The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1863-01-10

nurses.
Congress having passed law authorizing
the alletmeut commissioners from eacn
State tn visit tie soldiers IN the field to
receive their alliotments OF pay to their
families and friends but providing no pay
for these commissioners, the Governor
eays two commissioners from this State
have been laboriously employed in this
work for the past year, and recommends
that they be paid
Our m: litia Laws need overhauling; at
present they ore wholly Inefficient, and
the Governor has no idea they will amount
to anything until provision is made for
subsisting the militia while in camp drill
ing. There are, also, no efficient laws TOR
drafting the militia, should such step
become necessary for home defence.
Military education, also, the Governor
thinks should be attended to, but after
long speech on the subject, his only re-
commendation is that, as many OF our
colleges are attaching military branches to
their schools, and have frequently applied
to him for arms, the said arms, on some
economical scale, be furnished them
The Governor objects to the plan pur-
sued generally IN the army, In brlgading
the troops OF making up each brigade by
troops from two or three different States.
He thinks it would promote a healthy
emulation, if brigades were made up. as
far as practicable. by all troops from the
same State. (Query-If Gov. Yates had
brigaded our troops before sending them
into the field. appointing his own Generals,
DC, would not the general Government
have gladly received them in whole bri-
gadesO
The Governor also objects to the law of
Congress vesting in the Governors the ap-
pointment of the officers of volunteers.
He thinks they ought to be elected by the
men. I'VE reckon if the Governor will
intimate to the men that he would prefer
they should elect to appointing himself
the men will be glad to relieve him from
further embarrassment on this head
The Governor strongly urges the passage
of q law to allow soldiers in the field to
vote. at least for the more important
officers.
The Governor gives chapter on military
arrests, in which it is somewhat difficult
to get at his meaning He says he is 50
much of democrat, that he entertains
"ihe highest regard for the rights of the
individual, believing that every man,
whether white. yellow, red, or black is
entitled to liberty, and should be sacredly
protected in the enjoyment OF his person
or property yet he thinks treason
should not be allowed to stalk defiantly in
our midst without rebuke and summary
punishment"
The Governor gives the following sum-
mary of what Ills. has done for the war:
On the 18th Of April, 1861, the State
was called en- for six regiments of infantry.
The same day proclamation was made, and
on ATr,l 10th. General Order Nc !. Ad-
jutant Generals office, was issued, calling
for these regiments, Springfield being de
signated as the place Of general rem
devious.
Under this call the eth Sth 9th, 10th, lth
and 18th regiments We're organized, and
mustered into the United States service on
the 25th, 25th, Goth and 30th days Of April
These troops were subsequently organized
into brigade and, under the order of the
Secretary of War, ordered to Cairo dusiag
the same month.
Before the completion of the organizes
tion of these reg Iments, and on the 18th of
April, Brig Gen. H. X Swift, 9th division
of the State militia, was ordered to pro-
coed to Cairo and hold that point. Six
companies Of infantry and four batteries
of artillery promptly responded, and on
the ODD, General Swift, with force of
about one thousand men. arrived at Cairo
This fact is to be mentioned rs highly
creditable to the patriotism and prompt
ness of the citizens of Chicago; for, in the
space of two DAYS after the telegram from
Washington, ordering our troops to occupy
Cairo, Chicago was sending off trains bear
ing her citized soldiery, armed, equipped
and Supplied with all necessary subsistence
thus preventing, | trust we ever shall
prevent, the tramp of traiter feet upon the
sacred sod of Illinois.
These forces served few days, until re-
lieved Ivy the SIX regiments, when those of
them which did no: enter the three months
service, were discharged The service
rendered to the State by this force was of
the utmost importance.
At the special session OF April. 1861, ten
regiments of infantry were authorized
(See laws They We're Immediately raised |
consisting of the 18th, 14th. 18th, l6th |
18th, 18th, 18th, Goth, ..ist and odd, and |
rendered to the government. The War |
Department declined at first TO accept |
more than six of them but subsequently, |
after strong solicitation, accepted the re |
manning four.
In June the War Department autho- |
rized the acceptance Of one battalion OF |
light artillery and one reg iment of cavalry. |
And in July it authorized the acceptance |
of thirteen regiments of infantry. one adj |
ditional battalion of artillery, and three a..
additional regiments of cavalry. Under
these orders, the Doth, 9th, 2Sth. 10Th,
30th, 3lst, 32d, Add 10th, 4Slh, 10Th and |
50th regiments OF infantry, the lst I'd and
Sd regiments Of cavalry, and eight compa.
mics of artillery. were raised.
In addition to this, several regiments. |
called Independent regiments were autho !
rized by the War Department, and in Au- |
gust full authority was given to accept all !
who were willing to enlist
Under these various orders, the recruit !
ing wss SO rapid, that during the year 1861, |
I'm addition to thousands, who in May and |
June were refused acceptance, and left |
the State to enter the service,) fifty regi |
ments of infantry, ten regiments Of cavalry |
and one regiment of artillery, were orga
nized and mustered into service.
On the Sd of December, 1861; the Sec |
rotary of War, by General Order No los, |
directed that no more regiments, batteries, |
or Independents companies should be raised
by ahe Governors OF the States, except
upon special acquisition of the War De
partment, but that those forming would
be completed. or the men assigned to regi
ments then in the field and the entire
recruiting service for regiments in the field