Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1867-10-25
Reports of State Officers.
THE ADJUTANT GENERALS REPORT.

The report of the Adjutant General las
shrunk to peace dimensions. In place OF the
good sized volumes of Gen. Washburn,
Gen. Wells gives US a thin pamphlet OF 2
pages. lie mentions the removal Of the i'm
portant files and records of the Office into the
new irc-proOf vault provided during the year
past in the State House at Montpelier, where
with the additional precautions against in
jury from dampness soon to be provided it
is believed that they will be " as secure as
human power can make them
An additional portion Of the accounts Of
seiecmen, for services 10 enlisting recruits
for tie nine months Brigade, have been al
lowed and paid by the War Department, and
the amount, 81 ,426 II. distributed to the
selectmen entitled to it.
The number of soldiers unaccounted for
on the books of the Office, which at the last
report was IS, has been reduced to G7, and
it is hoped will be still further reduced, in
the future.
\ good deal of work has been done in the
Office in the examination Of files and answer
ing questions In reference to back pay,boun-
ties, pensions, town credits, &c. This labor
has involved the reading and answering OF
over fifteen hundred letters during the year
Major Henry b. Bradley, the competent
assistant Of former years, has been retained
by General Wells as Assistant Adjutant Gen
eral.
The most important part of the report, Is
that relating to the organized Militia, which
Is as follows:
ORGANIZED MILITIA.
There is but little interest manifested in the
organized Militia Of the State, and the present
system, so far as it was expected to secure CON-
pliance with that provision Of the Constitution,
that 90 the inhabitants Of this State shall be
trained and armed for its Defence" is so nearly
imperative as to be regarded as a failure. The
partial returns received at this Office show that
the June drill and parade" now provided for
by law. was only observed by fractional part
Of the minimum number which constitutes the
the organized Militia, and even the Psy-Rolls
1--WE OUT IctDit Vi VI SallS AAN
Commanding officers Of eighteen companies have
thus far failed to make any returns, and the
aggregate reported for duty amounted to only
tritie over 1000 men,
IL will be conceded that this is not the Militia
contaminated by the Constitution TO take the
place Of standing armies, and could not be re
lied upon as an efficient force in case of insur-
rection or invasion.
If the present limited amount of duty only is
to be required of the organized Militia, | would
RESPECTFULLY recommend that annual regimental
drills and parades be substituted in place Of the
one now required in June, by companies only.
This wouil tend to commendable rivalry among
the diEereat companies and be conducive to
much better dicipline and greater efficiency,
without msserislly increasing the expense Of
the State
We fear it If Of little use:.to urge on the
Legislature any measure for promoting the
efficiency ii the Militia, involving increased
expense. As the charge recommended by
Gen. Wells will cost little or nothing, We
trust that it, at least, will be made
QUARTER MASTER GESEEAL's REPoRJ.
We copy the more interesting portions of
Quarter-Master General Pitkin's Report, as
follows
Immediately after the adjournment Of the /
Legislature at its last annual session, proceed
ed TO make such alterations in room No. in
the State House, occupied as a part OF the Ad-
iutant and Inspector Generals Office, as would
render it fire proof, in compliance with sn act
Of the Legislature, entitled 90 An act for the
Of the records and files pertaining
to the war of 1861 for the preservation Of the
Union - approved October 9th, 1866. The
timber and boards of which the floor Of the
room was constructed, we're found to be go
much decayed as to be unfit for further use.
The lathing upon the lower part Of the wall
was also badly rotted The rapid decay Of the
wood was thought to be caused mainly by the
steam from the heating pipes under
the house and the facts were represented to the
tat Arms | constructed a strong and
heavy brick vault upon firm foundation
mostly upon the ledge, the floor being so ar
ranged as to be readily removed without injury
10 the wall, whenever repairs require it. The
vail is strengthened BY iron bars, and the doors,
which are Of wrought iron, are secured By bolts
and . heavy three-barred lock. II is consider
cd very strong vault, thoroughly fire proof,
and is well adapted to the purpose for which IT
WIS intended.
|
during the year. and two others nearly four
month"; of the time, in cleaning, oiling and re-
packing the arms and equipments stored at the
State Arsenal. The building is dry and well
;uitei to protect stores against injury from
iaupness or other causes, but still much care
ma Labor are required to keep 50 much proper
ty III good condition. During the past year,
seven thousand three hundred and twenty-five
Springfield rifed muskets and bayonets. seven
hundred and fourteen cavalry sabres, one hun {
lred and ninety eight artillery sabres, and five
hundred ard seyenty-nIne sets Of cavalry horse
equipments, have been cleaned, oiled and re- {
backed in boxes I, have recently examined the
ammunition stored in the magazine, and tested
!, BY firing. and ascertained it to be in perfect
condition. Most Of it had remained in the ma
zazine since June, 1865.
None of the military property Of the State {
except a portion Of that in the possession Of the
militia-has been lest. or destroyed, or suffered