Indiana State sentinel. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1861-07-17
Report OF the Secretary of War.
We quote from this important document:


Notwithstanding the refusal of disloyal Cover
nors to respond, instead of having been furnished
with only the number of troops called for under
your proclamation of the 18th April last, has re-
ceived, and has now in service, under that call,
in round numbers, at least eighty thousand men.
Under your second proclamation, of the 4th
of May last, calling for volunteers to serve du-
ring the war, there have been accepted up to this
date 208 regiments. A number Of other regi-
ments have been accepted, but on condition of
being ready to be mustered into the service with
in specified time, the limitation of which has
in some instances, not expired. 1t is not possible
to state how many of these may be ready before
the meeting of Congress. OF the regiments ac-
cepted, all are infantry and rifemen, with the
exception of two battalions of artillery and four
regiments of cavalry. A number of regiments
mustered as infantry, have, however, attached
TO them one or more artillery companies, and there
are also some regiments partly made up of COM
panies of cavalry. OF the 208 regiments ac
cepted for three years, thee are now 1853 in ac-
tive service; and the remaining 55 mostly
ready, and all of them will be in the field within
the next twenty days.
The total force now in the field may be com
puted as follows:
Regulars and volunteers for
three months and for the
war 235,U ,UOO
Add to this 55 regiments of
volunteers for the war; ac-
cepted and not yet in service, so 900
Add new regiments of regular
army. .................... 25,U0O
- $4,000
Total force now at command
of Government. ....... 100000
Deduct the three months vol
unteers. -. $4,000
Force for service after the with
drawal of the three months
men,. ................... 23U ,0UO
1t will be perceived that after the discharge Of
the three months troops there will still be an
available force of volunteers amounting to 1885,
900, which, added to the regular army will con-
stitute total force of 230 900 officers and men,
1t will be for Congress to determine whether this
army shall at this time be increased by the ad-
dition of a still larger volunteer force.
The extraordinary exigencies which have called
this great army into being have rendered neces
sary also very considerable augmentation of
the regular arm of the service. The demoraliza-
ton of the regular army, caused by the treason
able conduct of many of its officers, the distant
posts Mt which greater part of the troops were
stationed, and the unexampled rapidty of the
spread of the rebellion, convinced those high in
command in the service. as well as this depart
ment, that an increase in the regular army was
indispensable. The subject was accordingly
brought to your attention, and after careful ex-
animation an increase was authorized by your
proclamation issued on the 4th of May last.
This increase consists of one regiment of cav
airy of twelve companies, numbering in the max
imum aggregate, ,lS9 officers and men; one
regiment of artillery of twelve batteries, of six
pieces each, numbering in the maximum aggre-
gate 9O9 officers and men; nine regiments of in
fantry. each regiment containing three battalions
OF eight companies each, numbering in the maxi
mum aggregate 2, ,452 officers and men, making a
maximum increase of infantry of 22O6S officers
and men.
In the enlistment of men to fill the additional
regiments of the regular army, 1 would recon-
mend that the term of enlistment be made three
years, to correspond with the call of May 4th for
volunteers; and that to all who shall receive an
honorable discharge at the close of their term OF
| ser, ice bounty of one hundred dollars shall be
given
The mounted troops of the old army consist OF
five regiments, with a maximum aggregate OF
a AGO men, Not more than one fourth of these
troops available for service at the seat of war
| At least two regiment of art llery are unavail-
able, being stationed on the Western coast and
| in the Florida forts
The increase of infantry is comparatively
large, but this arm of the service is that which
| the General in Chief recommended as being most
efficient.
The reports of the chiefs of the different bu-
reaus of this department, which are herewith sub
mitted, present the estimates of the probable
amount of appropriations required, in addition to
those already made for the year ending June 30
1860 for the force now in the field, or which ha:
been accepted and will be in service within the
next twenty days, as follows:
Quartermasters Department. $40 ,2S9 200 2l
Subsistence Department. ...... 81 ,27S, $50 Sc
Ordnance Department. . 7,468.l72 0(
Pay Department. nt............. 66 400, $50 Os
Adjutant Generals Department. 40s, 900 on
Engineer Department. 900 "
Topogr phical Engineer Depart
ment. $4,000 O(