, 1863-01-06

fund, 4Or 11t purpose VI paying SAPtahta "
mcsscuccrs who were sent to Washington for
The purpose Of procuring acceptance Of troops,
obtaining arms, clothing. and adjusting the
claims Of the State for disbursements out Of
tho war fund, etc. These services wcrc Of vital
importance and could not be dispensed with.
In Fetrunry last, with the news of the battlc
Of Fort Donelson, ca1ne demand from the
officers and men Of our brave army for surgf-
cal aid and hospital supplies. Immediately
repaired to the scene Of the late conflict with
Fnch assistance and supplies as lcould procure
for the relief Of the sick and wounded.
Being fully satisfied, from most alarming
representations, and from my own observa-
tions, that there were great suffering and des-
ti,rtion among our troops, and that the hospi-,
tai department of the army was entirely IN
adequate to the wants Of our soldiers, and
that, especially after battle, their psdEations
were greatly increased for the want Of proper
medical stores tns ana , Ia stsfe Wth tie
concurrence Of the other State officers, to
rcn1r~, as FIR as possible, the assistance so
mncn ,ccded.
When the terrible but glorious, battle Of
Shiloh wss fought, with the ne lesst possible De,
nurses, and with the steamer Black Hawk,
proceeded 10 Pitteburg Landing. The wound
I'd were In the most frightful condition.
Many hundreds had been lying for days with.
out having their wounds dressed Many had
ultU iIAU4t EfCA DECA I4i4ltA W
tents, and many were suffering from, disease
causrd by want and exposure They were
without supplies or attention. Some were
takcn by us from the banks Of the river, ex-
posed to hot sun, and many had to be left
without transportation, and in the care Of
agents aud nurses, to provide for them as best
Being able to bring away but very small
portion Of the wounded from our own State,
directed the Adtutant General, on my return,
TO proceed again on the same errand, taking
with him arms and clothing. The same ne
ccssity continuing TO exist, !, again, with sur:
seons and sanitary stores, literally supplied
BY onr fellow citizens, visited the Tennessee
River. Having hitherto only taken those sick
and wounded found in the immediate vicinity
cfthc battle field, I was met on this occasion
with the following appeal from Dr.. G. W,
Stilp. Brigade Surgeon, at Hamburg:
Nay Eh-Thcrc arc some two or three hun
tlred sick and broken down Illinois soldiers at thif
hospital! who ought to be sent to come OF the hos
pitfalls North Ohio, Indfann, etc, are eendinE
send to lis non she
day with SICK, feeble and worn out boys Ole
u,en. and some middle aged soldiers, II takcr
10 duty and the bAauce discharged. Would It mol
1e s.M for you to visit this hospital and see the
condition Of the men 81
Having alrcady loaded one boat; I procured
another, TIC City Of Alton, which was loaded
The rrrorts Of the officers in charge Of these
hospital steamers SHOW that, under these aus
liccs, over / 200 sick and wounded Illinois
soldiers we're transferred from scenes o1
misery and suffering to tue comforts Of north
ern hospitals and homes.
Tho following letters from DR.. Chas. Nc
Dnugall, the veteran United States Medica,
Dircetor at Plttsburg Landing, exhibit the ap
probation and benefit Of these services:
- Gorer"or II have the honor to gratefully nc
knowlsdgc TIE timely aid received from youT pat
mediation Of her gallant and bfare rons now pros
frate from disease and wounds received in tn
battle OF Shiloh.
npc1ste With the dis.Insaisi!ed msdicsl seaileme,
ofyonr State now here 10 relieve the suffering sick
"1am, ETC."
Fione my obligations to yourself and the dietin
S,uished surgeon, Professor Bra{nard as also th'
ladies and gentlemen Of your mission, now on th
:tatc Of Illinois to take to their homes the sick
sonr gallant State for their efficient aid and heart
to,opcIation with the medical department. IN pro
Esding for tue wants ofthe sick and wounded from
the battle field OF Shiloh
Besides the aid titus rendered in converting
our sick aud wounded to hospitals, my agents
then and since appointed. have assisted ir
providing for the transportation and Wants o
rcyitnccd the Kind ministratione Of our sur
Icons and nurses.
LII the performance Of these duties, heavy
expenses were necessarily incurred, (account:
xur which and vouchers therefor being on file,
aud there being no other fund from which t,
the premises, payments for teese objects wer,
'dIsbursed from the contingent war fund; tn,
cnincntly humane results fully justifying th'
appropriation,
The inability Of the government to clothe
sru,. subsist, transport and pay the troops
tho difficulty Of getting the accounts Of tn
State adjusted and reimbursenen}s from th,
United States, created the necessity @ u Of fre m
qucut Journeys 10 Washington by myself AM
agents, rs it was found impossible, in the I'm
nie1ast. pressure upon the departments, to az
compish much without persistent persona
application. It was ut length found necessar
10 adopt the p1an Of other States, and appoln
a1ll, formerly State Auditor, since deceased
w.s appointed, and gave his constant and Ia
horizons attention in the adjustment Of tn
accounts Of the State.
In the discharge Of these and other dutic
Of the executive department, it is proper t
clalnled. Doubtless, errors were committed
very often there was but little time for IT
1ection, multitude Of things all pressin.
for attention ut the time: Expenses were III
CURED, but At the time they were deemed in
disl'cnsahle, and usually upon demand frou
Pressing hard for such articles as were indi'
1,tnsably necessary to the eick and wounded
] can now look back aud see TINT much MOT
sf suffering could have been relieved an
man: ncccssa:its aid comforts have been flu
nfsEcd our troops, without complaint from
Ercn! aid noble Siate. At all events, Ees
si,si.: sure no one outside Of the adminlstrs
7ion can have any fair idea Of the luagnitut1
Of the task and the cmbar1assments it has e1
eounteTcd OH every hand. -.
AI1o1MESrs or FAY or VOLUNTEERS.
Congress, on the 9th of December, 1856
passed M net requiring the President to 81
1,otnt not exceeding. three persons for eac
State, 10 visit the volunteers III the field an
Tecivc, - from time to time, their rcspccti1
:,ilotments Of pay to their families or friends.
The 1nw required that said COMMISSIONS,
thould receive no pay from tho treasury
the United States. have been unable to &c
why the government should depart from tt
usual course Of remuneration In this cas-
when, most certainly, the service required
one Of the most difficult, responsible au
useful character. Satisfied of the great in
l'ortancc of this service, I have kept in 60
Iespondencc with the two Commissioner
who entered upon this service tor nlino
most iaborious efforts 10 the proper discharl
of their duties in conveying thousands
dollars to the needy families Of the poor 80
dier.
deem It my duty to recommend that pr
1,cr compensation be allowed to said cominl
sioncrs. at lcaet for the time they have bet
absent from their homes In carrying out Il
objects Of their benevolent missions.
TIE MILITIA.
Uinn the subject Of the organization Of Il
militia of the Slate, cannot add to the I
Communications Of January, 1860, except
urge thorough revision Of tue laws now
f,Tcc. These laws seem to hare been pass'
lnurc with reference to an organization for
time Of peace, than one expected to cope wi
the stern realities Of actual warfare. II
efforts which have been made for organizatit
under these laws, have failed, and cam
sce that amy organization will be entirely SD
militia training with tents and other can
cyuipage, md which does not also furni
subsistence during the time that the troo
are required 10 remain in their camps Of
ttruction. The United States would, I thin
furnish arms, ammunition, &C.. and, 6hou
the troops be called into the field, reIn1bur
the State for necessary expenses incuzre
Under m organization Of this kind Massacl
+rtts had. at the commencement Of the rcb
Ied troaps in the world, and WAS cnAb1cd
Ecnd them into the field upon very short I
lice.
At the commencement Of the rebellion,
Iiou6 apprelensions were entertained OF
occupation Of Cairo by the rebels. Ths
Lave also been some inconsiderablc raids ii
1tr State by guerilla parties. It is also
licred, from the appearance Of consideral
l,odics of cavalry from the Kentucky side
7l,c river, that incursions would bo made IL
TIE State but for the precautions In havl
our own troops posted on this side of I
river 10 re1,e1 them, The attention Of |
Legislature Is called to the subject Of prov