The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1863-01-22

hecrultS Tor Old reglmentS------------ H,loo
Drafted militia in 795
Militia not vet reported, including those
considered as deserters, and those to
be drafted in Manitowoc county, 2,279
Our quota under of the calls giving US credit
for the excess furnished before the call ofJuly
%, is A, SCI, showing that, in order to fill our
quota, the State will have to furnish yet 92l men
which should be by enlistments for old regi~
ments, which it is hoped will be furnished in
that way. 1t is, however, proper to mention
that the enrolment made by the Sherlffs shows
that we have furnished 4l,529 men, which IN
addition to the results of the draft, would be
433 more than our quota. This discrepancy
arises to some extent, undoubtedly, from re"
! petitions of names on the sheriffs' enrolment
but it is also not unlikely that our regiments in
the field have failed to make complete returns
to the Adulutant Generals Office of the nuns
Der ofnew recruits they have received and that
the deficiency is actually much less than above
stated. Considering the large number of for
eigners in cur State not liable to military duty,
Wisconsin has certainly done its full share OF
furnishing troops in this war, although it may
yet be short a few hundred men.
As appears from reports made to the AdJu-
tant Generals office, the total loss of our troops
in the field by deaths, discharges, and deser-
tons, was on the first Of December, 1873; the
largast part of this loss arises undoubtedly,
from discharges and assertions. The report OF
the Adiutant General will furnish you p%atticu-
lar information on these and other points i'll con-
~nection with our military affairs.
In the organization of new regiments l adopt
ed the plan of promoting meritorious and expes
rienced officers of older regiments, thus reward
ing merit and giving the new regiments expe-
$500 H.1l H., T na-uo4 11,kI 49,, 1900
tory order of the war department., which | with
many other governors in vain demonstrated
against, refusing to discharge officers in the
field for the purpose of accepting promotion in
new regiments, has prevented me from contin>
uing this practice with the later regiments, thus
making it necessary to place experienced men
in command of the new troops.
/ also adopted the plan Of promoting merito-
rious non>cOmmiasioned officers and p~riyates OF
old regiments by giving them positions as COM
misSioned officers in companies of new regi-
ments. Much to my regret, an order from the
war department prevented the carrying of this
practice into the drafted militia, on the ground
that the time of service being different,me lei from
the volunteer regiments could not be discharg-
ed to accept commissions in a 9 months regi-
ment. Being well convinced that the promo,
lions in both cases would not seriously inter-
fere with the organization of the old regiments
| from WHICH IISSt llcIIJOIlQuS men are TO be
taken, / respectfully recommend that you me>
morialize the President Of the United States
requesting him to change these orders, Ibaving
failed to convince the Government Of the pro,
priety of such change.
Wisconsin has reason to be proud of her no.
bic sons. She has stood firmly and unwaver.
ingly by the flag of the Union. The bravery p Of
her troops is not excelled by any other State,
The Iron Brigade has secured a distinguished
place in the history of this war. East, West
and South, upon many of the fields of battle,
have WIscOnsin's brave sons won for Them
selves the name of heroes. True and unf1inch-
ingly have they fought for the Union and look
ed death in tie face in a thousand different
forms without a murmur have they fallen shat
tered and mangled upon the cold and CORY field;
without a murmur have they borne the priva-
tons incident to a soldiers life many, alas
have fingered and died in hospital vainly long
ing to breathe their last breath in the air OF
their adopted State Many a freslde has been
made desolate the orphan children the wild
owed mothers, the mourning fathers, mothers,
brothers and sisters-who can count them ?
Let us not forget those who have died for
our couutry's sake Let US remember those
who bravely uphold the honor and reputation
of our State ready to die if need be. Let us
give them the tribute which is due them from
a grateful State [ recommend that q resolution
be adopted by you e~moOdying your sentiments
on this subject, and that provision be made to
retain the archives of the State a true record OF
the part Wisconsin's loyal sons have taken in
the suppression Of this great and abhorred res
bellion.
l would also recommend that you lay the
claims or promotion of our brave and gallant
commanders of regiments before the President.
| have repeatedly addressed him upon the sub
ject, urging the promotion of some of our mer~
torlous colonels. While it is true that promo
ton III the field should be made for merit and
capacity, it is also true that the bravery of Wis
consin troops is well and universally known and
acknowledged, and that she has sent as able
colonies and officers to the field as have gone
from other states, and their claims to promo>
ton should therefore be recognized.
Organization Of MiIitia.
At the special session last year / also called
the attention of the Legislature to the ~necessi>
ty of amending our militia law so as to give the
State an effective militia system. The reasons
which l then urged still continue to exist
With war surrounding us, we should be pre-
pared for future emergencies. The fears which
were then entertaineds of Indian difficulties
on our frontier have not entirely subsiped.-
Without an organization of the militia, without
the necessary arms and ammunition, we are
really defenceless. Perhaps r and ammu>
milton could be Obtained in sufficient quantities
from the General Government but the organi>
cation of the militia seems to ME to be absolute
ly demanded by the condition of our country.
This organization should be as simple as pos
sible in order to be effective. I respectfully
refer you to some observations on this subject
in the report of the Adjutant General, which
meet with my approval.
By a personal application to the Secretary of
War, and an explanation of the condition Of
our frontier settlements, | was enabled last fall
to obtain 1000 stands of farms for the State from
the United States in order to arm our militia,
and also some ammunition. Under existing
laws these arms could properly only be distrib~
uted where uniformed companies had been form.
ed i'll the State. Wherever applications were
made to lie for arms, l advised the applicants
to form such companies under the Statute, and
so far as possible the reduisitions of these com
panies have been complied with. But in the
more thinly populated parts Of the State, where
the necessity tor arms is most pressing the for.
nation of uniformed companies is hardly prac-
ticable.
Relief Fund, Hospitals, sc.
At the adjourned session in June last the
Legislature made an appropriation of $50, 900
Tor the purpose Of defraying expenses thereto-
fore and since incurred in the care of the sick
and wounded soldiers.
Of this fund there has been expended up to
the present time the some of $I0,828 8 ,leav-
ing $9,17l 06 yet undrawn. A detailed report
OF these expenditures and of their nature, and
the purpose for which the money was used and
the general results obtained, will soon be laid
before you. During the sickly season of last
summer several expeditions, consisting Of ply
sicians and nurses, were sent south to bring
sick and wounded soldiers from our State to
their homes or to northern hos pitfalls and such
expeditions were subsequently on several occa~
sions dispatched to battle>felds after severe
battles in which troops from our State had tak>
en- part. These expeditions have all been
under the charge Of the Surgeon General, and
have been of the greatest usefulness to the brave
wounded soldiers, adding much to their comfort
aud immediate help and great credit is due to
the Surgeon General and the philanthropic
gentlemen who always without compensation,