The Daily Dispatch: April 15, 1861., [Electronic resource]

The military force of Pennsylvania.

From official sources we learn that the whole number of organized volunteer companies in this State is about 500, averaging about 40 men to a company, making an aggregate of over 20,000 uniformed volunteers. The entire military force of the State is about 355,000 men capable of military duty. The arms of the State are all in the possession of the volunteer companies, and comprise 12,080 muskets, 4,706 rifles, 2,809 cavalry swords and sabres, 3,147 pistols, 69 pieces of ordnance, being six-pound bronze cannon. Of the above there are only about 2,500 muskets of the new model, 1,200 improved rifles, and about 500 cavalry swords. The balance are unfit for active service, being mostly of the heavy old flint-lock. The 69 pieces of ordnance are in good condition, with the exception of the carriages. From the above it will be seen that the volunteers of the State have but 4,200 effective small-arms, leaving an actual deficit for them alone of 14,800. No arms are furnished to the militia by the State itself. All that are now issued to the militia are furnished by the United States to Pennsylvania.