The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1861-07-11
special Report OF the Secretary Of
war.
War DKPARaH9Nr,

| WAR DEPARaHENr,
| Washington. July |, 1861.
| Sir: | have the honor 70 submit the fol
lowing report Of the operations OF this De-
| partment:
The commanding officers Of the regiments
| In the volunteer service, both for the three
| m onths' service and for the war, have. in
many instances, not yet furnished the De
partmert with the muster rolls of their regi
ments. For the want of these returns il il
| impossible to present a. accurate an emu
| nerafion " the volunteer force accepted and
| 10 the field as could be desired. Under the
proclamation issued by you Cd the 18th OF
| April last, the Governors OF different States
were called upon to detacb from be militia
under their command certain quota. TO
serve as infantry or rifemen, for the period
| of three months. unless sooner discharged
The call 80 made amounted in the aggregate
: TO ninety four regiments, making 1881 OF
| fcers and men. or the States called upon,
the Governors OF Virginia, North Carolina,
Tennessee, Arkansas, Kentucky, and Mis-
/ sour. peremptorily refused to comply with
| the requirements made by the Department.
| All Abe ether -s.Ai@s- promptly- furnished tbs
number required Of them, except Maryland,
whose Governor, though manifes.ing entire
readiness to comply, WAS prevented from 30
| doing by the outbreak at Baltimore.
! In the States OF Virginia, Delaware and
Missouri, notwithstanding the positive refn-
aal of their executive officers TO co. operate
with the government. patriotic citizens vol
/ untarilv united together and organized reRi
ments for the government service. Delaware
and Virginia furnished each regiment, both
81 which are on duty in the field. In sim
liar patriotic spirit, the loyal people Of Mis-
souri, raised a force Of IL ass officers and
men, making, in round numbers, twelve or
ganizei regiments, to sustain the government
and 10 put down rebellion ia that State.
The total force now in the field may be
computed as follows:
Regulars and volunteers for three months
and for the war, $4,000
Add to tha Fifty FIVE regiments Of
volunteers for the war, accepted
and not vet in serrioe. 50 nnl
Add new reg'ts Of reg. army, $4,000
$4,000
! Force now At command OF govt, 10000
Deduct 8 months volunteers. $4,000
Force for service after the withdraw
I'll OF the 8 mon,hs' men, $50, OOf
viii shas be Per ee4sed that after The dis
charge Of the three months's troops, Their.
/ will be ~till an available fierce of volunteer
n mounting TO 1873 900, which, added to th,
regular army, will constitute total force o
go 900 officers md men.
Q In making the selection OF officers for th
new regiments. two courses seemed to b,
open, viz: 10 nuke the appointments from
the regular service hy seniority or bv sclec
ton. tn. fret arpeared iiabie TO the ohjec
tim that old, and in some instances ineficien
- rneyl won,a lie vrninetpH To piArea q HE
4 ought 10 be filled ly younger and more Wig
orous olic-rs. The second was liable TO ,h
~ grave objection that favoritism might preiu
dice the claims Of worthy officers.
/. After the fullast consideration it was de
- termiued, under the advice OF the General
In Chief. to appoint one half Of them fror
the regular army and the other half fror
= OWL life. OF the civilians appointed ~ reg
mental commanders, all except one are eth
J, err graduates Of West Point, or have befor
served with distinction in the fetl; and 0
- the Lieutenant. Colonies, Majors, Captains
Q. Fret LieutenaDts, u large proportion hav
been taken from the regular army and th
volunteers now in service, while the Secon
1t LieuienaDts have been mainly created by I'll
TO promotion Of meritorious sergeants from til
regular service.
-
p The reports Of the chiefa Of different bu
re reans OF this department, which are here
% with submitted, present the estimates OF th
~ probable amount Of appropriations require
= in addition to those already made for Il
year ending June 80, 1861, for tho force no
in In the field, or which has been accepted AZ
will be in service within the next TWEEN
days. MS foilows:
!. QuarsermAster's Department SIC, 2a9. 300:
c.. ~ ~