Year: 1865

they suffered loss of four killed and seven
wounded, and number of prisoners, one was
| stationed at Martinsburg, Virginia, where it
suffered loss Of over two hundred prisoners
who are still in rebel hands; one regiment
was with General Hunter in his severe march
to Lynchburg and back, reporting the loss of
one man. other regiments were stationed at
Baltimore and Washington, and saw active
service in the raid upon the latter city. or
the force retained in the State, the l56th,
loSth and Hist were all thrown into Ken
tucky to meet the raid of Morgan, where they
did good service. Inthe fight near Cynthiana
the l6Sth had nineteen wounded, Of whom two
died The Colonel and. Lieut. tenant Gnlonsi=
| were both included in the list Of wounded
former very severely. In the surrender by
General Hobson a large number of this regi-
ment was included, but they were afterwartl
paroled, as the retreat of Morgan was neces-
sarily so expeditions that he could not retain
them. I... ra .


This statement of the service of the Guard,


am well 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. | anticipated that the Adju-
tant General would be able to present such
statement in his annual report but he is not
prepared to do So In process of time hope
this record will be completed In every posi-
tion the conduct of the force was highly cred
liable, and the entire success of the movement
reflected 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 Government in
the short period Of sixteen days For this ex-
traordinary dispatch much credit is due to the
Adjutant General and his chief clerk, who la
bored with great energy and assiduity. 1t is
also very satisfactory exemplifcation not
only of the militia system of the State, but al
SO OF the promptitude and patriotism that an
mated the body OF men composing the Guard.
do not intend 10 say that these men are en-
titled to any more commentator as soldiers,
or patriotic citizens, than the thousands of
brave men who make up the volunteer forces
OF our State but the circumstances under
which they responded to the call certainly en-
title them to honorable mention. From the
nature Of their organization it was entirely


unexpected to them. They had comparatively
nosnotce and but few hours to arrange their
home affairs They left farms, and stores,
and Offices, and mechanical pursuits, many of
them without ability, and all of them without
time or opportunity, to make provision for
their families, or arrange for the protection of
their industrial interests during their absence


This they did not only without murmur, but
with zeal and enthusiasm This fact which
so materially enchances their credit, should
not be withheld. -.
The Guard was returned home as speedily
as practicable, upon the expiration of its time;
but owing to unavoidable delays in transpor-
tation, payment and muster, the average term
| OF service was about one hundred and twenty
days.


As the force was to be delivered to the Gov
crnment ready for the field, there were en-
pcnscs that must necessarily be incurred in
the organization These were met, and paid,
50 far as they have been presented, from the
million appropriation made last winter for the
defense Of the State The amount of this ex-
pendturc estimating that not. yet presented
for payment) will be about as follows


For transportation, ..iss $685. 54
For subsistence, L,.. GS,320 10
For payment of officers before muster, 1878 81


Total, $loe,052 46


The first two OF these items have been as
sumed by the War Department, and an order
given for their repayment to the State. The
third is under consideration, and see no good
reason why it should not also be allowed


This movement of the National Guard has
demonstrated its value and importance as an
AIM of State dcfense-even if no other duties
are again required of it; and it becomes the
duty of the Legislature, at least during the
continuance of the war, to adopt all necessary
measures to strengthen it, and perfect its Or
ganization. The experience of the men ac-
quired 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 iuva-
sion you have something better than an mex
perienced and unorganized militia to rely up
on; and in proportion as you foster and en-
courage it, you will strengthen the power of
the State to resist any danger that may threat
en- it. To this end call your attention to the
suggestions made by the Adjutant-G in
his report They commend themselves to my
own judgment and limited experience; and |
therefore recommend them to your careful
consideration. .r-... -.
The influence of this organization was very
happily illustrated on its return to the State
AS the time approached for the commence
ment Of the draft, in September, there were
strong manifestations of a spirit Of insubordi-
nation, if not of open resistance to the laws.
In several counties men possessing high stand
ing i'll the political party that has arrayed
itself against the Government, openly de-
nounced the call for troops with the draft that
must follow to enforce it--and counseled re-
sistancc by force, if necessary, to both meas
ures So far as their influence extended, short
of the commission of acts that would bring
themselves within the penalty of the laws,
they strovc to educate their followers to the
point of armed rebellion; position which, it
may be admitted, they never intend to occupy
themselves. A secret organization styled the
Sons of Liberty, had established its lodges all
over the State In many sections consider
able portion of the members of this institution
were drilled at night in military maneuvers.
and measures were secretly Instituted to pro-
cure arms and ammunition for as large num-
Der as practicable As they acquired strength
they become more open and defiant. Threats
were freely uttered of foreible resistance, which
their leaders and presses more eoyertly coun-
sellcd Secrecy was no longer observed, and
the organization openly boosted ofsiS power
and strength. The National Guard vas abb
sent, and the State was regarded asdefense-
less. While they publicly denounced the Gov
ernor for calling the guard to the common de-
Tense of the country, they secretly rejoiced at
tic ahsence and exnlted over the OpnOrtunity