The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1919-03-29
MORTON WATCHED
OVER INDIANIANS
IN CIVIL WAR
Governor Message to Legis-
lature Pointed Out Difficult
ty In Discharges.

The total number of men furnished
by Indiana from the beginning of the
Civil war until January /, 1865, was
given as 1884, in report submitted
by Governor Oliver p Morton in a
message to the general assembly of
the state on January Z, 1865. The
report is given in full in an old pa
per preserved by Mrs. L. A. Hiatt of
225 North Fourth street, whose son is
now serving with the American Elk
peditionary Forces in France.
In his message, the governor said:
There Is a peculiar hardship exist
ing in regard to the recruits of 1852
for the old regiments. They undoubt-
edly enlisted upon the understanding
that they were to be mustered out
along with the regiments into which
they went, and would not be held
three years from the time of their
enlistment. This understanding was
participated in by the recruiting offic-
ers, the general mastering officers
stationed here by the government,
and by the state authorities. When
the time came for mastering out their
regiments they demanded their dis
charge which was refused. / present
ed the matter to the secretary OF
war, who declined to act on it on
the ground that the former muster
roll which they had signed showed
that they had entered the service for
period of three years, and left him
no discretion to act in their behalf.
This was true, but nevertheless the
understanding existed in full force, as
the statement in the muster roll was
explained by the mastering officer as
a mere technical necessity. / after
wards addressed memorial on the
subject to congress, stating all the
facts, and inviting them to take action
for the relief of these men, but they
failed to do so at the time. / present
the matter for your consideration,
trusting that you will see fit to lay
it before congress.
Officers Responsible.
The duty of commissioned officers
to command our regiments is full of
responsibility. | have commissioned
many whom / did not know, and for
whose fitness ! was compelled to re-
| ly upon the opinion OF others, but it
affords me great pleasure to state
that Indiana officers as a body have
been found equal to those of any
other state; that they have upon ev-
cry battle field sustained the great
cause, and shed lustre upon the flag
under which they fought"
Speaking in regard to the relief and
support of families of soldiers, Cover
nor Morton said:
81 invite your immediate attention
to the necessity of making an appro-
priation for the relief and support of
the families of our soldiers 1t is too
we'll understood to require argument
or statement, that the monthly pay
which they receive, especially after de-
Quoting that part which their own
wants in the field absolutely require
them to expend, is wholly insufficient
for the support of their families at
this period Of high prices. The duty
resting upon the peole of the state to
provide support and prevent suffering
and destitution among these cases is
also too clear for argument and needs
only to be presented to command gen
eral assent.
Gives Hannaman Report.
81 have thought proper to lay be-
fore you the report Of DR.. Hannaman,
president. and Alfred Harrison, treas
urer, of the Indiana State Sanitary
Commission. Since its formal organi-
cation on March 8, 1862, it has re-
ceived contributions in money to the
amount of s155, 1866 and supplies for
the army valued at 1913. sos SIS, making
in aggregate sum of $469,402.11.
This commission has been instru
mental in preserving many lives and
relieving untold suffering and dis
tress. 1t has received no support
from the fairs held in the large cities
from which large sums have been re-
allied, but has been sustained by
system of collections and voluntary
contributions on the part of the peo-
pie. He greatly praised the work of
DR. Hannaman, explaining Hannaman
has abandoned his business and given
his thine and labor to the great work
of relief to the sick and wounded sol
diars without reward or hope of it."