LOCAL INTELLIGENCE.
IMPORTANT MEETING OF HOME GUARDS.--Pursuant to an order published in the morning papers, from the Head-quarters of Brigadier-General PLEASNTOON [sic], Commander-in-Chief of the Home Guard organizations of Philadelphia, the officers of all the companies enrolled for the defence of the city, met yesterday at noon, at the Supreme Court Room. About one hundred persons were present, all of whom had some good news to report from the men under their charge.
Gen. PLEASONTON took the chair, and called the meeting to order, and proceeded to state the objects contemplated. He said the Government was anxious to draw all the available force around Washington that could be collected within a given time, and the Governor of Pennsylvania had asked whether one thousand or fifteen hundred men could be raised from the Home Guard of this city, for active service in the South. Before making any report, he felt so deeply interested in this matter, that he had deemed it advisable to consult the Colonels and Captains whom he had the honor to command.
Some little confusion was caused here by the anxiety of the officers to learn what was the term of service for which the men were to be enlisted.
General PLEASONTON replied that he was not positively advised upon this subject, but the Secretary of the Commonwealth thought it probable that the force might only be needed for a few days; but the opinion of General PLEASONTON was that their services would be needed for a term of several months, perhaps for the fall and winter season.
Col. GREGORY, who is now recruiting a fine Home Guard regiment for active service, desired to know whether this call for troops came from the State or United States Government, and whether the latter would, under any circumstances, depart from the rule it had established in regard to the length of the term of enlistment of volunteers.
General PLEASONTON replied that Mr. Secretary SLIFER had informed him that the troops would be accepted for special duty for less than three years. He desired to make a correct report to Col. SLIFER of the number of men that would serve for a short time. Arms and accoutrements would be furnished by the Government, but he did not know whether the men would be furnished with uniforms.
Reports from the First Regiment of Home Guards, through Captains GREGORY, BICKEL, SELLERS, BINDER, LEIDY, MANDERSON, SNOWDON, KELLY, MOTZ and HART were then received. Each captain (with two exceptions) reported from twenty-five to sixty men ready for service for thirty days or three months. Probably two-thirds of those on the muster rolls would go--particularly if they had definite information in reference to the matter.
[...]A patriotic sentiment pervaded the entire company, and it was the unanimous opinion of those present that one full regiment could be raised for six months active service immediately, and perhaps two regiments. In doing this, a strong force could still be left for the defence of the city and its immediate approaches, and to assist in enforcing the laws.