are conducted under the regulations and control of the Provost Marshal General's Department, there are no means of knowing at these Headquarters anything relative to the subject except what is obtained at that Department on special application. I cannot, therefore, furnish any definite information as to the result of the draft in the various districts or sub-districts. I have, however, as elsewhere stated in this report, obtained a statement of the enrollments and of the quotas of the Townships under most of the calls up to the time of draft, and also of the credits as given up to that date, which have been arranged in tabular form, and will be submitted herewith as an appendix for general information. It will be proper to add, in this connection, that the quotas and credits as given have undergone many modifications since that statement was made up and pending the draft. STATISTICS AND FACTS. Indiana has, from the very beginning of the rebellion, assumed among the loyal States so prominent a position, and has contributed so readily and abundantly of her best blood and treasure, for the perpetuation of the government of the Union, that I am constrained to urge upon the Legislature, through you, the vast importance of providing by enactment for the organization of a plan for the collection, preservation and publication of all matters of general interest, concerning the military forces of the State. The Legislature, at its last session, made partial provision for a similar object, in making appropriation and authorizing the work, since published, and in course of preparation by the present State Librarian, known as "Indiana's Roll of Honor;" but that work, judging from the volume already published, falls so far short of what is required in personal details and general statistics, that its claims cannot be justly considered in this connection. I deem it proper to present the following brief summary of the proposed object, leaving the details to be elaborated and perfected at proper time. the Let a Department or Bureau be specifically set apart in the Adjutant General's office, in charge of that officer, or of an assistant, designated specially thereto, whose specified duties shall be: 1st. To collect in a preservable shape a full and complete history of the organization and services of the regiments and companies of volunteers raised in this State, including an authentic account of the officers and men, and all the facts and incidents in their military career, which may prove interesting or instructive. 2d. To collect an account of the number of men raised in the several townships and counties of the State; the amount of money raised therein and expended for local bounties, and for the relief of the families of volunteers, and for sanitary purposes. And incidentally, any and all facts relating collectively or individually to the forces from this State in the existing war. In this way thousands of interesting facts and incidents will be reclaimed, which will aid in rendering the collection complete, and in enriching it with materials concerning this remarkable period of our history, but which otherwise may be irrecoverably lost. No State of the Union has probably been represented on more battle fields than ours. Our brave men have always been found in every post of danger, and have borne the flag of our State with pride in triumph on every field. Let the State then preserve the story of their deeds, and hand them down for the admiration and emulation of succeeding generations. MUSTER-IN ROLLS. It is a matter of regret that the office is not in possession of complete files of the muster-in rolls of our brave volunteers. As I have had occasion elsewhere in this report to state, a number of persons desiring to enlist in particular companies with their friends, joined regiments in the field, and were there mustered on the rolls of the first muster for pay, after joining the commands. In such cases serious difficulties are presented, as it will require a comparison of all the names on company rolls with the returns to the War Department, to ascertain who are such recruits. Our files of muster rolls are very nearly complete. In February last I secured, through Major Breck, A. A. G. War Department, a comparison of rolls, whereby I ascertained what rolls they were deficient in and what they had on file, which I had not, and was thus enabled to effect an interchange of copies. A few company rolls are not found in either office, and steps have been taken to obtain copies of such from the company officers. My present recollection is, that I supplied the Assistant Adjutant General with seventy-seven copies of company rolls, which he had not on file, and obtained about twothirds as many in return. OFFICE BUSINESS. It has been a continuing source of regret that I have not been able to better systematise and bring up more closely the business of this office. The business has been steadily increased from the beginning, and having no precedent or organized plan, the work has been done as the exigency required, and its systemization deferred till more leisure should be found and time afforded to mature plans. The magnitude and importance of the office and its business has hardly been estimated by any one; but I trust the Legislature, at its next session, will be impressed with the increasing necessity of providing more suitable rooms and clerical force. Promotions of officers in the regiments and companies have been made in accordance with the rules originally adopted by your Excellency, and the official registers now exhibit a very large list of officers. It is my plan to have appended hereto, and form a part of this report, Rosters showing the official organizations, and all official promotions and appointments in the various organizations of Infantry, Cavalry and Artillery, belonging to this State from the beginning of the war, to be published for general information. I cannot close this report without adverting to the fact that it is nearly three years and a-half since, by your kind favor, I assumed the responsible duties of this office, and that its duties have thrown me much with the officers and soldiers from this State. It has always been my highest aim to serve them, yourself, and the State, according to the best of my abilities. How far that aim has been accomplished, they and you are left to judge. It is a source of great satisfaction, that in all my intercourse with them, yourself, and the public, in the many duties I have had to perform, harmony has uniformly existed, and cause for dissatisfaction and bickerings has rarely, if ever, arisen. With great respect I remain, Your obedient servant, LAZ. NOBLE, Part II.--D. J.-39 |