Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1862-01-15

CT SAG
Tsv,lrv 1910
SrtiIieyr. 1923
Total. 77,s4
: ~ %g thsn. m q twenty-five %. 900
Two Companies Cavalry, ICY
Tvo sections ARTILLERY, 90
One battery,
c..n5 To,., lOO. a24
Under the first call of the President for thir.
regiments Of Infantry, ninety-two thousand
Of onr ~citizens volunteered. An earnest appli-
cation to the Secretary of War for authority to
thirty regiments in Ohio for the three
months service, having been declined, | organ
lied and called into State service nine regl-
ments of infantry, ten pieces oil artillery, ana
four componirs Of cavalry, under the act to pro
vid more effrctually for the defense of the State
AGAINST inv aston, passed April 20, 1861, this
force was carly ordered, with my consent, by
the Naior-General Commanding, into Mesteru
Virginia. where with the other troops under hls
command, they protected Ohio from INVASION,
and restored the authority OF the Federal Gov
erDmeut. Ohio State troops, associated with
the first Virginia Regiment, opened the railway
connection between the Ohio river and Grafton,
from Wheeling and from Parkersburg, and es-
tabIished the base of operations from which all
movements. in that quarter of the Department
At Ohio were directed. Although actually in
tba service of the United States from the time
they were ordered into Western Virginia, these
forces were not accepted by the Secretary OF
War until the close of the term OF their enlist
ment. They were then transferred to the Fed
eral service, the Government agreeing TO regard
them as United States troops from the date of
Il = .1.,t,anr anil IN reimburse the Stale for
all expenditures on their account. In addition
to the troops thus dessr:Le1i, companies not
mustered i.tO the three months service were
detailed on State account for special service in
guarding railways and military depO.s. In
formation at this Department, presenting neces-
sitv for such service, left no alternative but to
provide for it promptly. Having Teen per-
formed in aid OF the suppression of the rebel
lion. the United States authorities will iudem-
nify the State for all expenses incurred, as d.
rected by Act of Congress, July 9th, 1861;
and the people of Ohio will only be required
to bear their propo tionate share OF the general
war expenses of the Federal Government.
The total expenditures of tie State of Ohio,
for military purposes. to January l, 1862, &c
80 Os9. 45I 81, Of which 81 ,2l2, 1874 AZ were
Maid bv the State out of its own fun IS, and the
balance, Ss77, 3l6 &c. was pail out of moneys
received from the Unite1 States. From the
most accurate sources VI information / have been
able to consult. I estimate the unpaid claims
against the Safe for war purposes as not ex-
eeeding Inc sum of $3.50. 000. Upon this esti-
mate, the whole amount expended, and the I'M
caid Liabilities of the State incurred for war
purposes to January |, lS62, are S2,339,45l-
Grand total of expenditures on account oil
subsistence, S493. 629 10.
The rations committed by the State cost
1888, 5I3 80, which was an average cost of about
Az cents per ration.
The endorsements arising from the inabil'
itv of State or General Government to immedi-
ately equip and arm the Ohio troops IN the
three months service. we're much Increased by
the change of policy in May last on the Part oil
the Federal Administration, which discouraged
three months enlistments, and required the
transfer OF the men already organized iol three
months into service for three years, or duriHg
the war, which led to the removal from active
service Of u large number of three months men
mustered into the service of the United States
who felt themselves aggrieved on that account
as well as from an apprehension they would
not he Justly treated by the Government IN 9th
er respects. The effect was to delay a eonsId'
cradle time the preparation OF the eleven regl
ments st Camp Deunison for the field, and to
largely add to the expense OF their organiza'
I LuI. EMBARRASSING N1t va ' nv
on, the State; exposed the State administration
to misconstruction, and for a time brought re-
proach upon the public service. The troop:
were under the exclusive control Of the United
States, except as to the appointment OF then
officers, which devOlved upon the State Exeeu'
tive, and which be made upon the recommends
ton of the rank and file of the proper regiments
This mode of appointment had the sanction o.
the general officers in command as the only
practicable one under the circumstances
Another embarrassment grew out of the leg
islaiure Of your immediate predecessors, respect
iug-the appropriations for war purposes. Thes,
appropriations we've as follows:
LIST. For the purchase of arms and
Slate $4,000
ID. For c frying into effect any re-
QUESTION of The President of the
United States to protect the Fed
eral Government 50U,OU'
ID fl fund ID for the Governor $1,000
4th. For expense that might be incur
red in calling the militia of the
State into service in case of in
vasIou or danger thereof l,5OO,OO'
5th. For payment of the cost OF the
ten regiments of troops author
lied to be called into service of
the State 5OO,OO'
nition 25.OO
Making a total of -$3,025, 00
Under the ac,s making the appropriations
the Auditor of State decided, the Attorney-Gen
eral concurring, that $500. QUO only could b
used in aid of the United States, and as earl,
as June 10th he advised me officially that tn
appropriation in that behalf was exhausted. 30
50 nearly exhausted that further drafts eoul
Ill .,1,, -
This decision, which l could not but approve
prevented the State advancing any portion {
their pay to the three months volunteers, mus
tered into the service of the United States
, This the public interests imperatively required
. and [ earnestly but unavailngly urged upo
. the authorities at Washington that it should l.
done without delay. 1t operated also to til
serious damage of public creditors. who ha.
= supplied the State with military stores. and
4, the injury of the credit involving the good falt
: of the 5 ate, preventing in many Instances til
purchasing of supplies at the lowest rates, an
4, in other rssnects seriously embarrassing Oh
z State auth5r.ti S in the dl'charSe oil Their Prs
ing duties Unfortunately. no relief for sever;
, weeks co1ll be nrlclred from the General Co
- eminent, and when it came, it was less tha
one.half in amount than the advances mac
\ and liabilities incurred by Ohio in aid OF Il
. Unit ii States. Nor could all this retu1de
r sum be used in the Payment Of thc GeJts of Il
t Stle for war purpose. The necessities of Il
D ser ice required tne immediate purchase Of arm
r an | other military supplies, which could on
>: be procured at reasonable rates for cash; an /
i the exercise of Iny soundest judgnel', d
: rec,ed the use Of 80 much of the sum SO rcfun.
el as was necessary for the procuring Of sue
o supplies.
i Another question presented itself for my q
eision in connection with this fund. The SOU
a 900 appropriation in aid Of the United Stat
II having been expended, the Auditor of Stat
a after the advice OF eminent legal counsel, q
N eided that credIting that appropriation vi
! the cum refunded by the Government. it cou
not be again drawn upon TO meet the Stat
t liabilities incurred for war purposes. The
d feet of such q disposition al the fund wou
therefore have been, to the extent of the sum
IN credited, to postpone payment TO the pub
he reditors until the legislature should provi
On for their relief. Public faith, and justice
re creditors demanded, in my Judgment the INN
he diate payment Of just claims out Of the NOR
al received from the General Government,
nd needed 10 furnish supplies for the army.