Washington telegraph., 1864-09-28
GOVERNORS MESSAGE.
EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT. }
Washington, Ark, Sept. "a, 1854 y
To tie Senate and Hoxsc Of
Representatives. oftAe "
STATE of 4rL1usrsI

The aggressive war which has beer
waged against us for more than tire,
years, has been conducted during the
past year with the same great vieoI
which characterized it in its earliest pro
gress. Our enemies have deliberatel,
elected to ruin themselves in order tC
ruin us. They have sacrificed their citi
zens by the hundred thousand, and theil
means by the thousand millions. as well
as every principle of constitutional lib.
erty, in order to destroy people who
never injured them. They have aban.
doned the rules Of civilized warfare, aud
conducted the war with torch and sword
They declare that there is nobody
friendly to them in the South but the
negro population, and that they must
have the control of the South
Several Of our villages have been
burned-unoffonding men. who are nor
combatants. have been murdered. for no
other reason than tl,s caprice of some
Federal officer, or the dislike of some
unprineipled men.
The war has thss been waged against
I''' 't''u ""iHfi, s'iuitio huN ClliAriS.
We should return our thanks to the
Great Disposer of events. that 20 wicked
and terrible war has not resulted in
our conquest.
In the summer of 1868, owing to the
occupation OF the capitol by the military
forces of the United States, the seat OF
government was moved to this place
Certain persons who were disloyal 10
the government, inaugurated pretended
State government last spring IN tiris
State. Soldiers and officers of the u.
States government took part in it. Many
loyal citizens who were within the Fcde-
raj lines were compelled, bv threats and
otherwlse. 70 take part in the elections.
The bill making appropriations for the
relief Of soldiers families, contained a
provision wha-eby payments might be
suspended by the Executive After ii
became impossible to distribute the funds
over ,nuch the larger portion of The State,
and ii bad Eecume apparent that there
was not funds to last for the two years.
payments We're suspended for any time
after the lst December, 1868. Had this
not been done, that part OF the State
whcra thore was lsast want, and where
counties could have relieved families.
would have received the bounty. and
where there was most want. and where
the counties could not act. the relief
could not have been distributed.
Daring the summer of eighteen hun
drcd and sixty-three, it was deemed c--
podient, in order to hasten the organiza-
iinn Of troops, to call into the service a
body of State troops, An agreement
vas made with Gen. Smith. whereby
ssch troops were to be supplied hy the
Confederate States, and call m-de-
Almost Immediately afterwards General
Steel advanced into the State, and took
the capitol, and Federal force took pos
session Of Fort Smith. Our troops fell
back to Camden, thus losing control Of q
large portion of the State.
The State organizations were con-
tinucd, however. and notwithstanding
all the troops Of Southeast Arkansas rs
far west rs Lafayette county, were mus
tered with their consent into the Contode-
rate service, twelve companies were or
gauized in the few counties in The extreme
Southwest. These companies have done
most excellent service. During n large
portion Of the time they have been the
only protection to this part Of the State.
They have from their organization per-
formed the duties If pickets TO the ex-
tremc front; and while not strong enough
to resist large force, they have been a
great protection 10 the frontier counties.
Last spring. upon the advance Sonth
Of Gen. Steel, two companes-Rr,d' 8
and Dvcr's--wcre placed in front of the
enemy; and, by frequently firing into
their advanced guard. caused il-em to
move slowly and with caution. They
also kept the Confederate officers accur-
a,elv advised of the movements of the
enemy. The balance of the command
was placed at the crossing Of the Mis-
souri,, and employed in making srch
blockades and examinations as should
be desirable on the approach of the
enemy.
1t having become apparent that the
enemy was moving towards Washington
the Confederate troops were placed ir
their front and raar; ard the State troops
IN order 10 have unity " command. were
put under the command Of Gen. Cabell
aud remained with him until after the
Jonkin's Ferry 5alIle. They took par
in the battles of Poison Spring and
Marks Mills, winning from every obser
Yer the most unqualified praise. Gems
Price and Cabell, in published orders
have commended their gaIantry and dar
ing in the most fsttering terms
At Marks Mill Col. Pettns Was m-r
tally wounded. His loss ra almuat :rrr
parable. So modest, that no one knew
his merits except Oh corsidrrrbl acquain
tance. His efficiency IN camp ard OF
the field wa, very grsat. Capt Dyer,
most excellent officer and scout, was sen
to the enemy's lear by Gen. Marmaduke
b., was killed or the expedition. Lieu;
Gillian, good officer and citizen, wa
killed at Marks Mill. Lieut.. Ross, thai
whom there WAS none better, lost his life
on a scout, at ihe hands Of his friends
by mistake.
Steps have been taken 10 turn ovr
these troops to the Confederate States
which, it is supposed, viii Do complete,
| II, n short time