The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1862-01-22
4 oTTUMWA, IOWA, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY o. 1862.

viding clothing for the lSt, End, and Bird
Regiments, I found it utterly impossible to
progids for those subsequently raised, and
was compelled to rely upon the General
Government for that purpose, and although
il was matter Of much modification to me
to be compelled to allow our troops to leave
our State un uniformed and un armed, yet
am induced to believe the result has be n
as well for the troops and for the Govern
ment. The troops who left our Slate with
out uniforms, left at q season Of the year
when but little clothing was needed for COM
fort, and they were provided with uniforms
In Missouri as speedily and more cheaply
than could have provided for them. The
Regiments which have left the State more
recently have been furnished with good
clothing by the General Government before
leaving. have not purchased foe the State
the arms contemplated by the law passed at
the Extra Session, for the reason that arms
could be had only for money, and had not
the money wherewith to pay. Some arms
have been furnished by the General Govern
ment, but not sufficient for the, security Of
the State, and / recommend the subject to
your careful consideration
On several occasions during the past sea-
son, when the Rebels had or appeared likely
to get, control in Northern Missouri much
nueasiness existed along our southern bor-
der lest they should attempt an invasion {
our State, which, for want Of arms, our peo-
pie were not properly prepared to resist
Immediately after the close of,the Extra ses-
sion Of the General Assembly, | appointed
Col. John Edwards and Col. Cyrus Bussey
my Aids, with large discretionary powers,
to act for the preservation Of tranquility III
the southern border counties. was well
satisfied the peace Of our State would b.
more easily preserved by preventing inva-
sion than by repelling it, and therefore
while could nrt order our State troops
beyond our State line, instructed Cols. Ed
wards and Busscy, and through them the
troops under their command, that If at
any time the loyal men Of Northern Nilsson.
ri were in peril and called upon them for as
sistance, they had as full authori yas could
give them to lead their men into Missouri to
the. aid of the loyal men there and my prom
Use upon their return that my power should
be used to the utmost extent to protect them
ifcalled in question for SO doing. Under
these circumstance, and in some cases at the
instance Of officers of the United States, Col
onels Edwards and Bussev and Colonel Nor
ledge of Page county, at different times led
bodies Of Iowa troops into Missouri and kept
them in service there until their presence was
no longer needed, and am we'll assured their
services were highly valuable, not only in
preserving the peace Of our border and pro-
tecting our own people, but in supporting
and strengthening the Union men If Mssou-
ri. The expenses incurred in these expedi
tions are, in my judgment, properly charga
BILE to the General Government, and I an.
now seeking their reimbursement.
Great uneaSiness also existed on our Wes-
tern and Northern border lest the Indians
in Dacotah and Minnesota might be led by
desining men to take advantage Of the troub-
led state ofpublic affairs, and commit depre-
greatadistance Of that part of the State from
the place where my other duties compel me
to keep my headquarters, and thewant of the
means Of speedy communication Herewith
either by railroad or telegraph, rendered il
in my judgment absolutely necessary that |
should confer on suitable persons the power
to act for me promptly in case OF emergency
as fully as i'll were present to act in person.
I accordingly conferred siah authority on
Hon. G. Baldwin Of Council Bluffs, and Hon.
A. w. Hubbard, ofSioux City. Under this
authority bodies ofmnunted men were called
into service.at different times for short peri.
ods, and | am happy to be able to state. the
tranquility Of that portion Of our State has
been preserved.
cannot permit this occasion to pass with
out thanking Messrs Edwards, Bussey,
Morledge. Baldwin and Hubbard, for their ef
ficicnt and valuable services. r...f.
.,or;,aj The a,,,;,t,,.n. - :. ,.n,, -
I,io'.leu :ne s'l,'s..aens ol Eonps"y ~
snao;a,Iu for tho Yro,ec.;ar M of The n,r,he was
sarn har,lsr. Tb;r con,nanv hos heen recr,,;t.
al al anJ m,,stered III n ana / hone w,lI hs sne.
s.;a,,t enr the nro,act;n,, - tbst ,,or.;o,,' of
o,,. 'S,.,a 80 4 80, :"
n,r troons =, .N;ssm,r; b,y. .,,ff.red
rrs.tIv for, s;cLnass n so,,s .xtan, th;s
? S nsrI.ns % attr;hnta hle 70 ,he want of cara
and prudence among the men themselves,
to 4 change in their moie of lifc. to their
eatinu badly, cooked, fo,d. and To the fatigue
and exposure ofhard labor and severe march
es and to much greater extent to the want
of nror,er bosrifa,s nrt,rcr comforts for the
sick. proper nurses. and sufficient medical
aid. Doubtless exnrience. in camv lifa will
convince our troons OF the neces,ity Of puard.
inc their health, adapt them to their new
circumstances and win make them better
cooks ; and ardently hope the time win soon
come when those who have the power SO to
do will provide that the labor, which has
prostrated so may of them shall be done by
the slaves OF those who have forced this war
upon the country. Proper hospitals are now
provided, aud the women Of our State, fol-
lowing their womanly instinct to- care for