Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1865-01-06

This offer of the States was promptly ac-
cepted by the President on the 26th OF April.
and this fact, (being then in Washingtou),
communicated by telegraph to the AdJutant
General. He Immediately issued bis order Tor
the assembling of the National Guard at their
respective places of rendezvous on the I'd day
of May. On a very Indictment day, amid a
storm of snow and fain, there met and repor-
/ ted for duty nearly forty thousand men, who,
without question or reservation, offered their
services to the country in its hour OF need
! From these were organized forty-one regi-
ments and one battalion, with an aggregate
strength of 35 982 men. OF these, one regi-
ment and the battalion were reserved at
Johnson's Island, one regiment at Camp Chase,
one at Gallipols, and two at Camp Dennson.
| The remaining thirty-siX regiments, emora-
| cling an aggregate strength OF 1901 men,
were sent out OF the State into Virginia, Ma
ryand and the District of Columbia. Six OF
these regiments went to the front under Gen.
Butler; two of them were in the battle OF Mo-
nocacy, where they suffered loss Of four kill
! ed and seven wounded, and number of prIs-
oners; one was stationed at Martinsburgh,
! Va, where it suffered loss of over two hun
dred prisoners, who are still in rebel hands;
one regiment was with Gen. Hunter in his
severe march to Lynchburg and back, report
ing the loss of only one man; other regiments
were stationed at Baltimore and Washington,
and saw active service in the raid upon the
latter city OF the force retained in the State.
the l56th, l68th and l7Ist were all thrown
into Kentucky to meet the raid of Morgan,
where they did good service. In the fight
near CynthiaGa the 168th had nineteen woun-
ded, of whom two died. The Colonel and
Lieutenant Ccfonel were both included in the
list of wounded-the former very severely
In the surrender by General Hobson large
number of this regiment was included, but
were afterwards paroled, as the retreat OF
Morgan was necessarily so expeditions that he
could not retain them.
| This statement of the services of the Guard,
am well aware, is imperfect, and does not do
Justice to them. Efforts have been made to
get full returns of casualties and record of
the service. I anticipated that the Adjutant-
General would be able to present such a
statement in his annual report; but he is not
prepared to do so. In process of time hope
this record will be completed In every posi-
table, and the entire success of the movement
reflected honor upon the men and the State.
This large force was called out, organized
into regiments mustered, armed, equipped,
and placed at the disposal of the Government
in the short period of sixteen days. For this
extraordinary dispatch much credit is due to
the Adjutant-General and his chief clerk, who
labored with great energy and assiduity. 1t
is also a very satisfactory exemplifcation not
only of the militia system of the State, but al
so of the promptitude and patriotism that an
imated the body of men composing the Guard.
l do not intend to say that these men are en-
titled to any more commendation as soldiers,
or patriotic citizens, than the thousands of
brave men who make up the volunteer forces
of our State; but the circumstances under
which they responded to the call certainly en-
titled them to honorable mention. From the
nature of their organization it was entirely un-
expected to them. They had comparatively
no notice but few hours to arrange their
home affairs. They left farms, stores, offices,
and mechanical pursuits, many of them with
out ability, aud all of them without time or
opportunity to make provision for their fam
lilies, or arrange for the protection of their
Industrial interests during their absence. This
they did not only without murmur, but with
zeal and enthusiasm. This fact, which so ma
terially enhancs@&heir credit, should not be
withheld.
The Guard was returned home as speedily
as practicable, upon the expiration of its time:
but owing to unavoidable delays in transpor-
tation, payment and muster, the average term
of service was about one hundred and twenty
days.
| AS the force was to be delivered to the
Government ready for the field, there were
| expenses that must necessarily be incurred in
the organization. These were met, and paid,
so far as they have been presented, from the
million appropriation made last winter for the
defense of the State The amount of this ex-
penditure estimating that not yet presented
for payment) will be about as follows:
For transportation. on.............. S52, 2,553 54
FOR subsistence. .-.-.-..-...-- .6o,5ZO lU
For payment of officers before muster 1918 50
1Otal. R90,o0A 40
The two first of these items have been assum-
ed by the War Department, and an order
given for their repayment to the State. The
| third is under consideration, and l see DO good
reason why it should not also be allowed.
This movement of the National Guard has
| demonstrated its value and Importance as an
arm of State defense-even if no other duties
are again required of it and it becomes the
| duty of the Legislature, at least during the
continuance of the war to adopt all necessarir
measures to strengthen it, and perfect its or
| ganization. The experience of the men ac-
yqued in their late brief term of service, will
be of great value, not only to themselves, but
| to the State. In the event of a raid or an in
vasion you have something better than an in
experienced and unorganized militia to rely
upon and in proportion as you foster and
encourage it, you will streng then the power of
the State to resist any danger that may
threaten it. To this end 1 call your attention
to the suggestions made by the Adjutant-Gen-
eral in his report. They commend themselves
to my own judgment, and limited experience
and therefore recommend them to your care
full consideration.
The influence of this organization was very
! happily illustrated on its return to the State.
As the time approached for the commence
ment of the draft, in September there were
strong manifestations of a spirit Of insubordi-
| nation, if not of open resistance to the laws.
In several counties men possessing high stan
ding in the political party that has arrayed
itself against the Government, openly denoun-
ced the call for troops, with the drafts that