Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1861-07-12
REPORT OF THE SECRETARY OF
WAR.

An epitome OF the Report Of the Secretary
of War must suffice for our readers, in place
of the report at length. The Secretary
briefly states the extent to which the traitors
and rebels had proceeded previous to the
inauguration of Presi ent Lincoln:
The secession ordinance of South Carolina was
passed on the Goth of December last and from that
period until the majesty Of the government was
made manifest Immediately after you had as
sumed the chief magistracy, the conspirators
AGAINST its Constitution and laws have left nothing
undone to perpetuate the memory q their m
fanny. Revenue steamers have been deliberately
BETRAYED by their commanders, or, wnere treason
could not be brought to consum the dei eetion,
have been overpovered by rebel troops at the COM
mand Of disloyal governors. The government
arsenals st Little Rock, Baton Rouge, Mount
Vernon, Apalachicols, Augusta, Charleston ana
Fayetteville; the ordnance depot at San Antonio,
and all the other government works IN texas,
which served as the depots Of immense stores oil
arms and ammunition, have been surrendered oy
the commanders seized by disloyal hands
Forts Macon, Caswell, johnson, Clineh, Pulaski,
jackson, Marion. Barrancas, McRea, Morgan,
Gaines Pike, Macomb, St. Phillip, Livingston,
Smith, and three at Charleston, Oglethorpe Bar
racks Barrnncas Barracks, View Orleans Bar
racks, Fort jackson on the Mississippi, the bat
terry at BlenVe0ue, DupTcs anu tue WOihc d. AhiP
Island, have been successfully stolen from the
government or betrayed by their commanding Of
fccrs. The custom houses at New Orleans, MO
bile, Savannah, Charleston, and other important
points, containing vast amounts OF government
funds, have been treacherously appropriated TO
sustain the cause Of rebellion. In ike manner
the branch minis at New Orleans, at Charlotte,
and at Dahlonega, have been Illegally seized, in
defiance Of every principle Of common honesty
and Of honor The violent seizure Of tho United
States Marine Hospital at New Orleans was only
wanting to complete the catalogue Of crime. The
inmates, who had been disabled by devotion 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 comfort. In
Texas the large forces detailed upon the frontier
for the protection OF the inhabitants against the
attacks Of marauding Indians, were ANONYMOUSLY
deserted by their commander, Brigadier General
/ Twiggs. To the inflmy Of treason to his flag was
I added the browning crime Of deliberately hand
| Ing over TO the armed enemies of his government
all the public property entrusted TO his charge,
| thus even deprivng the loyal uen under his COM
/ mand Of all means Of transportation out OF the
| State.
| A striking and honorable contrast with the re-
| creaDt conduct Of Brigadier General THiggs, and
| other traitorous officers, has been presented in
/ the heroic and truly sef-sacrifcing course pur-
/ sued BY Major Robert Anderson, and the small
/ and gallant band of officers and men under his
! command at Fort Sumter; and also By Lieutenant
/ Adam J. Slemmer, MS ofIceTs and men at Fort
| Pickens. In referring, with strongest commend
alton, to the conduct Of these brave soldiers, IN
/ der the trying circumstances which surrounded
/ them, | only ocL1 the unanimous voice Of the
American people. Ia this connection, il Is
pleasurable duty to refer to the very gallant ac
| ton Of Lieut.. Roger Jones at Harper's Ferry,
| ard the handsome and suocs full manner in which
= IL 81 e snF FlN
important post
The call f5r 5000 militia for three
months service under the proclamation Of
April Is, brought out at once full quotas
from those States whose Governors were
To- l..
The Governors Of Virginia, North Carolina,
/ tennessee, Arkansas, Kentucky aud Missouri,
Qerem ptorily refused 70 comply With the require
nents made By the department All the other
States promptly furnished the number required
Of them, except Maryland, whose governor,
though manifesting entire readiness TO comply,
was prevented from doing by the outbreak at
Baltimore.
Nevertheless the loyal citizens of Virginia,
Delaware, Missouri, and the District Of Co
lumbia provided volunteers, so that the whole
number in service under that call is at least
eighty thousand men.
Under the second proclamation of May
4th, calling for volunteers to serve for the
war, there have been accepted up to date 2O8
regiments, Of which lj3 are in active ser
vice. and the remaining 50 VIII be in the
field within 20 days.
The total force now in the field NAV be
computed as follows
Regulars and volunteers for three months
and for the war. 235, coo
Add to this ffty-tiye rcgimets Of volun-
teers for the war, accepted and not yet
IN service, 80, 600
Add new regiments Of regular army ., coo
1000
Total force now at the command Of Gov
eminent, 10000
Deduct the three months volunteers 600
Force for service after the withdrawal Of
the three months men, 10000
The increase of the regular army called for
in the Proclamation Of May It'll, was, Of
Cavalry, officers and men. I,I59
ARTILLERY 800
Infantry, 4206s
The Secretary recommends that the enlist
mcnt be for years; and that to all who
shall receive an honorable discharge at the
close Of their term Of service, a bounty Of
$lo0 shall lie given.
The mounted troops Of the old army con-
sist Of > regiments with a maximum aggre-
gate Of 1000 men. Not more than one
fourth of these troops are available at the
scat Of war. At least two regiments of ar
tillery are unavailable, being stationed on
the western coast and in the Florida forts.
The estimates for the entire expense of all
the forces now in the field. or which will be
within 20 days, for year, is SlSj, 296, 1897.
The improvements recommended by the
Secretary Of War, in regard to discipline,
substance, camp equipage, surgeons depart
ment, are important. as are his remarks on
the means for prompt and abundant sup
Ny Of the most approved arms Of al kinds.
The Secretary thinks the public service !
demands the appointment OF an Assistant |
C---,4arv IF Tor o,1 Isr~a- oIerio,I g.,