters the county. If this be done promptly no rebel raids will be attempted--if it be not done, the whole Army of the Potomac could not cover our entire border nor protect all our people from rebel plunderers. Our militia laws furnish ample means to meet this emergency. Every company duly organized can have regularly commissioned officers, and be well armed at once and kept well supplied with ammunition; and we appeal to our people to show that they mean to do their whole duty in the matter of their own protection. It need cost no money, and very little time; and let it but be known that in every district of Franklin county there will be well armed companies to repel raids, and there can be no doubt but that raiders will give us a wide berth. When malignant copperheads complain of the government, propose to join them in taking a musket for home defence, remind them that it is our first duty to show our willingness to join in the defence of our homes and property, and they may be shamed into doing one good at in spite of themselves.

We earnestly urge the immediate and thorough organization of companies in every district for this purpose. Chambersburg should have not less than five companies--let us not be behind in the work. Certainly 2,500 can be thus enrolled and armed, and if so, we may rest easy about raids. If we neglect it, the rebels must become duller than usual if they don't divide our stock and crops with us this fall, in spite of any army we could possibly have here. This is a clear duty; let it not be delayed. What district will be foremost in the good work?