Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1861-1862, 1861-11-08
HaADogAarERs or rIr 4rH REor. o. ARrLLLslv,
Richmond, Nov, and, 1851. (

| HlADQuARTERs or rax 4rH REe'r. OF AkrLLLsly,l
Richmond, Nov, And, 1861. (
To Col s. Bissstt French, &, &C. &o., Executive De-
partmsnt
CoLoxrL.-In the Communication which had the hon.
or 10 address 10 you Sunday last stated that bad
appointed Tuesday the 26 Of October the day for
nv battalion 10 meet In order that they might be mus
tered into service and transferred to the Confederate
authorities as directed by the Governor.
Ia consequence Of the delay which has taken place Ia
the execution Of this order deem IL proper 10 make
| the following report:
There was meeting Of the battalion Monday night,
called for the purpose Of making arrsssmens prsn.
mary TO It's being mustered Into service found much
misoonoeption prevailing among both ohcers and men,
a. to the ject and effect Of the call made BY the Ex'
ecuive at the request Of the Pesdent and - this feel
ing II unchecked, seemed likely tointerere With Sat
isactory response to the csA-and pcs.ponsmens APP
peired, to me admissible, 10 view OF conversation
which had had the same eyeniDg, with AtJutant and
Inspector General Cooper OF the Confederate service
determined 20 revoke the order Of mastering In on Tues
day and hold adjourned meeting Of the battalion
Tuesday night BY the permission Of Gen. Cooper.
addressed him latter Of enquiry for the Information
of the battalion which he expected to answer in time
for the meeting Tuesday night but a. he was unable
t. do this his answer not submitted until Wednss
day night when second adjourned meeting was held.
The answer appearing to be generally satisfactory then
spponted Friday the LIST OF November, at 10 o'clock
the time and Military Hall the place. for the reassem.
bling Of the battalion, with the view 70 lie being mus
tered in aud DOL Ssl1en, Acting Inspector General Of
the Virginia forces kind enough 20 attend with me
then and there 70 act as the mastering officer.
The result Of the roll call was as follows:
Company 4.
Present and answering personally: Captain, Lieu
tenants 8; Ssrsesus, Oorporss, .; Privasss, IA
81.
Abssnt from the city Private.
Absent with excuse: Private.
Absent without eIcufe Sergesnts, 3; Corpofss -
Privates, 500.
Total number present and abeeut-93.
Company b.
Present and answering personally Captain l; Lieu.
tenants Q; Sergeants D. Oorporas Z; Privates 1857.
Absent from the city Lieutenant l; Privatss As.
Absent with excuse: Priva'el
Absent without excuse; 20 Prystss.
Total number present and absent, ".
Company @
Present AMI answering personally Captain !; Leutsn'
ants 2; Strgeants s; Corporsls 8; Prvrtes 21-s6.
Absent from the oily Sergeauts |; Privates Us.
Absent with excuse: Corporal l. Pdvstes As.
Absent without excuse; n Prvsts
Total number present end absent, %.
In printed circular from the War Department which
accompanied Gen Coopers letter 10 Of the a9th, Il
Il stated that no Company Of Artillery can be received
into the Confederate service, unless fully organized wish
at lsss. 10 prvates In his letter however, be stated
| that the companies of the Homo Bstteon might be
Il
Rcient for effective battery service In conversation
with COL Seldom he informed him that be could no! re
ceve them unless presented with at least "a pvates per
| company. -.
The pumoer answering at roll call being greatly be
low the prescribed minimum In each oase, COL 5elder
announced that he had been authorized by Gen. Cooper
to say that IL desired those present might then be mus
tered into service coudiionay-to take effect hnaLy
when the full complement obtained aud that be
would keep open the mastering roll for period not eI
ceeding ten diys to admit Of the absentees coming TO-
provided there we're Oh the company roll sufficient
number Of prvaes to make up with those thus received
| the prescribed minimum Of sixty.four.
Upon further conversation with this oiosr, II vas
finally determined that adjourned meeting should be
held at the place Tuesday next for the purpose
of mastering n the battalion; he ef,rpg In the neaa'
time 10 obtin for those who still had doubts about the
object and e OF Of the call upon them, such additional
information IS be could with the view to remove their
| 6if1 culties
For the information of the Governor enclose here.
with roll Of each company showing the names Of those
Who present on yesterday, as well a OF the ab'
sentees.
In conclusion beg leave to remark, that 90 far a
am concerned would pot have pursusd this senevhat
irregular In the execution Of military Order but
for circumstances which render Is In my opinion, an sK-
| ceptionsl oass.
have no reason to doubt the courage or the patriotic
spirit Of the officers aud composing my battalion
on the contrary have from the beginning believed that
they might be relied upon perform efficiently and with
aaory their full duty volunteers whenever the con-
tpgency should arise calling them into active service
according to their original intentions and plan Of orgsn
zation Som. Of the members OF the battalion Pc
cuiary situated in respect to their domestic business
or off ;sl eng ,gelent which would suffer the most Sc
rous detrment BY being suspended or intersrsd with
for any considerable length Of line BY their absence
others are engaged upon Government work. Of special
Importance ct this time Among those even who res.
bonded at the roll call on yesterday, aye several who
have placed In my hands eracates of various sorts
with the rsquest that would make them the basis Of
official conmu,icAtion, in order 70 obtain their exemption
OF discharge.
Aware OF these facts and reluctant to deprive the
battalion Of the credit which would result from volun
tary action on their part have absained from moro
positive course In executing the order which you adj
1, 10 the nature Of requision under the Code ch a.
s. aud the call of the President for my battalion y
call, under tho Constitution, for militia IT. than, any
person belonging TO IT, absents hms whom ordered BY
me- may proceed utder ch 20, 81 and 3, 70 bring
him under command deserter, and II be be without
Iusthable excuse, treat him accordingly. 81
know full well that my duty Ia simple obedience.
II the exigepcies Of the service, in the opinion OF the
Governor require the compulsory course just Indicated,
will not hesitate upon receiving an ntin aion from
him 10 that eject TO pursue Il on the present occasion;
while cannot bu, hope that the expected muster on
Tuesday will enable me- without sgch resort 70 present
full battalion for local ds'enoe and special service,
! have the honor to bs, Colonel,
With great respsei,
Your obedient servant
tstrllrass THOMAS n. ELLIS, Colonel,
Cong Richmond Home Artillery.