The daily Evansville journal. (Evansville, Ind.) 1862-1863, 1863-01-12

duties were novel ana ulmcull, puL were
performed with great promptness and
ability. His report is herewith submit
ted
SIX REGIMENTS.
Al the extra session of the Legislature
an act was passed authorizing the organ
ization of six regiments of State troops,
enlisting for the period of twelve months
These regiments were raised, and short
ly after their organization four of them
were permitted to re-organize and enter
the service of the United States, for three
years or during the war; the remaining
two were subsequently transferred to the
service of the United States, under a
provision in the act authorizing such
transfer to fill the requisition for troops
made by the President of the United
States, the general Government assum-
ing all expenses incurred in their organ
ization and support.
r SUPPLIES.
During the first five months of the
war there was no Federal Quartermaster
in this State, and the General Govern
ment furnished no supplies of any kind
for the equipment Of Indiana troops, but
all necessary supplies were furnished by
the State.
The State has also furnished large
supplies from time to time, since that,
where they were required for the health
and prompt equipment of our troops,
and where the Government had failed or
was unable to furnish them in time.
STATE ARMS.
When the war began the stock of arms
on hand belonging to the Government,
was small and generally of very infe.
rior quality. 1t was due to the lives and
honor of the brave men who went to the
field; to the character of the State and
the success Of our cause, that our troops
should be furnished with the best arms
that could be procured. Accordingly,
sent agents into the market from time to
time, and purchased the best arms that
! could be obtained upon fair terms, and
this | continued to do until such time as
the Federal Government requested the
States to desist from the further pur-
chase of arms, alleging that it increased
NhC iBCAAtAOG uuO lnC PAlCCos
and declaring that it would supply all
troops, and would pay for no more arms
purchased by the State. With tae ex
I ception of few thousand, all the Hrsi
/ class arms in the hands of Indiana
troops were purchased by the State; but
it has been source of great trouble and
modification that large portion of oul
/ troops, despite of all efforts made, have
been supplied with arms of an inferior
quality.
In the months of August and Septem
Der last, the rebel army entered Ken
lucky and the war was brought to oul
very border; the Ohio river was low, ant
could be forded in many places by cav
airy, and even infantry, and the peace
of the State was seriously threatened
In this emergency, | believe it to be my
duty to purchase 10000 superior arm
for the use of Indiana troops, and l sen
an agent to New York, who succeeded
in purchasing that number of the frs
quality at fair prices Mr. D. R. Mar
tin, President of the Ocean Bank, with
out requiring any security, and upon
the credit of the State, advanced thu
money to pay for them, IN all S237 20!
80. Shortly after the purchase of the
arms, the rebel forces were driven from
Kentucky, the tide of war flowed bach
from our borders, and the danger so seri
ously threatening the State passed away
At that time, we had in the State abou
S,00Otroops preparing for service, bu
who were unarmed, and no arms haC
been provided for them at all proper tt
be taken to the field l therefore pu
these arms in their hands upon specia
agreement of the Government, to pa,
them at once. There was delay of ;
few weeks in getting the warrant through
the Departments at Washington, but tn,
Government has now paid the principal
but not the interest; the officers of tht
Treasury alleging the want of authorit,
to pay the interest