The Jeffersonian Democrat. [volume] (Chardon, Ohio) 1854-1865, 1865-01-13

veteran troops were engaged IN garEis on
duty, and guarding lines Of communca
lion, which could be as well done by less
experienced men To relieve these, ana
throw tb.m forward, was to give each OF
our operating armies larger reserve
force. The Tine before the opening OF
the campaigns was too short 10 admit o.
call, with its attendant of n draft, even
1t The legislation Of Congress, not then
completed, hnd admitted OF such meat
ure. The policy was, therefore Appprtp,
/ OF supporting our active armies by The
militia, until Legislation could he peafected
and an additional call be made.
The States OF Ohio. Indiana and Illinois
had another manifest interest in this noyct
ment In order 10 save our southern Dor.
dcis from incurscns aud raids, il was eyi
doutly sound policy 10 so strengthen our
maiD atmles us 10 furnish full employment
tor tho rcbc' forces IN their own TERRITORY.
In ibis particular the result fully justified
the wisdom o. tho movement. But ouo
raid was attempted during the season and
that was checked in Kentucky, before
reaching the OHIO river.
ibis offer of the States WIS promp " ac.
ceptcd by the President on tho 20 ot
April, and this fact. (boing then iu Wash.
lng'on) / communicated 10y telegraph 10
tho Adjulant General. He Immediately
Issued his order for the assembling Of The
National Guard at their respective place.
of rendezvous on the 2d dav Of May. On
a very incIemcnt day, amid storm Of SHOW
and rain. there met and reported Tor duty
nearly forty thousand men. who, withcu,
question or reservation, ofoied their SER
vices to the country in its hour of need.
From these we're organized forty one r,ct-
mcuts aud one battaliou with an apgrepu,e
strength o. 35 $50 men. OF these. one
regiment and The battalion were reserved
at Johnsop's Island one rcgim, mt al Carnp
Chase. one at GaiiipoIis. aud two at Camp
Dennisou. The remaining thirty SIX regi
men's. embracing an oggitgaie strength Of
81 C5l men. were sent out Of the State INTO
Virginia. Maryland aud the District Of
Columbia. Six Of these regiments went
to the front under General Butler; two OF
them were in the battle OF Monocacv,
where they suffered loss of four killed
and soveD wounded, and uumbur of pris.
nDers; one Was stationed at Marlinsburg
Virginia, where 1t suffered loss OF over
two hundred prisoners, who are sill in
rebel hands; one regiment was with Gen
efal Hunter in his severe march to Lynch
bureh and back, reporting the loss OF cnly
one man; other regimcnts we're stationed
at Baltimore and Washington. and saw
active service in the raid upon ;he latter
city. OF the force retained IN the State,
the I56tb. l6Srh tnd Ills, were all ,h,owu
into Kentucky to meet the raid of Norgar.
where they did good service. In the fight
near Cynthia the 16S,h had nineteen
l,,I NJ. h,x, ft,I =!
and Lieutenent Colonel were both included
in the lis: of woundCd-the former very Sc
vereIy. In the surrender hy General Hob
SOP a large number OF this regimcn' was
included. but they were afterwards parocd,
as the retreat of Morgan was ucceeaar'ly go
expeditions that ho 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
bOen made to get iuli returns of casualties
and record of the service anticipated
that the Adjutaut General would be able to
present such a statement in his annual re
port; but he is not prepared to do SO. IL
process of time hope this record will be
completed. In every position tho conduci
Of the forces was highly crcdirabie, and the
entire success of tho movement reflected
honor upon the mon and The State.
This large force was called out, organized
into regiments, mustered. armed, EQUIPPED.
and placed az the disposal Of tho Govern.
ment in the short period of sixteen days.
For this extraordinary dispatch much cred
il is due to the Adju,an: General and his
! chief clerk. who labored with great energy
and ass,duity. II is also very satisfactory
. eXempllRcation not only of the militia svs.
tem ofthe State, but also of tho prompt
tude and patriotism that animated the
body of mon composing the Guard. / do
not intend to say that these men are enti.
tied to any moro com mendatiOn US soldiers.
or patriotic citizens. than the thousands of
brave men who make up the volunteer
forces OF our State; but tho circumstances
under which they responded to the cali
certainly enttle them TO honorable men
ton. From the nature of their orgunza-
tien it was entirely unexpected to them.
They had comparatively no notice. and but
few hours TO arrange their home affairs.
They left farms, ard stores, and offices. ana
mechanical pursuits. many of them with
out ability, and all of them without time or
opportunity 10 make provision for their
families, or arrange for the protection of
their industrial interests during their alb.
sence This they did not only without a
murmur but with zeal and enthusiasm -
This fact. which so materially enhances
their credit, should not be withheld.
The Guard was returned home as specdi.
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 delivered to tho
Government ready for tho field. there were
expenses that must necessarily be incurred