Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1865-01-04

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and rain, there met and reported for duty
nearly forty thousand men, who without
question or 7reseTvstions offered their'ser-
vices to the country in its hour Of need.
From these were organize fortyf zone regl-
ments and one battalion, with an Aggregate
strength Of 35,9e2 men. OF these one
regiment and the battalion we're reserved
at Johnson's Island, one regiment at Camp
Chase, one at GalhpolIs, and two st Camp
Dennison. The remaining thirty-six regi-
ments, embracing an aggregate strength OF
81, OBI men, were sent out of the Stste into
AvYirginiA, Maryland and the District Of
Columbis. Six of these regiments went
TO the front under General Butler two Of
them were IN the battle of Monocacy,
where they suffered loss Of four killed
and seven wounded, and q number OF pris-
oners; one was stationed at MaTtinsb 1rgh,
/ Virginis, where il suffered loss OF over
two hundred prisoners, who are still in
rebel hands; one regiment was with Cen
eral Hunter in bis severe march to Lynch
burgh and back, reporting the loss Of only
one man other regiments were stationed
at Baltimore and Washington, and saw
active service in the raid upon tho latter
city. OF the force retained in the State,
the l56th, I68th and list were al thrown
into Kentucky to meet the raid of Nor
gan, where they did good SERVICE In the
fight near Cynthiana the l6Sgh had Eine-
teen woundel of whom two died The
Colonel and Lieutenant-C Colonel we're
both included in the list of wounded the
former very severely. In thesurrender by
General HobsOn large number Of this
regiment was included, but they were after
Wsrds psroled, as the retreat of. Morgan
was necessarily go expeditions ths' he
could not retain them. -'7 7l
This statement of the services of the
Guard, 1 am we'll 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. l anticipated
that the Adjutsnt General would be able
to present such statement in his annual
report; but he is Lot prepared 10 do SO. In
process Of time 1 hope this record will be
completed. In every position the conduct
of the forces was highly creditsble5 and the
entire success ef the movement reelected
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 Govern
mont in the short period of sixteen days.
For this extraordinary dispatch much credit
is due to The Adiutant General and his
chief clerk, who labOred with great energy
and assiduity. 1t is also very satisfactory
exemplihealion not only Of the militia sys
tenn Of the State, but also of the prompt
tude and patriotism that snimsted the
body of men composing the Guard. do
not intend TO say that these men are enti-
tied to any more commendatIon assoldiers,
or patriotic citizens, than the thousands of
brave men who make up the vplunteer
forces of our State; but the circumstances
under which they responded to.the call
certainly entitle them to honorable men,
tion. From the nature of their organizs-
Lion it was entirely unexpected to them
They had comparatively no notics, and but
a few hours to arrange their home affsirs.
They left farms, and stores, and Offices, and
mechanical pursuits, many Of them with.
out ability, and all of them without time
or opportunity, to mako provision for their
families, or arrange for the protection of
their industrial interests during their ab-
sence- This they did not only without
murmur, but with zeal and enthusiasm
This fact, which so materially enhances
their credit, should not be withheld.
The Guard was returned home as speedi- |
ly as practicable, upon the expiration of
its time; but owing to unavoidable delays
in transportation, payment and muster, the |
average term Of service was about one hun |
dred and twenty days
As the force was TO be daliVarad TO the |
Government ready for the field, there we're
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 expenditure estimating
that not yet presented for payment) will
be about as follows;
For transportation ,553 81
payment of officers before muster. 75,77s 81
Total.................. ..... sI9e, ,652 40
lhs two first of these items have been as
sumed by the War Department and an or
der given for their repayment to the State.
The third is under consideration, and see
no good reason why 1t should not also be
allowed This movement of the National
Guard has demonstrated its value and i'm
portance as an arm of State defense-even
if no other duties are again required of it
and it becomes the duty of the Legisla-
ture, at least during the continuance of the
war, TO adopt all necessary measures to
strengthen it, and perfect its organization.
he experience of the men, acquired in
their late brief term Of service, will be Of
great value, not only to themselves, but to !
the State. In the event of raid or inva-
sion you have something better than an
inexperienced and unorgsnised militia to
rely upon and in proportion as you foster
and encourage it, you will siren gthen the
power of the State TO resist sny danger
that may threaten it. To this end | call
your attentions TO the suggestions made by
the Adjutsnt General in his report. They
commend themselves to ny own Judgment
and limited experience; and 1 therefore
recommend them to your careful consider
alton.
The influence of this organization was
very happily illustrated on lis return to the
State. As the tina approached for the
commencement of The draft, in Septen Der,
there were strong manifestations Of spirit
of INSTRUMENTATION, ii not Of open resist
snee to the laws. In several counties men
| possessing high standing in the political
party that has arrayed itself against the
Government, openly denounced the call
lor troops, with the draft that must. follow
to enforce it,-and eounseled resistance, by
force, if necessary, to both measures So
/ far as their influence extended, short of the
commission of acts that would bring them
selves within the penalty of the laws, they
stroEe to educate their followers 10 the
Il poiut of armed rebelEau:-s nosition
which, it may be admitted, they never in
tended to occupy themselves. a secret or
gsnization styled the Sonsof Liberty, had
established its lodges all ever the State In
many sections Considerable portion of the
members Of this institution were drilled at
night in military msneuvers, and meas
ures were secretly instituted to procure
arms and ammunition for as large num-