Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1861-07-18
OUR ARMY.
Special Report Of the Secretary
Of War.
WAR DEPARTMENT,

The accompanying statements of the Ad-
jutant General will show the number, de-
scription, and distribution of the troops
which are now in service.
1t forms no part of the duty of this de-
partment to enter upon discussion of the
preliminary circumstances which have con-
tributed to the present condition of public
affairs. The Secession ordinance of South
Carolina was passed on the 10th of Decem
Der last and from that period until the ma
jesty Of the Government was made manifest,
Immediately after you had assumed the chief
magistracy, the conspirators againstits Con-
stitution and laws have left nothing undone
to perpetuate the memory of their infamy.
Revenue steamers have been deliberately
betrayed by their commanders, or, where
the detection, have been overpowered by
rebel troops at the command of disloyal Gov
ernors.
The Government arsenals at Little Rock,
Baton Rouge, Mount Vernon, Apalachicola,
Augusta, Charleston and Fayetteville the
ordnance depot at San Antonio, and all the
other Government works in Texas, which
served as the depots of immense stores Of
arms and ammunition, have been surren-
dered by the commanders or seized by dis
loyal hands Forts Macon, Cusweii, john
son, Clinah, Pulaski, Jackson, Marion, Bar
rancas, Mckee, Morgan, Gaines, Pike, Ma
con, st. Philip, Livingston, Smith, and
three at Charleston ; Oglethorp Barracks,
Barrancas Barracks, New Orleans Barracks,
Fort Jackson, on the Mississippi, the bat!
terry at Bienvenue, Dupre, and the works
at Ship Island, have been successively stolen
from the Government or betrayed by their
commanding officers. The custom houses
at New Orleans, Mobile, Savannah, Charles
ton, and other important points, contain
ing vast amounts of Government funds, have
been treacherously appropriated to sustain
the cause Of rebellion. In like manner the
branch mints at New Orleans, at Charlotte
and at Dahlonega have been illegally seized,
in defiance of every principle of common
honesty and honor.
The violent seizure of the United States
Marine Hospital at New Orleans was only
wanting to complete the catalogue of crime.
The inmates, who had been disabled by de-
votion to their country's service, and who
there had been secured grateful asylum.
were cruelty ordered to be removed, without
the slightest provision being made for their
support or comfort. la Texas the large
forces detailed upon the frontier for protec-
fiOn of the inhabitants against the attacks
deserted by their commander, Brigadier-
| General Twiggs. 10 the infainy of treason
| to his flag was added the crowning crime of
deliberately handing over to the armed enc
mics of his Government all public property
entrusted to his charge, thus even depri-
wing the loyal men under his command Of all
means of transportation out of the State.
| A striking and honorable contrast with
the recreant conduct of Brigadier- General
Twiggs and other tratOrous officers, has been
presented in the heroic and truly self-sac-
rificing course pursued by Major Robert An
derson and the small and gallant band of Off
GERS and men under his command at Fort
Sumter, and also by Lieut.. Adam j. Slem-
mer, his officers and men, at Fort Pickens.
In referring, with strongest commendation,
to the conduct of these brave soldiers, under
the trying circumstances which surrounded
them, | only echo the unanimous voice OF
the American people. In this connection il
is pleasurable dutyto refer to the very gal.
liant action ofLieut. Roger Jones at Harper's
Ferry, and the handsome and successful man
ner in which he executed the orders Of the
Government at that important post.
The determination of the Government t.
use its utmost power to subdue the rebellion
has been sustained by the unqualified ap
proval of the whole people. Heretofore
, the leaders of this conspiracy have professeC
to regard the people Of this country as inca
r pable of making forcible resistance to rebel
!; lion. The error of this conclusion is now be
: ing made manifest. History will record tina
c men who, in ordinary times, were solely de
voted tothe arts of peace, were yet ready
on the instant, to rush to arms in defense o
their rights when assailed At the presen
moment the Government presents the strik
ing anomaly of being embarrassed by tn
generous outpouring of volunteers to sustain
Its action. Instead of laboring under tn
Idificulty of monarchical Governments-th
, wantof men to fill its armies (which in othe
countries has compelled resort to force'
/ conscriptions) lone Of its main dificultie
!, is to keep down the proportions of the army
and to prevent it from swelling beyond tn
actual force required. 81 70 ,i.s,. 81 ,.a.,i.l
The commanding oficersof the regiment
lin the volunteer service, both for the thre
= months service and for the war, have, i
many instances, not yet furnished the dc
partment with the muster rolls of their reg
lments For the want of these returns,
lis impossible to present as accurate an enr
|meration of the volunteer force, accepte
$. and in the field, as could be desired. Ur
ig der the proclamation issued by you on th
s. 18th of April last, the Governors Of differer
States were called upon to detach from th
: militia under their command certain qu,
ia, to serve as infantry or rifemen, for II
:, period of fthree months, unless sooner di
= charged. The call SO made amounted in IL
aggregate to ninety-four regiments, maxim
1881 officers and men. Ofthe States cal
ed upon, the Governors Of Virginia, Mort
Carolina, Tennessee, Arkansas, KentucA
and Missouri, peremptorily refused to con
ply with the requirements made by the d
partment. All the other States prompt
: furnished the number required Of them, Q,
cept Maryland, whose Governor, thoue
manifesting entire readiness to comply, W
to prevented from 30 doing by the outbreak
Baltimore.
\ In the States of Virginia, Delaware al
Missouri, Notwithstanding the positive ref
lof their executive officers to co-opera
4 with the Government, patriotic citizens W
UNFAIRLY united together and organized req
ments for the Government service. De-
ware and Virginia furnished each rel
'eS eS ment, both of which are on duty in the hel
= Ina similar patriotic spirit, the loyal peol