Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1865-03-11


been done under the direction of the Cover
nor for the relief of sick and wounded Wis
eonsin soldiers, was sent to the Legislature
on the LIST: =
EXECUTIVE OFFICE, MADISON, Feb. rs, '65.
To tie Honorable tie Legislature Of tie State Of
Wisconsin,
By chapter S54 of the General Laws of
1854, the sum of ten thousand dollars was
appropriated and set apart " to be paid out
upon the order of the Governor of the State,
for the liquidation of all such claims as shall
hereafter accrue by the authorityof the Gov
ernor, in the necessary care of the sick and
wounded soldiers of Wisconsin, and for car
rying such sick and wounded into this State,
when the same shall be proper and necessary"
BY section three of said chapter it is provid-
ed that the Governor shall make out and re-
port to the Legislature, at its next session,
the amounts so expended by him, and fully in
what manner such money has been expended"
| have the honor to submit the annexed de-
tailed statement of expenditures under said
chapter, vouchers for which are ON file in
this office, showing amounts expended, by
whom, and at what time. AS to the manner
of its expenditure, have the honor to state,
that seeing no more practical method of
meeting the wants of the class of persons in
tended to be benefited by the appropriation,
than by the appointment of agents whose
duty it should be to visit and care for them.
l selected a number of agents, giving to each
certain territory, with directions to visit the
fields and hospitals within prescribed limits,
and to do all within their power to alleviate
suffering and aid the sick and wounded.
Section two of the chapter above alluded
TO provides that " the Governor is hereby
authorized to draw his order or orders upon
the State Treasurer for so much money, not
ezceediny tie Sans of ten thousand dollars IN all,
as shall be actually necessary, &C."
By this provision it will be seen that
could in no event draw more than ten thou
sand dollars l was under the necessity,
therefore, of limiting the number of agents,
and the amount to be expended by each, so
as not to use in all beyond this sum. The
number of agents at present employed Is five,
as follows: Mrs. G. a. P. Harvey, George w.
Sturges, L. l.. Jones, w. Y. Seleck, and D..
0strander. Others have been employed dur
ing the year for short periods of time as
necessity seemed to demand, whose names
also appear in the statement hereto annexed.
Mrs. G.. A. z. Harvey has charge of hospitals
from Memphis to New Orleans. Geo. W..
Sturges has charge of hospitals at st. Louis,
Paducah, Mound City, Keokuk and Cairo. E.
l.. Jones has charge of hospitals at Nashville,
Louisville and Chattanooga. w. 7. Selleck
had, until recently, exclusive charge of hos
pitfalls at Washington, Alexandria, Philadel-
phia, York, Pa, Baltimore and Annapolis;
but the armies having been largely increased
in the vicinity of Washington, deemed it
necessary to appoint another agent, and have
therefore appointed ID. Ostrander to assist
Mr.. Selleek in that department.. As will be
+I,a
remaining for which am authorized to draw
is small probably little if any more than
sufficient to pay the claims already outstand-
ing Iwould therefore suggest that in case
it is thought best to continue the employ
ment of these agents, further appropriation
be made soon, as / shall be under the neces-
sity of discharging them within a short time
unless further means are placed at my dlspo-
sal to pay their expenses and furnish them
with means to carry on their work. | would
further state that owing to the increased ex-
penses of living and travelling, it will proba-
bly, be necessary to increase the pay OF these
agents in order to secure their services IN the
future. The necessity of making larger ap-
propriations for the future than have been
made in the past, even though no larger
force is employed, will therefore be apparent.
We owe it to our soldiers to use ali proper
Thus far no State has more fully performed
its duty in this respect than has Wisconsin.
The thousands of dollars that have been paid
from the treasury toIaid them are sufficient
evidence of the truth of this statement.
That the sanitary agents have been of great
service in caring for the sick and wounded
soldiers from Wisconsin there can be no
doubt The report of these agents, publish
ed from time to time in the public prints, are
also of great service to the whole people of
the State, affording them information con-
corning the condition and fate of their friends
in the field and hospital, which it would be
difficult for them otherwise to- obtain.
should deem it unwise to dispense with the
services of these agents at the present time.
OF the agents at present employed, l will
only remark that they have proven themselves
worthy So efficient and selfsacrificing
have they been--so well have they performed
their duties to the soldiers and State, that l
should regret very much to lose their SER
vices.
Owing to the pressing duties in my Office,
have been able to visit but few of the hos.
pitfalls during the past year, but intend as soon
as possible after the adjournment of the Leg
islature to visit all the hospitals where Wis
consin soldiers are to be found, with view
of procuring, as far as possible, the discharge
of such soldiers as can be Of 20 further ser
vice to the Government, and desire to be
discharged the transfer to our own State OF
those who can be benefited by such transfers,
and of rendering such other service to the
sick and wounded as may be within my
power. JAMES I. LEWIS.
Vouchers accompanying the message
show an expenditure of $7Fre.27, mainly
through State Agents, for the period from
January sth, 1864, to February 9th, 1865.
u. ts-. %~%
Deserters from the Rebels-A Chance to Pro-
4e~iDGi 4ol cure Lab0rers. ~.
HEADQUARTERS 1sT Brig, LIST DIV, sthA. CT
February 2Sd, 1865. { @
MeSsrS. Atorood DE- R,5lee, Editors WIS. State
z Journal. o. laaais Ewa3 sf.g--z1
; GENTLEMEN--The great number of desert
ers now coming into our lines, taking the
oath of allegiance, and being sent North, has
suggested the idea that if we would guard
against the evil effects of such class, who
have been taught by their institutions that,
labor is degrading to the white man, and
being thrown upon the charities of the 'peo-
pie of the North, whom they shave been
taught to believe are. their enemies, that we
should take some means to furnish these men
labor, whereby they may obtain an honest
livelihood until such times as they can return
to their homes and families. ussHI