THE FOLLOWING IS THE STATUS OF THE SEVERAL REGIMENTS AND BATTERIES IN THE FIELD, AS APPEARS BY THE LATEST RETURNS RECEIVED AT THIS OFFICE.

567 Camp near Portsmouth, Va., Dep't N. C and Va. 548 Camp near Lexington, Ky., Dep't of the Ohio. 84 Lovell General Hospital, l'ortsmouth Grove, R. I. 44 1703 Dutch Island, R. I.

ENROLLED MILITIA.

The act repealing Title XXXIV. of the Revised Statutes, providing for the better organization of the Militia of the State, which was passed at the Extra Session of the General Asssembly in August, 1862, provided for the organization of the entire Enrolled Militia, conformably to the laws of the United States. Said act provides that every able bodied man (with some exceptions,) whose name is borne upon the lists of the Enrolled Militia, shall be attached to some military organization, and perform a specified number of days duty, during the year. The preliminary orders for the organization were unavoidably delayed until the 8th of April, as complete Returns from the Enrollment Officers were not received until that date.

General Orders No. 8 was then issued by Governor Cozzens, constituting the several brigades, and calling upon all persons whose names appear upon the enrollment lists of the several cities and towns, to organize themselves before the 11th day of May, either by attaching themselves to some one of the chartered military companies in their respective neighborhoods, or by forming new military organizations, as companies of cavalry, artillery, infantry or riflemen, of not less than eighty-three men each, according to section 34, chapter 421, of the law before referred to; and in case they should not avail themselves before said 11th day of May, of the privilege above given, then they should be assigned to com panies by the Commander in Chief. Major General Charles T. Robbins was charged with the general superintendence and organization.

Elections for company officers were appointed for the second Monday in May, following. The organization, having been much delayed, His Excellency Governor Smith, on the 29th of June, issued a proclamation calling upon all those who had not attached themselves to some company, to do so on or before the 15th of July, and in case of failing so to do, to be assigned by him as previously ordered; thus virtually extending the time from the 11th of May to the 15th of July.

The organization proceeded, and about two-thirds of the whole number volunarily attached themselves to some company; the balance have been assigned, and the entire Enrolled Militia has been organized, and is constituted as follows:

ONE DIVISION.

Under the command of Major General Charles T. Robbins.

First Brigade.

Under the command of Brigadier General William T. Barton, comprising 3 Regiments of Infantry,

1 Company of Heavy Artillery, and

5 Companies of Infantry, unassigned.

Second Brigade.

Under the command of Brigadier General Joseph P. Balch, comprising 7 Regiments of Infantry,

Under the command of Brigadier General Walter B. Chapin, comprising 3 Regiments, and

3 Battalions of Infantry.

Fourth Brigade

Under the command of Brigadier General Olney Arnold, comprising 4 Regiments of Infantry,

2 Troops of Cavalry, and

1 Battery of Light Artillery.

Fifth Brigade.

Under the command of Brigadier General Lebbeus C. Tourtellott, comprising 3 Regiments of Infantry,

1 Battery of Light Artillery, and

4 Companies of Infantry, unassigned.

Making in the Aggregate:

20 Regiments of Infantry,

4 Battalions of Infantry,

1 Squadron of Cavalry,

2 Troops of Cavalry,

2 Batteries of Light Artillery,

1 Company of Heavy Artillery, and

9 Companies of Infantry, unassigned.

The following named Chartered Companies, still preserve their independent organizations, and have elected Officers as provided by their Charters.

Pettiquamscutt Infantry, Kingston ;
Kentish Artillery, Apponaug;
Kentish Guards, East Grenwich;

Redbank Light Infantry, Phenix;
Warren Artillery,
Bristol Artillery.

Most of the above named companies have also organized under the Law, and are doing duty in some one of the Militia Regiments. Such as have not, have received orders to report to the Brig. General of the Brigade in which they are located. The Chartered Company of Narragansett Guards, not having performed the requirements of Law, Special Orders No. 8 was issued on the 14th of January, abrogating their Charter.

To Major General Robbins, and Brigadier Generals Barton, Balch, Chapin, Arnold and Tourtellott, great credit is due, for the valuable assistance rendered in the organization, and it gives me great pleasure to make this acknowledgement of their valuable services, which have contributed in so great a degree, to the carrying out of the provisions of the Law, and putting the Militia upon a footing creditable to the State.

Armories have been provided for most of the Companies, arms and equipments received from the General Government have been distributed, and a neat serviceable Uniform, consisting of a Blouse and Cap, provided and distributed to about one half of the Companies. I would recommend that a further supply of Uniforms be procured and distributed to such Companies as have not yet been supplied. The expense is small and the appearance of the men in Uniform is certainly more consonant with their duties.

The Musters appointed by Law have taken place during the past Autumn. To avoid the great expense of transportation attending a Brigade Muster, together with the scarcity of Uniforms, it was deemed advisable by the several Brig. Generals, to muster their Brigades by Regiments and Battalions.

Having been present at the Musters in Phenix, Centreville, Wickford, Provi dence, Barrington, Pawtucket and other places, it gives me pleasure to say, that the appearance, drill, and discipline of the men were far better than could be expected of Troops which were then assembled for the first time. The Camps were orderly, the men attentive, obeying the orders promptly and cheerfully. Both Officers and men were interested in their duties, and endeavored to do that which was necessary for the interest and reputation of the Regiment to which they were attached. Regimental movements were executed in a manner which would have been creditable to much older Troops. No dissipation either among soldiers or citizens was witnessed by me, but everything connected therewith was conducted with order and propriety.

The Law though proving a success, requires, to perfect the same, some modifications, and I would respectfully recommend, in making the changes, that the Committee on the Militia confer with such General and Field Officers as they

may select, who from their experience during the past year, entitle them to judge of its defects and necessities. In conversing with those who have done duty under the Law, I find little complaint, but a general desire to have the system continued.

Portions of the Militia have been called out for special service during the past year. The seizing of a Revenue Cutter in Portland Harbor, by a Confederate Privateer, together with the destruction of several fishing vessels near our coast, made it necessary to look after the exposed and defenceless portions of our Bay. On the 27th of June, Major General Robbins was directed to detail for duty at Narragansett Ferry, the Marine Artillery with its full Battery. The day following, Brig. General Chapin was directed to detail from his command a Company of 50 men for duty at same place.

The orders were promptly obeyed; the Company and Battery reporting at the Ferry, within 24 hours after the promulgation of the same. A Camp was established and Earthworks at once thrown up.

On the 1st of July, Company I of the 1st Regiment reported at the Camp, and relieved from duty the Company from the 3d Brigade. The Troops remained until the arrival of an armed vessel which the Government of the United States had specially detailed to guard the West Passage, and other exposed points of the Bay, when orders were issued relieving them from further service at the Ferry. Company I returned to this City on the 13th, followed on the 20th by the Battery. A detachment of the Newport Artillery, who had volunteered to guard the East Passage, was relieved from duty on the 8th of July.

A spirit of uneasiness having been evinced in different sections of the State, incident to the Riots in New York and Boston, His Excellency the Governor deemed it prudent to have Guards established for the preservation of the peace and protection of the public property. Orders were issued directing the Major General to detail for special service from the 2nd Brigade, General Balch, such force as was necessary. Similar orders were subsequently issued to Brig. Generals Barton, Arnold, and Tourtellott. The Guard was kept up for a period of ten days and then discontinued.

The importance of having a well organized Militia was seen in the facility with which the Governor was able at any moment, to call out a large or small force of disciplined men, fully prepared to meet any emergency. Without the Militia, his reliance would have been upon the Chartered Companies; a call upon which would necessarily have elicited but a feeble response, from the fact that the strength of said Companies had been very much reduced by the absence of a great number of their men serving in the field.

The organization of the Militia has been effected with but little expense, compared to the great amount of labor performed, and I close with the hope that a system so successfully inaugurated may be continued.

Respectfully submitted,

EDWARD C. MAURAN,

Adjutant General.