Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1861-12-13
EXTRACTS IRON THE
REPORT OF THE SECRETARY OF WAR
The several Of the service are estimated as fol-

w "
G1657 20 5H so7,o7
An item OF very heavy expense is the large mounto
iorGe wmch has been organized, equipped, and mad
svaiabe since the called session " Congress and whio
VA, not computed forn the estimate While increas
OF cavalry was undoubtedly necessary II has reached
numerical strength than adequate 10 the wants
the service A. h can only be maintained al grea
cost measures will be taken for is gradual reduction
IN Organising our great army, effectively aide,
br the loyal Governors n the different States and
cheeruly acknowledge the prompt patriotism with which
they responded to the call Of this Department
Congress, during is extra session. authorized the ar
my 20 be increased by the acceptance n volunteer
force Of 800 900 men and made Appropriation Of y,
hundred millions " dollars for It's suppor cal, n,
the troops Immediately made but 40 numerous wer,
the offers that IL was found difficult to discriminate IN
NE choice where the patriotism Of the people demanded
that there should be no restriction upon enlstmenis
Every portion Of The loyal States desired to swell the
my and every community anxious that il should be
represented in cause that appealed 10 the nobltst inn
pulses Of our people
SO thoroughly aroused was the national heart that
have u0 doubt this force would have been swollen DO
million bad not the Department fet compelled 10 re-
etct a. n the absence Of authority from the Represen-
taves N The people 20 increase the limited number
vii be Tor Congr 70 decide whether the army shall he
further augmented with a view 10 a more speedy termi.
nation OF The war whether 1t shall be confined to the
strength already fixed by law In the latter case with
The object of reducing the volunteer force $40 O0l
propose with the consent Of Congress 10 consolidate such
Of the regiments as may FROM time 10 time fail below
the regulation standard The adoption Of this measure
Til decrease The number Of officers, and proporionaby
diminish the expenses Of the army
Il j. said n Napoleon by Jomni that ia the campaign
OF 1910 that great general on the first Of April had
regular army n 200O00 men. On the first Of June he
had increased this force 20 $4,000. The like proportion
adds Jemni. had hc thought proper 10 inaugurste a
vast System N defence would have raised IL 100 0D0
men 5y 'he fret n September" At thc commlncemont
Numptef, The entire military force a. the disposal NJ mi.
Glvetumcut was 10000 regulars principally eriplovod
10 INC West 10 hold iu check maraudIng Indians. I'm
April Ijr0l volunteers called upon 90 enlist fir
threc months service aud responded with such aacry.
that 70 so we're Immediately Obtained Under the au.
h'rY ~ he aci " Congress VI Juy22 1861 the States
were asked 900 Furnish jllOOl volunteers 90 srr,e for
ree wears OF during hc and by the act approved
the 9Th OF the Same month"; the addition Of IS 600 men
60 thr regular army authorized The result s Thai
we have now au army VI upwards u 100000 men II we
add 20 this The number u discharged three months vol
unteers, the Aggregate force furnished 10 the Govern
mcnt since April last exceeds 100 90 men
We have here an evidence Of the wonderful strength
Of our institution Without cousoriptions leyies
df'is or nilrt extraordinary eNpcdents have rails
Ell greater force than that which, gathered BY Napoleon
with the d'of ALL ihcsc appliances, considered an
evidence ~ his nieffu genius and energy and Of tho
m.iHary spirit of hc French nation Here eycry man
has an Interest BOO ihe Government and rushes 90 it, De-
fence when dangers beset H.
by reference the records of the Revolution a. will
De- seen hat Massachusetts, with population " $4,000
ltf 81 one tne ~ 900 troops u the Md or over one
N'a q" Veg e"ue prope-a force greatly exceeding the
Nu'e number of troops furnished by all the southern
states during Should the present loyal States
iarnisa ropp' ia like proportion which would undosht-
cY be the case should amy emergency demand H. the
1"'etomcht could promptly pat into the field army
~ over thrce millions
Dc give. m. great satisfaction to refer 10 ,he sddtabe
drg.ce OF discipline " troops, most # whom we're
hn short ume since AGED ia the pursuits NJ peace
They ne rapidly attaining efficiency which cannot
ta u bring success i1 oaf arms ON .crs and meu alike
cfiYcc A. earnest desire n accomplish themselves in
cFr auty oi he camp and field. and The various corps
arc animated by 400 emulation 90 excel each other 10 sol
Toe conspiracy against the Government extended over
An 7tea Of 53J H square miles possessing coast nc Of
34J miles, and shore iuc of j4lt miles, witA in-
g. I.n |.... &C. IH H.. D..
sp'el stripped vs. 10 arms a"d munitions aud scattered
navy the most distant quarters ~ the globe The
effort 90 restore Che unon which the Government enter
ed on p Apr last. vas thc most gigantic endeavor iu
The history n civil The interval Of seven months
Las been spent in preparation.
The history Of This rebellion. in common with an 9TH
for obvious causes 0rds the rst 10 "a
vof VI the insurgents. The disaster of Bull Run was
bu he natural consequence OF the premature advance u
brave bot undscipincd troops which the impotence
" he country demanded The betrayal also u our
movements 10y traitors u midst enabled the rebels
choose and entfench their position, and by reinforce
mcnt BOO great strength, az the moment of victory 20
snatch from grasp This reverse, however, gave
no dIscuuragrurut 90 our gallant people they have
crowded into our ranks aud although large number.
have been necessarily reeged mighty army in u,inr
bic stands eager prccipato itself upon foe.
The check that have received upon the Potomac has
th'fc9re oa' ro.ponee ,he eamPaign or isw months
lhc other -greeses - enc rebeis though dearly won,
ahirs. with no important permanent advan-
ta1os. The possession q Western Virginia, and the
occupation Of HAtterAs and Beaufort have noby redeem
ed our transient reverses.
AZ the date u my last report the States Of Delaware
MAINLAND Kentucky and Missouri were threatened with
rebellion In Delaware, the good sense and patriotism
OF the people have turnphed the uuhoiy schemes
Of traitors The people Of Kentucky early pronounced
themselves by uucquvoca declaration At the ballot
box in favor NJ Che Juioni and Maryland, notwlth-
standing the Efforts u bad men ia power ia the city II
Baltimore, ~hcn che opportunity u geacral election
40 rdci under Tho lead ~ her brave and patriotic
Governor. rehHsed. NF overwhelming majority thc
tra.Ir, Who gu4II have lad her O. destruction t0 Mis-
tl41 Hval State Government has been established by
a. ~ a fO fhr
port u tho Federal uth0ip aud, 800 conjunction with
q ps f'm oh,r n'ih us oi me country have forced
thr fcurs 70 retire into the adjoining State. The Gov
,tpment es'abf-hcd 10 Virginia b, he loyal portion Of
her population Is n successful operation and have
doph viii he sustained by the people Of the entire state
Whenever the thradom Of the rebel forces shall have
been removed
Thu. & ha. been made clearly apparent that in what
ever direction he forces n ne Union have extended
their protection, The roprcsscd loyalty NJ the people
res. sduly maniic,dng ITSELF has aided restore aud
maintain the authority ~ the Government aud doubt
Pr''nac. will under Pos ahle leader soon mako such
demonstration az wl rc-cstsbsh its authority through
out 500 the rgheliious States
The loyal Governor VI Nir.iuia is proceeding 10
uauxe courts under che constitution and laws NJ The STATE
On ~ her eastern counties boo The occupation n
trnons / repeatedly suggest that authoity should be
given 10 the President 20 send commissioners with the
army, with the power 60 exercise all the functions Of To-
cal government wherever the civil authority has ceased
10 exist and especially cuifce the obligations N
tracts and the collection " debts due 10 loyal creditors
As stated in ms last report, at the commencement Of
this rebellion the Government found itself deficient in
arms and munitions NJ through the bad faith 81
those entrusted with their control during the preceding
administration The armory az Harper's Perry having
been destroyed 90 prevent s possession ahd use ol me
rebels, tho Government compelled 10 rely upon mr.
single armory Spunsf eld and upon private establish
nents f1r a supply II arms Every effort has hren
made increase the capacity n that armory the great
product o which, prior 20 these troubles had never
exceeded ID muskets month In charge Of an fner
get and able ordnance officer, the force being doubled
and operations vigorously prosecuted day aud wght,
there we're made AZ this establishment, during the .
past month Of October, total N $500 muskets, ana
il confidently expected thst 10 900 will be manuf,r
Ell during the present month On recent visit with
yicw 20 enlarge the capacity n the armofy, directed
the purchase of large quantity OF machinery ALREADY
fnished which, when put 10 operation will enable mi,
establishment to produce during the next year, 2OWO
stand n the Justly celebrated Springfield rifles re-
spectfv suggest the recommendation 81 liberal apprn
praton BY Congress for the purpose Of yet further IN
crossing the capacity Of this armofy believing that II
he made sufficient 20 supply a The muskets and n
ics which the Government NAV hereafter need IN any
Located in heathml country In the
midst OF Industrious and ingenious prople where COM
ncteui woTlmen always be obtained without difficult
", aud sufficiently TO all the materials needed IN the
mAnuf,ct IRE OF arms, IL is at the time access
bic every part Of the country by water aud railway
After having made contracts fir With the private
establishments in this country, it deemed necessary
by the President 20 insure speedy and ample supply
10 send a special agent 20 Europe with funds 70 the
amount Of two millions Of dollars 10 purchase more
am qraRed IN state that he has made arrangements f
large number II arms part u which have already been
delivered The remainder will be shipped by successive
steamers Until al shall have been received
Combinations among manufacturers, importers and
agents for the sale Of arms have in many cases caused
s.f " ADV he