The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1864-09-23
CIRCULAR TO THE SOLnIERS
OF MINNESOTA

NA0 J0"i 'tsO Pioiiiloou W WISH you IN the
field during the present season should find
it practicable to do 80.
That privilege has been denied Inc. for the
| following reasons
| First, The Attorney General decides that the
Lieutenant Governor cannot legally Discharge
inc duties Of Executive during the absence Of
the latter from the State
oeco%"' The organization of new battaIions
ana regiments, Tie frequent calls of the Presi-
oeiit' ana the repeated announcements of the
or;'it nave thus far required my constant pres
| ence in Minnesota.
Third In view Of all the circumstances T
think that am serving you and the country
| better here than | could reasonably hone 10
do by brief visit TO the army.
In this connection it may be- pr,,ner that
should recite such measures as have been srg-
gested or adopted for the benefit of The sol.
diers of Minnesota, since the inaugpr,tior o.e
the present State Administration.
1. The inaugural message recommended .
memorial of the Legislature to the President
Tor the establishment of q General HOSPITAL
within the State, for the accommodation of
the wounded and diseased soldiers of Min
nesOta.
Ibis recommendation has been followed No
by a persistent correspondence with the proper
Department at Washington, and the applca.
tlon with favorable endorsement of the Sur
geon General, now awaits the decision of the
Secretary of War.
z. The second recommendation, providing
tor the appointment of Commissioners to visit
our sick and wounded soldiers in the field. was
promptly adopted by the Legislature. and has
been carried into effect with gratifying success.
With single exception every facility has been
afforded to the Commissioners and as Atlanta
has now been captured, it is hoped that the re-
strlctlons IN the army of the Cumberland will
be modified.
Under this law the following local Commits
sloners have been appointed to visit the hos.
pitfalls and afford every possible comfort to the
soldiers OF Minnesota, in the vicinity of the re-
spective cities named:
George w. Sturgez, st. Louis, No.
j. b. Gilman, Louisville XIV,
.. E. Waters. Memphis, Tenn.
j. +. Stock, Washington, d. c.
The two latter gentlemen, with patriotism
and devotion worthy ofall praise, are discharg-
ing the duties of the position without fee or
reward. They were formerly citizens OF Min
nesOta.
3. The inaugural message earnestly recon-
mended an advance in the compensation of all
enlisted men; and it is gratifying to know that
this meritorious measure promptly received
the attention of Congress.
AS far as practicable l have appointed only
soldiers OF at least one years experience to mil
itary positions, and propose to observe the
same rule in the future.
BY the end of the present month tive thou
sand volunteers will have been enlisted and
sent to the field since the 18th of january
last.
A law was passed during the last session
OF the Legislature authorizing counties, towns
and wards to pay bounties to volunteers, and
to make provision for the support of their
families.
After repeated application an order has
been secured from the Surgeon General, d.
recting the medical authorities to send our
sick and wounded soldiers from the field to
St. Louis, Keokuk, and Madison, Wis, and
no effort will be relaxed to secure suitable
hospital for their accommodation in our own
State.
Minnesota has, in advance of any other
State, established a free bounty and pension
agency, through the Adjutant General OF the
State, and the Sanitary Commission at Wash.
ingtOn, by which all the business of our SOL
diers or their heirs may be transacted with
the Department, without expense.
The commissioners to receive your votes
will be dispatched to the different armies
within few days, with instructions to use
every exertiOn to procure the ballot of all the
soldiers from Minnesota, both in the hospital
and in the field.
Assuring You OF the earnest sympathy of the
people and government for you and your cause,
and wishing for you, and for the armies of the
Union, immediate and universal! success,
| am, very truly yours.
STEPHEN MILLER,
Governor of Minnesota
Sr. PAUL, Mimi, Sept 10Th, 1S64.-1t