The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1841-02-11

lb40 @,44o Oo
For the Quar,ermaster General, as be-
fore stated. 100000 90
| volunteers for the year lSii, esiimat-
ed by Paymaster General, iS90l0 SO
For pay ofone battalion foot volunteers, 77,206 50
| For subsistence for militia and voun-
| teers and inhabitants, estimai ed by the
commissary General Of Subsistence, 2s242l 81
For Medical Department, by Surgeon
For Ordnance Department, by Colonel
Of Ordnance, 10000 90
s., 1886, 329 rs
To show that these expenses are already partially
incurred and now going on, daily, and weekly,
and monthly, will read from the report of the War
/ ID apartment.
"ln order to render the regular forces available for
offensive operations, brigade of Florida militia
raised for the defence Of Middle Florida and placed
der the command of Brigsder General Leigh Read Of
the territorial militia.
1.-THE troops that rers in the service of the Terri
tory in virtue of law Of the Legislature of Florida,
mustered into that Of the United States and form
part OF General Reads brigade which has been in
creased to 200 mounted and 500 foot men, and may
be raised to 500 mounted and 500 foot force which
considered ample for the protection of that portion OF
the Territory assigned TO General Reads command.
i "The regular troops in Florida amount to about
800 men, and militia IN serrice 10 about 1000
recommend that authority be given the Executive TO
engage the services of this description of troops for
twelvsmonth, during the continuance of hostiles
in Florida. The term of three months Is much too
short TO insure efficiency and frequent enstmens
fruitful of INSTRUMENTATION well Of great
additional expense
General Jesup also says, under date Of November
2Sth
There are outstanding claims to considerable
amount, arising out of the volunteer and militia ser
vice, ,reh hare been recognise cd by the Ereeare and
for the payment OF which funds are required. Means
also necessary TO carry the service during the
remainder of the year, (lSi0) as well as TO provide
for the approaching campaign. The urgency Of an i'm
mediate appropriation is therefore obvions
Now sir from these extracts II is obvious that the
militia and volunteers already in the service and
that is intended keep them in the service They
called out by the Executive for period OF three
months and, when that expires, they ere discharged
and Immediately called out for another term OF three
months; and on, amounting TO constant service.
This probably the Executive has the power TO do, UNI
der existing laws and this il is manifest he intends
to do, and the estimates framed accordingly Inc
authority which the Secretary requests Is not 10 call
out an additional force of 1900 men, and above
what now in the service for twelve month"; but to
extend the term for which he is authorized to call
them out from three TO twelve months II II be grant
ed, well the not increased ny H. De-
cause, If il be granted he will exe.cse the power
he possesses and take them into service from three
months, long MS, in his judgment, il is necessary
In either mode The serrice rs rendered, and Congress
must supply the means Of payment. II Is, therefore,
apparent that the appropriation requested Of near two
and hall millions is not at all dependent upon whe.
her Congress grants withholds the authority to call
the militia and volunteers into service for term Of
f twelve months. This expense is going on, and VIII
90 on unless the Executive, after fh March, order
this description of force TO be dsbanded IL will not
be done before and, ii done then the expenditures
will probably amount 10 at least a million Of dollars,
which will fall on ls4l but embraced within the esti-
mates of the year To give little further insight into
this expenditure and the mode in which operations IN
Florida conducted will read letter from an OH
Ger Of the United States Army of high rank, now on
q ma uprs
assured by honorable member of the House, to
whom it is addressed, is gentleman of high reputation,
and of the strctest honor and veracity. am not al
liberty to give his name; the reasons for which every
gentleman readily appreciate will read only
the portion of it bearing on this subject II is dated
''ST AUGUSTINE, December 81, 1910.
Before il was known last summer whether the bill
authorizing the President of the United States TO ac-
cept the services of not exceeding $500 volunteers
would or would not pass in Congress, force Of 500
mounted and 500 foot militia authorized by the
Secretary of War to be received into the service ofthe
United States in Florida. The mounted force was
afterwards doubled and again in September increased
to 1900 all to be called Fiorida militia, and to be
mustered for a term of three months. The mounted
force all mustered in and when the first term ex-
pred, discharged, and mustered for second term
Of three months and this practice IL to continue, so
perpeiuae the force, both mounted and foot IN
service None of the foot mustered TIL recently,
and not till they assured the duty to be required
of them would not take them from home In going
hence to Tallahassee in October last saw letter
from lieutenant colonel of militia in this muuuted
force to a who requested to raise foot com
pany, in which il was stated, the men Of the company
will remain at home and If any Indians or signs Of
them shall be discovered word will he sent to the
est mounted force to 90 in pursuit This changed the
disposition in several companies, and induced the mem
beers to become foot men instead of mounted Since
my arrival here have been furnished with the follow
ing copy (from the Originally of letter from the Brig
adler General in command of the Florida militia. Its
genuncness be doubted for the order is in the
handwriting Of that officer. II is proper for TO
mention that there is Florida militia in Middle or
East Florida except small company uniformed In
this place and in Tallahassee. None else have had
the least organization since the of the
war; and the companies now in service, and called
Florida militia by order made up of such as are
willing to in them-some residents in the coun
try many discharged soldiers, citizens from Georgia,
and some entire companies from that State.
(Copy Of Order
"HsAD QUARTERS FLORIDA BRIGADE,
Newnansyille, Dec. A, 1910
80 The troops OF the Sedentary Infantry service, of
which Captain Broer's company integral portion,
shall any time be ordered active duty nor
will it occur during their term of service that
they shall be ordered march greater distance than
twenty miles beyond The of their respect
i've companies They will be directed to remain at
their usual places Of abode and expected 10 engage
sedulousy in the pursuit Of their usual occupations
[Sgned LEIGH READ,
Brig. Gen. Florida Brig.
90 Captain BRoER, Mandarin
This 'sedentary' service for which they are paid
subsised, clad, and dcctored, is suggcsed and am
credihly informed by the Secretary of War TO Gene
raj Read. His letters of October last will doubt
show IT,"
We have here account Of the mode Of conduct
ing affairs in Florida "a sedentary nfanry" direct
ed TO remain at their usual places of abode, and
peced to engage sedulousy in tho pur, al Of their
usual occupations The value and the economy OF
4 81. - H.