DEAR SIR: I have the honor to forward you, enclosed herewith, the plan of the organization of the volunteers for three years, or during the war. Four regiments are assigned to your State, making, in addition to the six regiments of three months militia already called for, ten regiments. It is important to reduce, rather than enlarge this number, and in no event to exceed it. Let me earnestly recommend to you, therefore, to call for no more than ten regiments, of which four only are to serve for three years, or during the war, and if more are already called for, to reduce the number by discharge. In making up the quota of three years' men, you will please act in concert with the mustering officers sent to your State, who will represent this department. I am sir, respectfully, Gov. O. P. MORTON, Indianapolis, SIMON CAMERON, Secretary of War. DEAR SIR:-By reference to General Orders, No. 15, of the War Department, a printed copy of which I herewith forward you, giving the place of the organization of the volunteer forces, called into the service of the United States by the President, you will perceive that all regimental officers of these volunteers, from Colonel down to Second Lieutenant inclusive, are appointed by the Governors of States. Having thus confided to you the appointment of all these officers for the regiments furnished by your State, you will, I trust, excuse this department for impressing upon you in advance, the necessity of an absolute adherence, in your appointments, to the following suggestions, which are deemed of the highest importance by the General-in-Chief, under whose advice they are submitted to you. 1st. To commission no one of doubtful morals or patriotism, and not of sound health. 2d. To appoint no one to a Lieutenantcy (second or first) who has passed the age of 22 years, or to a Captaincy over 30 years, and to appoint no field officers, Major, Lieutenant-Colonel or Colonel, unless a graduate of the United States Military Academy, or known to possess military knowledge and experience, who has passed the respective ages 35, 40, or 45 years. This department feels assured that it will not be deemed offensive to your Excellency to add yet this general counsel, that the higher the moral character and general intelligence of the officers so appointed, the greater the efficiency of the troops, and the resulting glory to their respective States. I am, respectfully, Gov. O. P. MORTON, Indianapolis. SIMON CAMERON, Availing yourself of the opportunity thus presented to rid the State of the expense of maintaining the forces then organized under the Six Regiment Law, the following General Order was issued by direction of your Excellency, and measures were taken to effect the transfer. GENERAL ORDERS, ADJUTANT GENERAL'S OFFICE, The requisition made by the President of the United States upon the State of Indiana for four regiments of volunteers to serve for three years, unless sooner discharged, will be filled by transferring three of the regiments formed for the State's service under the Six Regiment Bill from the State's to the United States' service, and by organizing one additional regiment out of those companies in Camp Morton not yet mustered in, and such other companies as may be next in order on the list. The above order fills the requisition made upon the State for volunteers up to the present time, and will leave two regiments of infantry on duty in the State's service. Companies which have tendered and not been accepted for service in the above order must be governed by their own views, whether to continue their organization, as no assurance can be given them that they can be accepted for either State or United States' service, unless further requisition for volunteers shall be made. By order of the Commander-in-Chief. JOHN M. WALLACE, In pursuance of these orders and instructions, the following regiments were soon formed, armed and equipped for service. The Twelfth and Sixteenth Regiments, organized for the State's service, as twelve months' troops, embraced all those who declined to enter the United States' service for three years. The Thirteenth, Fourteenth, Fifteenth, and Seventeenth Regiments were transferred into the United States' service in an inconplete state and their organization completed without serious delay. The Twelfth regiment, under command of Col. John M. Wallace, who was a Captain in the Mexican war, having been armed and equipped, was ordered on duty at Evansville, on the 11th of June, 1861, to defend and protect the south-western portion of the State from bands of rebel guerrillas; and to enforce the blockade of the Ohio river and prevent contraband trading. In pursuance of orders from the War Department, the regiment was transferred to the United States' service on the 23d day of July, 1861, and on the 25th departed for the Army of the Potomac. The Sixteenth Regiment, commanded by Col. P. A. Hackleman, of Rushville, was likewise transferred to the United States' service at the same time, and departed from their rendezvous, at Richmond, on the 24th day of July, 1861, for the Army of the Potomac. An excess of companies still remaining in camp, orders were obtained for their organization into the Eighteenth Regiment, which was completed, turned over to the United States service, and marched to St. Louis, Missouri, with orders to report to General Fremont, on the 17th day of August, 1861, in command of Col. Thomas Pattison, of Aurora. Rosters, showing the organization in detail, of the several regiments above named, are appended hereto. The Thirteenth Regiment, commanded by Col. Jeremiah C. Sullivan, was completed in its organization, armed, equipped, and departed the 4th day of July, 1861, under orders to report to Gen. McClellan, at Grafton, for duty in Western Virginia. The Fourteenth Regiment received marching orders the 5th day' of July, 1861, and moved via railroad, under command of Col. Nathan Kimball, who was a distinguished captain in the Second Regiment, Indiana Volunteers, in the Mexican War, with instructions to report to Gen. McClellan, at Grafton, for duty in Western Virginia. The Fifteenth Regiment organized with George D. Wagner, a prominent politician of Warren county, as Colonel, was ordered from Lafayette to Indianapolis, where it was fully armed and equipped, and, under orders to report to Gen. McClellan at Grafton, marched by railroad, on the 1st day of July, 1861, for service in Western Virginia. Seventeenth Regiment.—This Regimeut, commanded by Col. Milo S. Hascall, an officer of ability, as soon as fully equipped, was ordered to Grafton, Va., on the 1st day of July, 1861, for duty, under Gen. McClellan. At various times from the beginning of the war, offers were made of cavalry companies, and at one time an entire regiment was tendered, to be raised by several gentlemen from different points, but no authority was granted by the War Department to raise such forces. The unprotected state of our southern border, extending along the Ohio river, over 400 miles, gave rise to much anxiety in the public mind in that locality. So long a line exposed to the depredations of bands of rebel guerrillas, said to be forming in Kentucky, rendered necessary some measures for its protection. Under these circumstances, it was decided by your Excellency to organize, under the State Militia Law, a regiment of cavalry (composed of companies) extending throughout the entire line of border counties. Special Orders, No. 1, hereto appended, were accordingly issued, and enlisting began for the several companies. One-half the companies were ordered to rendezvous at Evansville, and the other at Madison. Before the regiment was mustered for the service, orders were received from the Secretary of War, accepting it for the United States' service, and it was mustered, armed and equipped accordingly. GENERAL ORders, No. 1. ADJUTANT GENERAL'S OFFICE, There will be formed in the counties of this State bordering on the Ohio river, one regiment of volunteer cavalry, under the militia law passed at the late special session of the Legislature. The companies to compose said regiment will be formed as follows, to-wit: 2 Farriers and Blacksmiths, 1 Saddler, 1 Wagoner, 56 Privates. 79 Aggregate. The officers of the companies are to be elected in pursuance of the said militia law, and will be mustered into the Indiana Legion as soon as organized and reported to this office. For field officers, Conrad Baker, of Vanderburgh county, has been appointed Colonel, and Scott Carter, of Switzerland county, Lieutenant-Colonel of the regiment, and will be obeyed and respected accordingly. The Adjutant and Regimental Quarter Master will be selected by the Colonel, and take the rank of First Lieutenant. They may be assigned to companies and their places supplied from the Lieutenants of the regiment at the pleasure of the Colonel. The non-commissioned staff will be selected by the Colonel. Each commissioned and non-commissioned officer, private, musician and artificer of cavalry embraced in this order, will furnish his own horse and horse equipments, and when called into active service of the State, shall receive fifty cents per day for their use and risk while in service, together with the pay and allowance of similar corps under the Six Regiment Bill of said State. The State will furnish the necessary arms and equipments, to consist of carbines, pistols and holsters, and cavalry sabres, at as early a day as they can be procured. Companies are directed not to wait for arms, but to organize and proceed to drill without delay. By order of the Commander-in-Chief. LAZ'S NOBLE, Adj't Gen'l Ind. Vol. Militia. The martial spirit of our people had become aroused, and companies, from all parts of the State, tendered their services for any future calls the War Department might make. Earnest solicitations were made for authority to accept more troops, and, finally, on the 11th of June, six regiments, and on the 19th four additional regiments were accepted, of which, two of the former were those proposed by Colonel James W. McMillan and Colonel William L. Brown; and that of Colonel Solomon Meredith was subsequently asked to be added; and the last named four were to be taken from the First, Second and Third Congressional Districts, from which thirty-one companies were already enrolled on the books of the Adjutant General's Office. The two letters referred to, and General Orders, No. 13, issued immediately afterward, are, for general information, appended for publication. |