The Vermont transcript. [volume] (St. Albans, Vt.) 1864-1870, 1864-10-21

I Legislature 10 frame HNCn law AZ VIII place the
State IN that position of security, aud afford those
means Of protection to her people, without which
/ they are left exposed To the most wantOn and
/ high-handcd predatory ncursons. A prudent
regard for the public interest does not admit ~
my communicating, in this form, all the facts la
my possession, tending TO show the actual dan
gers to which, during the past year, the State
has been exposed II Is sufficient for me 10 say
that such evidence, coming from authoritative
sources, was placed in my possession, as satisfied
me that the peace and safety of our border were
seriously threatened, and to lead 20 the adoption
/ OF proper measures to prevent disasters which
would have been most serious in their conse-
quonces the entire community. Nor are the
dangers by any means altogether ayerted. Tho
more recent movements upon the western lakes
and along the northern frontier, are but eyidcn-
ces OF thoroughly organized plans, limited by no
means 70 those special localities, but extending
/ throughout the whole line Of our frontier, mani
/ Testing themselves now upon the most oastcrly
portion, and now at other and more remote points
! along the western border but all partakiug Of
/ tho general purpose and bearing unmistakchlc
evidence of being controlled and actuatcd by
ono master mind
am not unmindful Of the scntimcus that has
hitherto so extensively prevailed the minds cf
tho people Of tho State in regard to organizing
the militia and the arguments that have been
urged against such measure have appealed TO
my own mind heretofore with controlling force.
The burdens already resting on the State are
large. The young mon who would have been relied
upon to bear the mcst prominent part in such
! organization have been drawn from US to engage
in active service of the country; the industrial
enterprises Of the State, have thus to great
extent been made to suffer and heavier burdens
az in consequence thus imposed upon those
who are left at homo,
These and kn...led arguments have weighed
! VIZ, me hitherto with great force, and | have
been not altogether free from doubt as to the eX-
/ pediency of attempting such an organization at
\ the present time | have however become fully
satisfied that a just regard to the safety OF our
commonwealth demands now at the hands of the
/ Legislature an immediate and vigorous prepara-
/ ton for defence.
| If there were ever a time when our safety dc
/ pended upon our vigilance when u well organ
lied and efficient militia would prove bulwarlS
| 20 preserve our peace and basis of defence"
against threatened INVASION and perhaps the on
" means of aycrting it, that time has, in my de-
/ hberate Judgment, fully arrived.
Feeling thus the Importance Of an immediate
organization of the militia and with view to
| relieve the State, so far as practicable, OF the
/ great and principal source of expense attending
such an organization, | made application to the
/ Secretary of War for q sufficient quantity OF
arms, accoutrements and ordnance stores to
arm and equip the militia Of this state to the
extent Of fifteen thousand muskets, in the event
Of an organization Of tine militia by the Legisla-
ture. In reply the Secretary of War has sig
nified his Willingness to furnish the amount re-
quirod. The State will thus be relieved of the
I great and principal item OF expense; and that
which has hitherto been used as most potent
argument against an organization, now removed
also received personal assurance from the Sec
rotary, that camp equipments, such as might be
required for drill and instruction in camp, would
be freely furnished by the department to the OK
tent needed, on the proper requisi;on
l transmit with this the correspondence. with
the Secretary of War on this subject, to which
would respectfully call your attention.
! would therefore respectfully recommend the
passage OF an act providing for an immediate
and proper enrolment of all the arms bearing
lattf of
for examinations and exemptions: from the num-
Der thus enrolled such number of regiments,
! brigades, and divisions to be organized, armed
and equipped as i'll your better Judgment may be
thought expedent, and suitable provision to be
made for necessary drill and instruction in mill
tary duty, and for calling out the militia as oc-
casion may require, with power TO the Execu-
tive of the State TO draft from the enrolled mil
itla to fill up from time to time, the regiments
I organized, or il necessary TO organize new ones.
Upon tho proper details of such an organiza-
ton you will be best able to judge, and commit
the whole subject TO your careful consideration,
trusting that you will be led to such favorable
results, and perfect such system will be
simple and efficient, and at the same time secure
/ to the State that sure and ample measure of pro-
/ lection from foreign aggression which can be
best found, in the form best adapted TO our free
institutions, only in well trained and thorough
ly disciplined patriotic citizen soldiery-'ever
present, rarely seen, quarterod among us, not III
camps and forts, but at the freside, in the
countingroom, the workshop, the place of bust
ness" ready with stout hearts and trained hands
to defend our fircsidcs and our homes from the
aggressions Of foreign foe, or from tho more
ruthless attacks of bold marauders, instigated
and led ON by domestic traitors.
HOSPITALS.
In obedience to the Joint resolution of the two
houses authorizing and requesting the Cover
nor to provide further and ample accommodate
tons for the sick and wounded Vermont soldiers
! proceeded at once to make such provisions as
the interests Of the State and the exigoncies of
the service seem to require. Instructions were
given to the acting Surgeon Generalof the State,
DIR. S. W. Thayer, to make provision for the en-
largcment Of the hospital at Burlington to the
extent of two hundred beds, and also to examine
and report the best location for the erection Of
hospital buildings, regard being had to the best
accommodation of all parts of the State. In
obedience to the instructions given, the acting
Surgeon General made the proper examinations
and submitted his report, recommending Mont
peer as the best and most desirable location, all
things considered, and that the necessary build
ings for the accommodation OF three or four hum
bred patients be erected, as soon as practicable,
provided the location should meet the approval
of the Medical Director of the Department Of the
East. The Medical Director in personal inter-
view approved the location, and the report OF the
Surgeon General of the State was subsequently
submitted TO him, and received his cordial appro-
baton. The report and letter Of approval are
herewith transmitted. Preparations were accor-
dinghy made for the erection Of the necessary
nuliunlBSs And inc Noih WIS pidccu III Ol
the Quarter Master General OF the State.
In the early part Of June last the buildings
were partially completed and accommodations
prepared for about three hundred beds
The reports from the several hospitals show
that an aggregate Of four thousand two hundred
and sixteen patients have been received during
the past year, as follows;
At the U. $. General Hospital at Brattlo-
boro since Oct. /, 1868 .,..,......... 24l2
At the Baxter U. s. Gen Hospital at Bur-
lington, since Oct. l. 1868 ............. 933
At the Sloan U. $. General Hospital at
Montpelier since the completion Of the
hospital ia June. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. 81
The same reports show remaining in Hospital
Oct. lst 1864, an aggregate Of thirteen hundred
aud four, as follows:
U. S. General Hospital at Brattleboro' 49, 4s7
Baxter u. s. Gen. Hospital at burlington, 33s
Sloan U. 5. Gen. Hospital, Montpelier 479
1904
The large number Of wounded in the recent
battles viii coon increase this number, and adj
ded TO this the usual proportion Of sick among
the new leyies who have just gone to the field,
the hospital accommodations viii soon be found
too limited.
Tho amount expended in enlarging tho hospi- |
tai at Burlington has been assumed and paid by |
the General Government, and that amount does |
not appear in the accounts Of the State. The |
Treasurer OF the State has advanced, by my di- |
rection, for the hospital at Montpelier, tho sum |
OF thirty-two thousand five hundred dollars. |
Other buildings are now in process Of construc- |
ton, consisting of chapel and barracks for |
the Veteran Reserve Corps. The work has been |
under the supervision OF the Quarter Master |