Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1865-04-10

uassacAuser,. and the s,.oco Bonu.
ApyrrAyr GryERAL's OrncE. !

a republican lawyer Of LogAnsport ssssenG
by the citizens Of Cass couniy to Washington
city. 20 ascertain. If possible. the number of men
that county has furnished for the war, and to
have il duly credited with the same. He discov-
cred that Cas- county had furnished eighty five
more men than il had credit for, aud that these
men we're transferred and credited 70 Msssachu-
sets. Kunor says that the records show that
Massachusetts, paid 81 600 per head for the In
diana men"
Without stopping 10 quote or notice the mean
and malicious insinustions and charges in which
The "DemOcrat" INDUCES against Governor Nor
ton in the conclusion Of lis article. / am able
confidently to assert that no republican lawyer"
or any other sort Of person ever discovered at
Washington or elsewhere, that q single Indiana
man has ever been transferred TO Massachusetts,
or to any other state or territory for credit on
anv call for troops II rumor says that Massa
chusetts paid even a single cent per head for In
diana men transferred TO Der credit, as alleged
then "rumor' is an unmitigated fslsifer, as the
records will prove. No such transaction ever
took place. and there is not the least shadow of a
foundation upon which TO base such a charge,
And the official papers on file here, at Washing
ton and in Massachusetts will confirm this state
ment.
The facts in regard to "credits" to which Ger
tain localities 10 Indiana were entitled, were full
~ communicated by ne To the late legislature,
but a. my report was not published. the follow
ing brief history of the matter is ubmitted for
the information of the public and to show the
fallacious character Of the charges and rumors
put in circulation by malignant and unprincipled
persons and presses:
All credits for Indiana troops have been given
upon = comparison and adjustment of the rolls
fled 10 this office with those fled in the war de-
partment. If the rolls were defective, as was
frequently the case, the defect was cured in the
best and most equitable way possible. When the
veterans were re enlisted and remustercd in the
field, il was required, by Instructions from the
war department, that the residence OF each man
should be shown on the rolls so that proper credit
could be given, but owing TO the imperieciion OF
the blanks and the haste in which the business
was done, this rule Was rot in ali cases observed.
A careful examination of the official files Of
this office shows that the number of re enlisted
veterans not credited on the rolls is 2,2S0, and
these were directed. in pursuance Of instructions
from Col. Thos. NJ. Vincent, A. A G War De
%partment, to be reported to Washington for
assignment, which duty vase performed by my
predecessor, Gen. Laz Noble. on the % of Sept :,
1864 This report was approved by the War
Department and an order made by which the
credits we're given accordingly. Other credits
from re enlisted veterans, were at different times
found to be due to the state; they were duly
w " lbA WI - 49, 49,
in pursuance of Instructions from the War De-
partment.
One of the greatest difficulties which had to
be overcome, arose from this fact: The rolls for
the lltb. 18Th, Oath. 26th, 34rh 10th. 47,h and
60th regiments of Infantry, and the Sd regiment
OF cavalry did not reach this office until after the
25th OF Sept. 1864. y hen the draft, under the call
of July 18th. 1864. bad taken place. Prior TO
that draft. however, he whole number Of vete-
ra,s n oplt-.od re oa 4, = could ~ .aoartaipo3N
had been, by order OF the War Department. cred
ited to one locality or another By reports made
by nv predecessor.
After the rolls last referred 10 reached this OF
fee. il became apparent, by examination, that
the distribution which had been made OF toe
credits. 10 many cases Was manifestly unjust, ard
numerous applications were made tor changes
and corrections IN acccrdauce with the rolls.
This complication of matters can only be st'rib-
u;ed 20 the failure ~ This eli e to receive the
credits Is shown IA eTevI. anu TOT this failure Ger.
taiuly no one caBHsc,t-j : ifb the executive c.
Uaifitarv ~meIl,s of tA5s state ia responsible
To correct the Inequalities which had unayOids
bly. aud from rhc very necessity of the case.
been made, every possible facility within the
reach of the governor and Of this office, wa. At
forded. The officers in charge of the matter of
credits at Washington decided, however, that the
corrections and changes could 20. be made IN
/ 80 t1C 80 49, 49, -
should be Withdrawn. This, of course. was i'm
practicable, as II would involve the necessity OF
overhRuling and rc-assigning the entire credits,
which could only have been accomplished amids!
great confusion, and to the serious %detriment 70
the public service.
A temporary suspension, at least, OF the effort,
of the officers of the government in raising
troops, and = re assignment of quotas would
have followed To obtain, if possible, some sort
cf asinctrapt inflammation a furnished frar,
this Office to parties from Cass and Marion coun-
ties, upon which they made application, as test
cases, TO the war department for an allowance OF
their credits Citizens OF Huntington county de
sired to forward a similar application, but they
were informed. through Representative Coffroth,
that a decision upon the Cass aud Marion counts
cases would settle The whole question, and thaI
an accumulation of similar cases would not cid
the settlemeut-so their papers we're not for
warded.
The decision of the war department, in both
cases. was unfsvOrable, and the papers were re
turned, Mirion county, however, renewed hel
application and while it was pending Gov Morton
csllen personally al the war department and sue.
ceeded in oo;sining orders from the provost mar
shall general. March 18th & 9th, 1868 directing
credits 20 be given on the present call to the 10.
calities shown upon the rolls of the 18th, 18th,
24th, 26th, 34th, 47th and Goth regiments of in
I ALL Al4 IL VI 4l1 e
eran volunteers. These orders were made for
the reason. only. that the rolls were not on fs
ia this office at the time the distribution oil
credits had TO be made, the absence Of the samc
having prevented a fair report OF credits from be
ing made: and il was thought just that the local
tiles to which the veterans had actually sccred
tied themselves should not lose them
The result Of the whole matter is. that. prac
t%ically, the state has received credit trice fol
/ ,69l men-that number having been distributed
throughout the state according to the best infor
nation that could be obtained before the roll:
sere received; and then, after the rolls came tC
hand, again allow ed and distributed. through IN.
efforts Of the governor, 10 the localities which
were Justly ent tied TO them, a. sho<n by tn
rolls-Csss county getting her 81 men With IN.
rest.
A word a. 10 the credits 10 other states. A fev
weeks since, | discovered that Isl veterans had
credited themselves on their rolls 10 places With
out this state. As Indiana bad never received
credit for any veterans from other states, | ad-
dressed a letter 20 the Wal department, sskins
that these credits be withdrawn; and fin reply
| received from Col Thos VI Vincent, Assis
;ant Adiutant General. under date of 1th March
/! 1865. the following reply:
Il sm directed 10 inform YOU that 10 veteran
reported 10 this If ii by the Adjutant Genera
o. Indiana. for credit 20 other states have eve
! been gwen This l presume. ef ctuslly FL
: ploce~ u e cha-.e hat Indians men have beer
transferred - VI ssscause;Ts, or elsewhere