The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1861-07-08
REPORT OF The SECRETARY OF WAR,
WAR DEPARTMENT,

SIR: have the honor to submit the following report
OF the operations of this department
The accompanying statements of the Adutant General
will show the number description and distribution Of the
troops which are now in service.
IL forms no part of the duty of this department
upon upon discussion of the preliminary circumstances
which have contributed TO the present condition of pub
lie affairs The secession ordinance of South Carolina
was passed on the 10Th of December last from that
period unti the majesty Of the Government was made
manifest Immediately after you had assumed the chief
the c0nsiratnrS against its Constitution and
laws nave lett nothing unone perpetuate the memory
OF ther lnfamF Revenue steamers have been deliber
ately betrayed by their commanders or where
couu not De Drought to consummae the detection have
been oVerpowered by rebel troops at the command of
disloyal Governors
The Government arsena1s at Little Pool Ra+o, po,a
Mount vernon, Apaachico'a, Augusta, Charleston and
EayetteVe the ordnance depot San Antonio aud all
the other Government works in Texas which served a,
e uePotS o. immense stores of arms and ammunition.
nave been surrendered by the or siezed m
dISloyal hands. Forts Macon, Caswell Johnson Cnch
LniasKl Jackson, Marion, Barrancas Mckee, Morgan
Gaines Pike, Macomb, St. Phillip, Livingston Smith and
three at Chareson 0gethorpe Barracks Barrancas Bar
racks New Orleans Barracks Fort Jackson the Mis-
sisspP the battery at Bienvenue Dupre the works
at Ship Island have been successvely stolen from the
Government or betrayed by their commanding officers
The custom houses at New Orleans, Mobile, Savannah
Charleston, and other important points, containing vast
amounts of government funds have been treacherouv
appropriated to sustain the cause of rebellion In like
manner the branch mints at ew Orleans at Charlotte
and at Dahonega have been illegally seized in
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
vi Inc inmates, who had been disabled by
on 70 ther countys service and who there had been
secured grateful asylum cruelty ordered to be re
moved, without the slightest provision being made for
their support or 'omfOrt.
In Texas the large forces detailed upon the frontier for
the protection of the inhabitants against attacks of
maraudlng Indians, were ignomniously deserted by
their commander, Rrgadier General Twiggs To the in
fanny o treason to his flag added the crowning crime
OF deliberately handing the armed enemie of his
government all the public property entrusted to his
charge, thus even deprivng loyal men under his
all means of ftransportation ont Of the stat,
Ia
cnduct OF Bgader General Twiggs and other
officers has been presented in the heroic truly self
sacrificing course pursued by Major Robert
the sma! and gallant band Of officers and his
command at Fort SUMTER and also by Lieut. Adam j
Slemmer his officers and men, at Fort Pckens In re
erins with strongest commendation, the conduct
them Obi es esn6 65rfHngg fn Circumstance:
OF the American people In this connection II fS :
pleas asurable DUTY to reFr to the very Gala" Is
Lieut. Roger Jones Harpers Ferry and the han isom
and successful manner in which he the orders
the government at that important post.
The determination Of the government to use its utmost
power to subdue the rebellion has been sustained by the
unqualified approval of the whole people Heretofore
the leaders OF this conspiracy have profeSed regard the
peGPe o tlS country as incapable of making rcible
resistance to rebel ion The of this conclusion
now being made manifest History will record that men
who IN ordinary times, were devoted solely the
pence, were yet ready the nS rush to arms
fence OF their rights when assaed At the present
ht government presents the striking anomaly being
barrasSed by the generous oupourng volunteers to
sustain its action Instead of laboring under the d cul
y of monarcnical governments the want of To f
W oisciiP'iohs'l one oi It's man dltlcuteS is to
S t'e proportions OF the army and to prevent ii
III Ti % ,ias ar: I:y olH , uie acsuai iorce required.
-. nv iatu.ne oilceIS Oh the regiments IN the vol,
unteer service both for the three months service
tor the war have, in many instances vet furnished
Var tha rt ~ @ 'e OF their regiments
as accnr.,a ~, IL Is lhpoSSibie to present
ed ana In ta Ell vi t,le volunteer force accept
amatinn issd t " eouiu pe desired. Under the proc
,o,"rnnr, IS w yu On Tue latn OF April last, the
governors OF different states were called to detacl
] % M s'" rt uh"er tielr command certain quota, to
months unIaSs s Gihrs .i I'M period OF three
amoun ted in ta o,,nra,,o, -, 20 80. o'.l 80 lhaue
kim "a sol oei cors "a - nients' M
povernors Of Virania vi " ~ raIi @ r eu upon; tle
sas Ken,rc,v "a u;,; ] " @ ih, ini,eSsee, hfhah
comnIv viii Tho rs,,ira,, - h a. ,eiuseu .c
,rI.i ~. ilhue pJ lHe department
onirel oftIar, %xct tWuly WlIy t!e hummer re
manesting entire radines to comn
from 60 tInir,, b,, tb a,hr v. was Pie'eHteu
| In the St.fss of Viro;nja IN 49, % , e g ,,;. ,
tbstandi,r ia ' e ,a aio missouri, not