The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1862-01-15

sour; were in peril and called upon them
for assistance, theJ had as full authority
as | could give them to lead their men
into Missouri to the aid OF the loyal men
there and my promise upon their return
that my power should be used to the ut
most extent to protect them If called IN
question for so doing. Under these CIR
cumstances. and in some cases ut the IN
stance of officers of the United States,
Colonies Edwards and Bussey and Golencl
MorIedgc of Page county, ut different
times led bodies of Town troops into Mis-
souri, and kept them in service there until
their presence was no longer needed, and
| nm well assured their services were
highly valuable, not only IN preserving
the peace Of our border aud protecting
our own people, but in supporting and
strengthening the Union men Of Missouri.
The expenses incurred III these expeal-
tons are, in my judgment, properly chaIrg-
able to the General Government, and |
am now seeking their reimbursement.
Great uneaslness also existed ON our
Western and Northern border lest the
Indians in Dacotah and Minnesota might
be led by designing men to take advantage
Of the troubled state Of public affairs, and
commit depredations on our people in.
that region. The great distance OF that
part Of the Stale from the place where my
other duties compel me to keep my head
quarters, aud the want of tie means of
speedy communication Herewith either
by railroad or telegraph, rendered itin my
Judgment absolutely necessary that |
should confer ON snitahle persons the
power to act for me promptly in case Of
emergency as fully as if were present to
act in person. accordingly conferred such
authority on Hon. c. Baldwin of Coun-
Gil Bluffs, and Hon A. w. Hubbard, of
Sioux City. Under this authority bodies
of mounted mon were called into service
at different times for short periods, and |
am happy to be able to state the tranquil
ity of that portion Of our State has been
| preserved
| cannot permit this occasion to pass
| without thanking Mezsrs. Edwards, Bus
sey, MorleAse, Baldwin and Hubbard, for
their efhcien, and valuable services.
At my request the Secretary of War
authorized the enlistment OF company Of
Cavalry in the service Of the United States
specially for the protection of the north
western border. This company has been
| recruited and mustered in, and / hope
will be sufficient for the protection Of tina.
portion Of our State.
Our troops in Missouri have suffered
greatly from sickness. To some extent
this is perhaps attributable TO the want
Of care and prudence among the men
themselves, To a change in their mode Of
life, to their eating badly cooked food. and
to the fatigue and exposure of hard labor
and severe marches, and to much great
er extent to the want Of proper hospitals,
proper comforts for the sick, proper nurs-
es, and sufficient medical aid. Doubtless
experience in camp life will convince our
troops of the necessity OF guarding their
health, adapt them to their new circum-
stances and will make them better cooks
and | ardently hope the time viii soon
come when those who have the power so TO
do will provide that the labor which has
Frustrated SO many of them shall be done
by the slaves of those who have forced
this war upon the country. Proper hos
ptals are now provided, and the women
of our State. following their womanly in
stinct to care for the suffering, have been
and are engaged in making and forward
forts not provided by the regulations, but
so necessarT.and 50 cheering 70 tie sick.
| am decidedly of the opinion that female
nurses III our hospitals would render in
valuable service ind | earnestly recon-
mend that provision he made fer securing
such service for the benefit of our sick
and wounded soldiers.
am we'll convinced that the medical
staff Ia Surgeon and Assistant Surgeon
now allowed By law to each Regiment, is
insufficient; and have been corresponding
with the proper authorities for the pnr-
pose OF etiecting change in the law.
recommend that power be given the Gov
ernor to appoint an additional Assistant
Surgeon for each OF cur Regiments In
service, to be paid by the State in
case Congress shall net saaAlse -s The ncues-
sary provision.
. The law passed at the Extra Session for
the organization of the Militia, is in many
{ respects defective and has been ia my
Judgment hindranee instead of an aid
/ in raising troops for the service Of the
| United States. Ii the organization Of the
. Militia is 10 be provided for by State law,
, more full and perfect system must
be devised. But the Congress of thu
Unite 4 States has power ito provide for
for organizing, armins, and diseiplning
the Militia, reservng TO the
States respectively the appointment of
officers, and the authority Of training the
Militia, according to the discipline pre-
u scrihed hr Gnnnrass y Ii - rrnhn hla