The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1862-01-16
NO.5f.

relations with foreign Governments, I
have directed the Adjutsnt Gepefsl to
procure arms, as soon as it can be done
on reaonable terms, and without injurioas
competition with the National Govern.
ment Arms have been distributed a.
mong the border counties to ell she or.
RaDizations that have been formed to re-
ceive them. One thousand nine hundred
and thirty arms have been thus distrihu-
ted. | have also addressed letter to
the commissioners of all the border coun.
ties, Offering arms to them as soon Gs
military organisations shall be formed to
receive them. Besides thus souplyiog
with the requirements Of the 9th section
Of the ses of 18th May last, have
deemed it prudent to offer five thousand
arms to such military organizations as
may be formed in Pbiladelphia on plan
to DC approved by me as Commander in
Chief. Muskets and rifles to a consider.
able extent have been furnished to the
Pennsylvania volunteers from the State
Arsenal Others have been sent By ths
United States authorities to arm them be-.
fore leaving the State. In some cases
regiments haze gone without arms, under
assurances from the War Departmess
that they would be armed at Washington
or other designated points. and that their
immediate departure was required. IL
was thought wise in these cases not to ill.,
sist on the arms being sent before ths
regiments marched, as this would have
imposed on the Government an upneces.
sary expense in freight, and would have
been productive of delays which mishs
have been seriously detrimental to the
public service. Forty two pieces OF artil-
lery with limbers, eaissous, forge., ammu.
milton wagons, harness and all the neess4
sary Implements End equipm ents, were
furnished By the State to the artillery
regiment of the Reserve Corps. Ten Of
these we're purchased by the State, and
their cost has been refused by the Uni
ted States. Diligence has been used in
collecting arms throughout the State. and
repairing aud altering them in the most
approved manner.
The State has now
e2 pieces of artillery, of which ss-
venteen need repairs.
26, ,753 muskets and rifles, some of which
are in the hands Of mech apics being
repaired; 1910 are in the hands Of
volunteer corps throughout the State;
1880 in the possession of eounty
commissioners. aud l 900 with the
Reserve Corps of Pbiladelphia.
In addition to this, the city Of Pbila-
delphia has 9 pieces of ridCd artills.
ry, and
4.916 musket snd rifles.
The State has also, in the arsenal at
Harrisburg, 1866 sabres and swords,
II end
1857 pistols; and the city Of Philadel.
pbia has 440 sabres, and
325 pistols, with the necessary as.
coutre u ents.
There is also, in the arsenal at Harris
burg, large amount of accoutrements
and ammunition for artillery aud saall
arms.
The Adjutans General is successfully
engaged in collecting arms throughout
the State, and it is expected that the mum.
Der above stated will be largely increased.
Probably, at least, 5000 uskets and ri
fes and several pieces of artillery will
still be collected.
The care which has been bestowed up
on the comfort of the volunteers, and the
I goodness and sOficiency OF their supplies
of all kinds, and the excellent arrange.
ments Of the Medical Department, under
the control of Surgeon General Henry Fl.
Smith. are proved BY the fact tha. more
than go, 900 men have been for various.
generally short, periods at Camp Curtin
since the 18th of April last, aud that
down to the lst January inst, there died
bat fort9-nine men at that camp. viz:
forty .foor from sickness, two (belongins
|, to regiments from other Ststes) who had
been injured on railroads, two accident
ally killed in Gasp Curtin, and one shot
in Harrisburg.
To facilitate the making Of sllotments
of their pay By our volunteers in the field
for the support of their families at home,
| appointed Hon. Edgar Cowan, Thomas
E. Franklin, and Il G. Humes, E,q,.,
com mmlssloners, to visit the camps OF our
men on and south of the Potomac, and,
also. James Park and NJ. w. Beltzhoo-
yer. E-qs., commissioners to visit those
in Kentucky and elsewhere in the west
ern county to II the stten ion Of the
troops to the system of allotment. aud to
encourage them in adopting practical
plan for carrying it into effect.
The e,eral reports of these commits
siouers are highly satisfactory.
For details on the several subjects COT,
nected with the military operations Of
this State, | refer to the reports of the
Adjutant General, Surgeon General,
Quarteruaster General, Con rsissary Gen.
eral, aHd Psymsster General, which ae4
company this message.
The duties imposed on me were so on
erous that found it necessary to invi.s
the temporary assistance Of gentlemen on