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


and 2l,915,5 800 rounds of ammunition
for small arms.
The report of Lieut. Col Sturm, here
with submitted, will show the extent and
the result of the operations in the Arse
nal .rr-- r
An examination of the Arsenal ac-
count will show that the State has not
lost dollar by it The prices fixed for
the ammunition was merely intended to
cover all costs and expenses incurred in
its preparation, but by economy and sue
cessful management, balance will be
found in favor of the State.
oUARTERMAsTER AND CoMMIssARY GEN
ERAL.
The first Quartermaster General | ap-
pointed after the beginning of the war,
was General Thomas A Morris. He
held the Office but short time, when he
resigned, and was succeeded by General
John H. Vajen, who remained in office
till March 18th, 1862, when he resigned
and was succeeded by Gen. John G.
New, on the 18th day of October, 1862,
Gen New resigned and Gen. Asahel
Stone, the present acting Quartermaster
General, was appointed. The reports of
these several officers are herewith sub
mitted
Gen. Isaiah Mansur, the first Commits
sary General, resigned on the 29th day
!. of May, 1861, and was succeeded by Gen.
Asahel Stone, who has held the Office
since. Their reports are herewith sub
mitted
The operations in the Quartermaster
and Commissary Departments have been
large, involving many contracts, and the
disbursement of large sums of money.
They are proper subject for legislative
investigation, to ascertain whether they
have been we'll and faithfully performed.
CARE OF THE SICK AND WOUNDED
Shortly after the war began, it became
apparent that our sick and wounded sold
iers, when all had been done for them
that could be, by Regimental and Hos
pital Surgeons, under the regulations,
must in very many cases, suffer greatly
from want of attention, and necessary
supplies Accordingly, l very early
adopted the plan of sending agents to
look after the condition, and as far as
possible supply the wants of the Indiana
troops. These agents had their instruc-
tions to follow in the track of our armies,
to pick up the sick and the wounded who
may have fallen by the wayside, visit the
Hospitals, report the names of the sick,
wounded and dead, afford relief where
ever it could be afforded, inform the
State authorities what kind of supplies
were needed and where, visit the troops
in the field and ascertain their wants
and condition, and aid in having their re-
QUESTIONS for supplies promptly filled.
These agents have generally performed
their duty well, and | believe, have been
the instruments of saving the lives of
hundreds of our gallant soldiers, and of
relieving vast amount of suffering and
restitution Many of their reports, all of
which are herewith submitted, are des-
criptive of sufferings, sorrows and death,
that would melt the stoutest heart, and
show better than can be learned in any
other way, the dreadful horrors of war
The labors of these agents were not con-
fined to any particular duties, butte xtend
ed to every kind of relief that soldiers
might need. They aided in procuring
furloughs for the sick and wounded, dis
charges for such as would not be able to
serve again, in furnishing transportation
at the expense of the State, for such as
had not the means of travel and getting
home; receiving the soldiers money and
distributing it to their families, hunting
up the descriptive rolls for such as had
been long confined in Hospitals, but for
want of their rolls could not be paid or
discharged, visiting battle-felds, bring
ing home the wounded, and distributing
sanitary stores. In some cases direc-
ted the chartering of steamboats, for the
transportation of the sick and wounded,
and in general, instructed my agents to
incur such expenses as were absolutely
necessary to enable them to execute their
mission. But Notwithstanding all that
has been done, have to lament that the
efforts have come far short of the mighty
demand, that much suffering has gone
unrelieved, and that many of our brave
sons have languished and died among
strangers, in destitution and neglect, with
no friend present to sooth their last
hours, or mark the spot where their ashes
sleep.
have employed and sent to the field
many additional Assistant Surgeons, to
remain until the emergency they were
sent to relieve had passed. After severe
battles, the Regimental Sur cons, worn
down by fatigue and exposure, were
fosnd to be inadequate to the care of the
wounded, and additional aid became in
dispensable.
Many times all the Surgeons of a regi-
ment were either sick or absent on de-
tached duty, and their places had to be
supplied by temporary appointments.
They have generally discharged their
duty with ability, and to the satisfaction
! of those to whom they were sent, and for
} the promptitude with which they left their
business and responded to these sudden
) calls, are entitled to the thanks of the
State
After the battle Of Shiloh, and in an
ticipation of the conflict to come off at
Corinth, applied to the Secretary of
War for permission to appoint two addi-
| tional Assistant Surgeons to each regi-
ment in the Grand Army of Major Gene
raj Halleck The permission was grant
! ed, under which l sent about seventy
| Surgeons to that Army, and l am graft
) fed to believe that this movement led to
the amendment of the law by which
third Surgeon was added to each regi-
| ment, measure greatly needed.
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