Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1868-01-15

| 1t been otherwise. the war which continued
I through period Of fodr years. and cost the
country millions of treasure, hundreds OF
/ thousands of lives, and an incalculabie a
mount of suffering and want, would have
| been of comparatively short duration ii not
! crushed in Its incipiency. That war, how
ever, has not been without its useful lessons.
| 1t has taught the necessity of adhering to
J principles in practice which we have here
totore only acknowledged in theory 1t has
trained many thousands of our young men
IN the science Of arms aud infused among
them spirit OF military ardor which may
safely be relied on In any future emergency,
and paved the way for the establishment of
military organizations that will prove Il safe
guard and honor to the State. The Legis-
lature, availing itself of these facts, should
adopt liberal and effective system for in
creasing and regulating the volunteer mill
tia. The law OF 1864, though excellent in
| many respects, does not meet the require
ments of the times, and alterations and a
mendments are needed before it can accom-
pllsh all the contemplated and desired OBJ
iects. The minimum of men necessary to
form company is entirely too high. and in
many places where smaller companies would
be formed, it is impossible to raise them in
accordance with the ratio established by the
act. From the report of the Adjutant Gen
eral it will be seen that there are now but
thlrty-eIght uniformed companies III the
State, comprising only about three thous
and men, whilst the suggested amendments,
which should be made as early as possible,
would increase these organizations to any de
sirable extent, and tend to renew and keep
alive in our soldiers the proud memories of
the service and to preserve the military ar
dor born OF our recent struggles for national
existence.
NEW ARSENAL.
The necessity for a new arsenal, afTording
a place of safe deposit for ordnance stores
and magazine, is SO obvious as to require
nothing more on my part than to call yonr
attention to the subject, and to ask that
authority be given and an appropriation
made for the purchase of site and for the
erection of suitable buildings for the pur-
pose indicated.
REYNOLDS MONUMENT.
Agreeably to the requirements of the act
of Assembly. entitled IAN Act to authorize
the Governor to transfer TO the Reynolds
Monument Committee unserviceable and
condemned ordnance, approved March I,
1867, | caused the ordnance in the arsenal
to be inspected and turned over to the com
mittee for the purpose Indicated five con
demned six FOUNDER brass cannon, weigh
ing in the aggregate three thousand seven
hundred and forty eight pounds.
HISTORY
In 1864 the Legislature made an appro-
priation for the purpose of having prepar-
ed and published a complete history Of the
military operations of the State in reference
to the late war. My predecessor appointed
Samuel P. Bates Esq, for the purpose OF
consummating the provisions of the act,
bn tp ha ma
terials and to prosecute the work.
Although the country has again been res
tored to peace, the people continue to feel
a deep interest in all that relates TO the
struggle which SO recently convulsed the ma
ton. In the prosecution OF the war Penn
sylvanIa, always among the first to answer
the country's call, gave additional eviden
ces Of her devotion TO liberty and to the ma
tion's glory Over three hundred and six
ty Thousand of her sons stood in the ranks
of the Union army. Many have fallen, and
nearly thirty thousand by wounds and dis
ease received in the field repose in death.
To commemorate their heroism, TO preserve
their names and perpetuate the record OF
their deeds are among the objects of the
work in progress. In its pages viii be
found an account of each and every military
organization of the State; the officers and
name Of every individual, with his place of
residence time of muster, date of discharge,
and the special acts by which he was distln-
guished, as well of the dead as those who
have survived.
TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT.
The Department OF transportation, crea-
ted during the war, has accomplished It's
purpose. and ceased to exist by the deter
mination of the Legislature, expressed IN
the appropriation bill, approved April, IL,
1867. The report OF the Superintendent
shows that for the year ending November
80 1867, the whole number of claims settled
aud paid was eight hundred and eighty two
These were Cor the disinterment of the bod
les Of deceased Pennsylvania soldiers on dis
tant battle fields and transportation to the
homes of their relatives, and the total ex-
penditures were thirty-two thousand five
hundred and thlrty-nlne dollars and forty
cents. There remain unsettled one hun
dred and twenty three claims, amounting to
about four thousand dollars, for the pay
ment of which and some unsettled transpor,,
tatien, an appropriation of four thousand
five hundred dollars will be required.
All the papers and business of the DE.
partment have been transferred to the OF
flee of the Adjutant General.
STATE AGENCY.
During the war State Agency, for the
examination, adjustment and collection, free
of expenses, of military claims, was estab-
lished at Washington, for the maintenance
of which the Legislature with commenda-
bic liberality, has annually made the neces-
sary appropriations. =
In January last, Col John III. Stewart, OF
Allegheny county, was appointed Agent
and Lieutenant Colonel VIM: A. Cook,
Assistant. After faithful and ethelent
performance of its duties until 3lst OF Oeto-
hnr G.l Staunrt RESIGNED in cnnSeauence