Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1864-01-05

late this commission; giving it full au-
Ehority in the premises, and directing ii to
report to you at q future session Of the leg
Islature. The reports Of the seVersl Mill
lary Committees, made to me, shall be re-
ferred to this Commission.
must not omit to inform you, how
greatly the people Of the State are indebt-
ed to the several county Military Commit
tees appointed by me. They have ever
cheerfully responded to tho numerous calls
made upon them, with degree Of alacrity
and generosity unbounded; without their
efficient aid, the best interests of the State
would at times have materially suffered.
shall ever feel grateful to these gentlemen,
for their kindness to me personally, as
well as ofisislly.
That everything Of interest, relating to
the gallant men who have been or may be
engaged in the military service Of our
country, may be collected and perpetuated,
l recommend for that purpose the estsb
lishment Of bureau, to be known as the
Bureau Of Military Statistics. These sta
tistics should contain the name, age and
place Of residence of every officer and
private who was in any way engaged in
the service; the date of his enlistment;
the company and regiment to which he be-
longed; the term Of service; the time and
reason for bis discharge; whether killed
or wounded in battle; and the time and
place of death and burial of those who
may die N service. This duty can we'll
be performed by the Surgeon General Of
the State; and, as much of the informs-
FfaTR 10, hn Nka
ords Of the several hospitals, can, perhaps,
better be performed by him than by any
other officer. Should this duty be thrown
upog him, however, the salary attached TO
that Office sdould be materially increased,
as faithful discharge Of the duty would
command sill of his time.
submit, herewith, communications from
Secretary Hoffman, giving in detail the
items Of expenditure from the Civil and
Military Contingent Funds, from the 18th
day Of December, A. D. 1862, date Of last
years report, to the 18th day Of December,
A. D. 1868. It will be seen, that from the
Civil Fund, there has been expended $780,
66, and from the Military Fund S69, $751;
38. l ask for the appointment, at an early
day, Of Committee of yeur body, TO ex-
anime these expenditures. Large as the
expenditure is, l doubt not it will meet
your approval, and urgently recommend
that you place at the disposal Of my sue
cessor, like liberal contingent fund, that
he may be able to meet all contingencies
likely to arise. Our gallant boys in the
field, and in hospitals, and en- route for
their respective homes, must have the fos-
tering care Of our State Government In
this connection, allow me to recommend
thst you keep upon your statuts book, the
several laws now in force providing for the
appOlntment Of pay agents, and the sgen-
cies for the care Of soldiers. The amount
received by the several pay agents from
soldiers in the field and deposited in the
State Treasury for distribution to their
families, for the past year, is 1851, ,S24 81,
at cost to the State of s., 753. SO, and
without any cost to the soldiers or their
friends. l also recommend that the levy,
for the support of the families of soldiers,
he increased from one mill TO two mills on
tle dollar; and that the a3t for distribut-
ing the same, be so amended as to include
the families Of oolored soldiers who have
volunteered since the passage Of the law.
The number of families in the State, re-
quiring relief, will vary but little from
thirty thousand the levy recommended,
will give to each about $50; this, with the
assistance voluntarily rendered by the
generous in every neigbbOrhood, it is
hoped will make every family comfortable,
aud thus stimulate the patriotic soldier to
duty.
The sum appropriated for suitable rest
ing places at Cincinnati and Columbus,
for our soldiers who may fall in the SER
vice Of our country, to-Wit: So, 900 for the
former, and $500 for the latter, have been
expended. Beautiful and eligible grounds,
at Spring Grove Cemetery, Cincinnati,
and Green Lawn Cemetery, Columbus,
have been selected. The remains of sos
brave bOys have already been deposited in
the Cemetery at Cincinnsti, and 81 at Co.
lumbus. Without this express authority,
l joined the Executives Of other States in
securing a suitable resting place for our
nsble dead who fell a. Gettysburg in the
great battle Of July last. This sacred
ground thus secured was duly corsecrat-
ed, with most imposing ceremonies, on the
18th day of November last. Accompanied
by my Staff, and quite large number Of
State officials, participated, on benalf Ct
the State, in these solemn ceremonies; the
entire cost to the State of this visit was
81, GA 25, which has been charged to the
Military Contingent Fund, The papers
presented, in Document No. u,
contain full statement Of the action Of
this Department in relation to its melan-
oholy duty Of caring for our dead.
1t can hardly be necessary that call
your attention to, or speak Of, the bravery
and gsllanUry of our soldiers in the field.
Their many noble deeds are familiar TO US
al; the soil ofevery battlefield has become
sacred with the blood of Ohio's heroes
Oar children should be taught to venerate
The memory Of those who have fallen; and
10 love and highly respect those who may
be spared by an all-Wise providence to
return among US. God bless our patriotic
Ioldiers, and all who are near and dear to |
hem.
Although the wicked rebellion still |
continues, we can justly claim for Ohio |
'ull performance of duty in the effort to |
rush it, and maintain our happy form of |
government, We have raised within the |
past year, 5,060 troops. This, added to
he number reported to the last General |
Assembly, swells the grand Union army
rom Ohio, to 20O67I. These troops have
been, to say the least as promptly raised,
Ind with as little expense and trouble to |
he National Government, as those from
my other State in the union. We have
aiken care Of our sick and wounded SOL |
liers and their families, with a generous
hand and kind heart; we have, at our own |
expense, repelled raids upon our southern
md eastern border, with spirit and en-
,rgy worthy of freemen; we have aided in |
he capture of a most formidable band Of |
led By willy, dangerous
,hieftsiD; we have provided suitable rest
ng places for our gallant dead, and we
lsve given conclusive evidence to the |
world in our recent elections, as well as
n the gallant deeds Of our brave men in
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