The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-08-02

DELAY IN PAYING THE voLusrEERs-On &C.
count or the numerous reports coming to us in
regard to the volunteers not being able to get
their pay, we have made inquiry as to the cause,
and find that the blame does not rest with the
administration, but with the incompetent and
rascally officers of the regiments themselves.
We are in possession of facts showing that one
regiment, recruited at this place, were clamor-
ing for their pay; the paymaster received what
was coming from the State, and whilst he had itin
his possession some Of his friends bought the
claims of the different members of the regiment
for ten and twelve per cent discount The cir
cumstances connected with the transaction, and
the worse than robbery committed upon tho
prlvates, we have reason to believe was dono
with the conniyance and sanction of the pay
master, and perhaps with the money placed in
his hands to pay the men with.
The Fire Zouaves, about whom there has
been SO much said, owe their failure to obtaia
their money to the neglect of their own regi-
mental paymaster, and to no other source what
ever, all reports to the contrary notwithstand-
ing. The regiment left without being mustered
into service, owing to the fact that positive or
ders were received by the mastering officer here
not to receive any regiment with more than Sc
ven hundred and eighty men. The United
States officer refusing to muster the eleven
hundred into service was the cause Of
the order of Governor Morgan not to
permit them to DEPART but General Wool.
feeling that their services were needed, and
that an attempt to retain portion Of the mea
would only disorganize the regiment, took the
responsibility to order the regiment to depart
q deed which Governor Morgan is known to
have approved. The regiment left in April, but
the paymaster never forwarded his muster roll
or made application to the authorities at ALBANY
for funds to pay the brave volunteers until tho
18th day of July. Until that day neither the
Governor nor any other person responsible had
any knowledge of how much money was wanted,
or how many men had been accepted by the
government. Furthermore, the paymaster had
not, until that date, given securities for tho
faithful payment to the proper persons of the
money placed in his hands. Here, then, tho
responsibility rests exclusively with the pay
master of the regiment
Other regiments who have been complaining
will find the responsibility rests in the Same
quarter. The failures of the regiments after
they arrive at Washington to obtain
their proper rations have all arisen from
the lazy, incompetent, and in some instances
rascally, regmental officers, who, instead of at
tending to their business and applying to the
| department for the rations and pay for their
men, spend their time loa6ng about the hotels
and saloons, permitting their men to go hungry,
| although the government has abundance to
1 furnish them if only asked for. That these
abuses have continued so long shows conclu-
sively that those who had charge of the practi.
| cal organization Of the forces ~t Washingtoa
have sadly neglected their duty. The order Of
| General Mcclellan compelling all the officers
to remain in camp will have tendency, in .
great measure to correct this abuse; but we
apprehend that the nuisance cannot be wholly
abated until number Of the regimental pay
masters and quartermasters are removed, and
business men appointed in their places. This
is the root of the evil, and we trust that thu
proper authorities will attend to the matter and
see that none Of our gallant volunteers are dis
heartened by the neglect of the regimental a.
GERS to do their simple duties,
WHAT Has BEEN DONE WITH THE FUNDS?--.
MI yadt arss,f Ia, IL n