USA > Michigan > Annual report of the Adjutant General of the State of Michigan for the year, Vol. I > Part 20
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37
230
ANNUAL REPORT OF THE
In conclusion, I beg leave to assure you that the misusage of these men is much regretted by me, and I would be much gratified on seeing justice done them. It has created much sympathy for them throughout the State, and has justly engendered much dissatisfaction with those who have been instrumental in bringing it about, and a strong feeling prevails generally that officers who act so regardless of orders and the interest and welfare of men who have suffered every hardship and periled their lives for the country in its recent struggle for national existence, should not escape punishment or public reprimand, officially and severely administered.
I have the honor to be,
Very respectfully, your obed't serv't,
(Signed,)
HENRY H. CRAPO, Governor.
WAR DEPARTMENT, ADJUTANT GENERAL'S OFFICE, Washington, May 25th, 1866.
1
His Excellency HENRY H. CRAPO,
Governor of Michigan, Detroit, Michigan:
SIR: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 11th instant, asking certain allowances, by commutation, for the officers and men of Ist Michigan Cavalry who were mustered out and paid in Utah, and enclosing a special report of the Adjutant General of the State in regard to the subject.
Your letter has been submitted to the Secretary, and I am directed by him to inform you that he cannot accede to your request for commutation of transportation, the officers and men having already received the allow- ances in full, as fixed by law. (Please see the act, approved July 22d, 1861, section 5, promulgated in War Department General Order No. 49, series of 1861, from this Office.)
Your letter with the Report of the State Adjutant General as an enclo- sure has been referred to Major General Pope, through the Headquarters of Major Gen. Sherman, commanding the Military Division of the Mississippi, endorsed as follows:
" Respectfully referred to Major General Pope for a full report as to that portion of the within to the effect that 'before the muster out was an. ' thorized by the War Department, a proposition is stated to have beer ' submitted to the men to either accept an immediate discharge and pay 'ment in Utah, or remain two months longer in service, and then be ' marched across the Plains to Fort Leavenworth, a distance of over twelve ' hundred miles, without horses or tents. It appears that under this " inducement all the men of the regiment except ninety-seven accepted the ' proposition and were mustered out and paid in Utah. Such a proposition " must be considered as an improper one, and should not have been pre ' sented to them under the circumstances, having been wrongfully held in
231
ADJUTANT GENERAL.
' for service over six months, and not being aware of what their allowance ' of pay would be in consequence of such acceptance.'
"From the foregoing it appears that deception was practiced on the men by an improper alternative being offered to them.
"Please see, also, page 27 of the pamphlet, section 8, and the other portions bearing thereon, and copies of communications herewith, con- taining the correspondence and orders under which the regiment was mustered out in Utah.
"By order of the Secretary of War.
"THOMAS M. VINCENT, " Assistant Adjutant General."
In addition, I am directed to respectfully request of your Excellency copies of all papers and a statement of all facts upon which the charge of deception (by the offering of an improper alternative to the officers and men) is based, so that the same may be considered by the Secretary of War in connection with General Pope's report, when it shall have been received. I have the honor to remain,
(Signed)
Very respectfully, your obedient servant, THOMAS M. VINCENT, Assistant Adjutant General.
The request made by Your Excellency to the War Depart- ment for the allowance referred to, not being acceded to by the Secretary of War, for the reason given that the parties for whom it was asked had already received from the Government all that existing law provided in such cases, it therefore became necessary to apply to Congress for special relief, and accord- ngly, by the following letter, the case was submitted to Senator Chandler for proper presentation to Congress. The matter received at his hands the fullest attention, aided by Senator Howard and our members of Congress, Messrs. Beaman, Upson, Trowbridge, Longyear, Ferry and Driggs:
STATE OF MICHIGAN, EXECUTIVE OFFICE, Flint, June 18, 1866.
Ton. Z. CHANDLER, U. S. Senate, Washington, D. C .:
DEAR SIR :. Permit me to bring to your notice a matter which I deem of Importance to the officers and men of the First Michigan Cavalry, who vere recently mustered out of the military service of the United States and aid off' in Utah; and believing that said officers and men have been un- hirly dealt by, and having failed to secure for them, by an application to he War Department, such commutation of transportation as I believe them
232
ANNUAL REPORT OF THE
to be fairly and justly entitled to receive, I wish, through you, to bring the matter to the notice of Congress before its adjournment. All the essential facts in the case will appear from the enclosed papers, viz. :
" A." Special Report of Adjutant General Robertson to myself in relation to the detention in service of officers and enlisted men of the Michigan Cavalry Brigade.
"B." Application to the Hon. E. M. Stanton, Secretary of War, for commutation of transportation to the First Michigan Cavalry.
"C." Refusal of Secretary of War to accede to the request for commuta- tion of transportation for officers and men of First Michigan Cavalry.
"D." Affidavit of Geo. L. Holmes in relation to the statements of Lieu- tenant Colonel Smith, et al., made to the men at Utah, by which they were induced to accept a discharge at that place.
"' E." Affidavit of Jas. D. Robertson in relation to the same subject as the preceding, viz. : in relation to the statements of Colonel Potter, of the 6th U. S. Volunteers, Major Drew, Paymaster, and Captain Jocelyn, Commissary of Musters, by which the members of the First Michigan Cavalry were induced to accept a discharge in Utah.
The originals of the foregoing affidavits were sent to the War Department. I trust you may be able to bring this matter to the notice of Congress before the adjournment, and that justice will be promptly done these brave and loyal men, who have served the Government faithfully, and were detained in the service long after they were entitled to their discharge.
I have the honor to be, Very truly, your obedient servant,
(Signed, )
HENRY H. CRAPO, Governor of Michigan.
STATE OF MICHIGAN, WAYNE COUNTY, SS:
George L. Holmes, being duly sworn, says that he was late Second Lieutenant of Company K, First Regiment of Michigan Cavalry; that he was present with a detachment of his regiment, composed of Companies F, H, K and M, at Fort Bridger, Utah Territory, on or about the 18th day of February, 1866, and before the muster out of said companies, and that a proposition was made to the men and officers of this detachment by Lieutenant Colonel Smith, commanding the post, that they could either accept an immediate muster out of service and final discharge and payment at that place, then and there, or remain in service until they could be marched across the Plains to Fort Leavenworth; and that they were informed that if they remained in service it would be some time in June before they could be started on the march, and that they would have to march without horses and tents; and that thereupon, under that proposition and under those inducements, a majority of the men and officers elected to be mustered out and paid there. That the men did not
x
233
ADJUTANT GENERAL.
know, nor were they informed by any one when they accepted this propo- sition, what their traveling allowances would be, and that they did not learn it until they were paid off. That they made inquiries about their commutation of transportation, and were informed by Capt. G. E. Jocelyn, Mustering Officer, that although it could not be paid then, that they would receive it from the Government when they reached the States, or words to that effect. And that transportation in kind could have been furnished them by the Government by stage from Fort Bridger to Fort Leavenworth, as it had been done for soldiers discharged previous to the muster out of his said regiment. That the stage fare from Fort Bridger to Fort Leaven- worth was then two hundred dollars for enlisted men and three hundred dollars for commissioned officers.
And further deponent says not.
(Signed, )
GEO. L. HOLMES.
Subscribed and sworn to before me this ( 2d day of June, A. D. 1866.
(Signed,) ARCHIBALD G. LINDSAY, Notary Public, Wayne County, Michigan.
STATE OF MICHIGAN, Į COUNTY OF WAYNE, SS.
I, James D. Weir, Clerk of said County, and Clerk of the Circuit Court for the County of Wayne, which is a Court of Record, having a seal, do hereby certify that Archibald G. Lindsay, whose name is subscribed to the jurat of the annexed instrument, and therein written, was, at the time of taking such jurat, a Notary Public in and for said County, duly commissioned and qualified, and duly authorized to take the same. And further, that I am well acquainted with the hand- writing of such Notary Public, and verily believe that the signature to the said jurat is genuine.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed
[L. s.] the seal of said Court and County, at Detroit, this 16th day June, A. D. 1866. (Signed,)
JAMES D. WEIR, Clerk. By DAN. B. BROWN, Deputy Clerk.
STATE OF MICHIGAN, Iss.
WAYNE COUNTY,
James D. Robertson, being duly sworn, says that he was late a Captain of E Company, First Regiment of Michigan Cavalry, and was honorably mustered out and discharged on the 10th of March, 1866, at Salt Lake City, Utah Territory, and that on or about the 18th of February, 1866, while on duty, with his Company, at Camp Douglas,
30
234
ANNUAL REPORT OF THE
Utah, and before the muster out of his said Regiment, an inducement .was offered by Colonel Potter, of the 6th U. S. Volunteers, to Companies A, B, C, D, E, G, I and L, to accept of their discharge and payment there, and that Colonel Potter represented to the officers and men that he was directed by General Connor, commanding the District of Utah, to say to them that they could either accept of an immediate muster out of service and final discharge and payment at that place, or remain in service until they could be marched across the Plains to Fort Leavenworth, and that they were informed that if they so remained in the service it would be some time in June before they could be started on the march, and that they would have to march without horses and tents; and that upon that proposition, and under those inducements, about nine-tenths of the men and officers elected to be mustered out, then and there. That they were informed that they would receive all their pay and allowances, and that they would also receive commutation for transportation, as they were informed that it could not be furnished in kind; and that they expected to get such com- mutation of transportation, and that not until they were being paid were they informed that it would not be paid them then. That when they claimed it, they were informed by Major Drew, Paymaster, and Captain Jocelyn, Commissary of Musters, that it could not be paid them then, but that they would receive it when they reached the State. And deponent further says that transportation could have been furnished them, by stage, from Salt Lake City to Fort Leavenworth, as had been done for soldiers discharged previous to the muster out of the First Michigan Cavalry; and that the stage fare from Salt Lake City to Fort Leavenworth was two hun- dred dollars for enlisted men and three hundred dollars for commissioned officers. And further deponent says not.
(Signed, )
J. D. ROBERTSON, Late Capt. 1st Mich. Cavalry.
Sworn and subscribed to before me this 15th day of June, A. D. 1866.
(Signed, ) HENRY C. MUNSON,
Notary Public, Wayne County, Mich.
STATE OF MICHIGAN, COUNTY OF WAYNE,
È ss.
I, James D. Weir, Clerk of said County, and Clerk of the Circuit Court for the County of Wayne, which is a Court of Record, having a seal, do hereby certify that Henry C. Munson, whose name is subscribed to the jurat of the annexed instrument, and therelr written, was, at the time of taking such jurat, a Notary Public in and for said County, duly commissioned and qualified, and duly authorized to take the same. And further, that I am well acquainted with the handwriting o.
235
ADJUTANT GENERAL.
ich Notary Public, and verily believe that the signature to said juras is enuine. In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed
[I. S.] the seal of said Court and County, at Detroit, this 16th day of June, A. D. 1866.
(Signed, ) *
JAMES D. WEIR, Clerk. By DAN. B. BROWN, Deputy Clerk.
[TELEGRAM. ]
FLINT, July 20, 1866.
CHANDLER,
United States Senate, Washington, D. C .:
Jannot something be done for First Cavalry before Congress adjourns ? (Signed,) HENRY H. CRAPO.
The claim having been promptly and properly presented to Cogress by the Senators and Congressmen from this State, er true to the interest of the soldier, they determined that it should be secured, and justice done, and therefore combined blir influence and effort for that purpose, and with commend- e zeal and great ability, and by close attention and much tet, procured the passage of the following enactment:
And be it further enacted, That there is hereby appropriated for the iment of the traveling expenses of the members of the First Regiment Michigan Cavalry from the place in Utah Territory where they were tered out of service, in the year 1866, to the place of their enrollment, In sufficient to allow to each member $325, deducting therefrom the unt paid to each for commutation of travel, pay and subsistence, by Government, when thus mustered out, and that the accounts be settled paid under the direction of the Secretary of War."
he above allows to each member of the regiment mustered u and paid in Utah, in 1866, about $210, which amount is to being paid by the Government to those entitled to it.
arly in June, 1865, and prior to the return to the State of first troops from the field, a meeting was held in the city of Droit for the purpose of taking measures to provide for the erning Michigan regiments such refreshments and attention shey might stand in need of, on their arrival in the city, and h following committees were appointed:
236
ANNUAL REPORT OF THE
COMMITTEE OF RECEPTION. Ladies.
Mrs. Brent,
" T. K. Adams,
" Silas Holmes,
" Walter Ingersoll,
Gentlemen.
Mr. F. Wetmore,
" T. K. Adams,
" Geo. Sheley,
" H. M. Wright.
COMMITTEE ON FINANCE.
Mr. John Owen, Mr. W. K. Muir,
" C. C. Trowbridge,
" Edmund Trowbridg
" Ira Davis,
" Mark Flanigan.
Mr. H. R. Johnson was selected as Purveyor, and Superi tendent of Tables.
By the gratuitous and attentive services of these Comm tees, aided by a number of ladies and gentlemen, and sustain by the liberal contributions of the citizens, so generously ma the object was most successfully accomplished, and from Jo 4th, 1865, up to June 10th, 1866, 14,510 Michigan, and 3,5 Wisconsin troops, had been received and entertained.
R. N. Rice, Esq., Superintendent Michigan Central Railro: with his accustomed liberality and kindness, permitted Committees to use the upper story of the freight house of Michigan Central Railroad, which was properly fitted up al dining-hall, and appropriately decorated.
At Jackson, a rendezvous for returned troops, like arrar. ments were generously and liberally made by the citizens, : during the time specified above, 10,659 Michigan troops ] been received and entertained in a like manner as at Detr
The following Official Report of the Hon. James M. munds, President of the Michigan Soldiers' Relief Associat , in Washington, D. C., is worthy of a place in the military ! tory of the State, covering, as it does, the noble and hume efforts of that faithful and efficient organization for the yes
Mrs. L. S. Trowbridge,
" Slocum,
" A. C. McGraw.
Mr. J. W. Farrell,
Rev. George Taylor,
Mr. Ed. Wetmore,
" W. S. Penfield,
Mr. E. B. Ward,
" David Preston,
" C. H. Bahl,
" R. N. Rice,
Mr. E. C. Walker,
" Geo. W. Hudson,
" Jabez Holmes,
Mrs. John Palmer,
J. S. Farrand,
4 L. B. Willard,
Jabez Holmes,
237
ADJUTANT GENERAL.
365 and 1866, and giving its interesting history from the tumn of 1861 up to September 19th, 1866:
MICHIGAN SOLDIERS' RELIEF ASSOCIATION, Washington, D. C., Sept. 19, 1866. 5
The report of the transactions of this Association, which it was intended make at the anniversary of its organization, in the latter part of De- mber, 1865, has been delayed from time to time till this day, partly with riew of making a final report, and winding up its affairs, and partly on count of the pressing nature of the official duties of the individuals now nposing the Association, and especially of those who constitute the ecutive Committee.
Although the war was brought to a close more than a year ago, there 3 scarcely been a day since that calls have not been made upon the cers of the Association, either for material assistance, or for aid and arice in the prosecution of claims growing out of the military service. the latter, the Secretary of the Association, especially charged with ts duty, has promptly responded, and in cases appearing to be meritorious, terial aid has always been afforded.
The following report of the Treasurer will give particular information as the amount of funds Ireceived, where from, and how used. We submit ts, our report of transactions for the years 1865 and 1866, up to the aove date:
WASHINGTON, March 18, 1866.
EN. J. M. EDMUNDS, President:
n closing the financial affairs of the Michigan Soldiers' Relief Associa- th, I have the honor to lay before you my Fourth Annual Report and Stement of Receipts and Expenditures from December 12th, 1864, to the p sent time.
The RECEIPTS have been --
Em cash on hand at date of last Annual Report. $1,291 30
Avails of Eckford Festival, through Dan'l Dunkin Horner, -
Calhoun County 50 00
Aid Society, Maple Grove, through Mrs. J. Downs 5 00
Allen Kelley, Tecumseh 39 60
East Raisin Aid Society, through Allen H. Kelley
9 25
Young Ladies of Coldwater, proceeds Oyster Supper and Dance, through Miss Rebecca Wendell 50 00
J. B. Crippen, Coldwater, in letter to J. H. Gray 100 00
Ladies' Aid Society, Green Oak, through Mrs. Robert Warden, President, 4 remittances 172 05
Citizens of Plymouth, through C. B. Crosby 130 00
Collection at Lapeer, through Geo. C. Bidwell 33 50
238
ANNUAL REPORT OF THE
From Good Templars' Lodge, Lapeer, through Geo. Wright ....
" Lapeer Soldiers' Aid Society, through Mrs. J. B. Wilson ..
" Portage Lake Soldiers' Aid Society, through Mrs. D. E. Washburn, Treasurer, 3 remittances.
" Portage Lake Aid Society, proceeds Calico Ball, through R. Shelden, Houghton.
" Citizens of Houghton, through R. Shelden, being a collec- tion taken at a meeting called on occasion of the death of President Lincoln
" Citizens of Franklin, Mich., through H. G. Lyon, Chairman of Committee
" Sanitary Festival, Ontonagon County, Mich .- Rockland $1,220 75
" Rockland, proceeds German Ball ... 294 65
$1,515 40
" Greenland. 860 50
" Greenland Ladies' Aid Society 61 65
922 15
" Ontonagon 231 70
" Ontonagon, Ladies of the Church of the Ascension 79 20
310 90
", Algonquin.
295 00
" Pewabic.
212 00
" Carp Lake. 80 00
$3,335 45
" Amount received from sales at fair. .
1,058 98
" of tickets
1,890 00
$6,284 43
Total expenses paid. ..
267 00
" Net proceeds received through let- ters from D. P. Waite, Treasurer, and Thos. U. Flanner, Chairman Committee of Arrangements. 6,017 4:
" The ladies of the Village of Hancock, through Mrs. James A. Close, President, and Miss Caroline Baer, Secretary, " Mrs. J. W. Talbot, President, and Aid Society, Centre- ville, through Hon. Chas. Upson.
" Ladies' Aid Society, Adrian, through Mrs. John A. Rice, President.
" Presbyterian Church, Adrian, through Rev. Geo. Duffield,
4$ Aid Society, Dowagiac, through Mrs. C. P. Brimble, President. 27 5
" T. Wallace, Detroit.
$2 10 25 00
1,367 70
218 00
400 00
226 00
2,442 21
462 01
50 0 27 7
5 01
ADJUTANT GENERAL. 239
From Methodist Church, Monroe, through Mrs. Sidney Prentice, $15 70
" Aid Society, Monroe, through Mrs. Sidney Prentice 250 00
" Mr. Baker, Hudson, through Mrs. Barnard. 5 00
" John Boise & Bro., Hudson, through Mrs. Barnard. 10 00
" Young Ladies' Calliopean Society, Lansing, through Miss Carrie Edgarton, President. 70 00
" Soldiers' Aid Society, Racine, through Mrs. J. H. Green, Treasurer 25 00
" Proceeds Sanitary Fair, Ann Arbor, through C. B. Porter,
196 00
" Mrs. Geo. Clark, Ecorse.
50 00
" Members of Michigan Soldiers' Relief Society, in payment of assessment of 1 per cent. on monthly salary, voted March 11, 1865. 35 55
" Money collected by Miss Wheelock, winter of 1864 and 1865, as per her statement-
Proceeds Children's Fair, Kalamazoo, through
Ella May. $10 35
Soldiers' Aid Society, South Jackson, through Deacon Root 4 00
Cash, Pontiac. 10 00
Proceeds Oyster Supper, South Jackson
50 00
Proceeds Oyster Supper, Muir, Ionia County, through John B. Welch. 75 00
Social, Ionia, through Mr. Carr 57 70
Mrs. Smith and Mrs. Burdock, North Plains . .
2 00
Capt. Tower, Ionia. 1 00
Collection, Baptist Church, Salem 26 15
Oyster Supper, Northfield 25 35
Oyster Supper, Salem. 43 85
Proceeds Tableaux, Galesburg
25 00
Proceeds Tableaux, Chelsea. 37 00
Collection in Dutch M. E. Church, Ann Arbor .. 2 75
Proceeds Oyster Supper, Brighton 5 00
Collection Episcopal Church, Ann Arbor 23 35
Gentleman, Ann Arbor
1 00
400 00
From Loans refunded to Association by soldiers
198 25
" Sale of goods belonging to Association 507 31
$14,914 24
4
240
ANNUAL REPORT OF THE
The EXPENDITURES have been-
For purchase of supplies and expenses incurred in their distri- bution among Michigan soldiers in the vicinity of Wash- ington, Georgetown, and Alexandria. $3,974 65
" Expenditure in furnishing and supporting "Home" for Michigan Soldiers 2,675 38
Support of Michigan Relief Agency at City Point. 734 09
" Supplies distributed by agents to exchanged and paroled Michigan Soldiers at Annapolis and Baltimore 364 37
" Loans and donations to destitute soldiers and their relatives . 525 00
64 Bills, freight, cartage, printing, and incidentals 525 47
" Supplies for benefit of 23d and 28th Infantry, suffering from scurvy
207 59
" Tobacco and sundries furnished to Michigan regiments in Sherman's army.
623 79
" Supplies furnished to 27th Michigan Infantry
17th
Michigan Mechanics and Engineers. .
206 20
21st Michigan Infantry
143 06
€ 6
14th
132 30
10th
66
110 10
13th
133 55
19th
131 85
5th
120 30
16th
125 49
1st
66
126 72
8.6
7th
72 98
2d
66
152 36
66
8th
66
100 00
Ist Sharpshooters
100 00
Donations to Asylums for Orphans of Michigan Soldiers, by vote of Association
200 00
$12,134 40
Total receipts.
$14,914 24
Total expenditures
12,134 40
Balance in the treasury at date
$2,779 84
459 21
189 94
66
4
The aggregate of cash receipts during the last year reached a higher figure than at any similar period in the history of the Association. The steady increase, from year to year, in the amount of contributions from the people of our State, is gratifying, as showing that in proportion as the work of the Association was more generally known, through the testimony of our returned soldiers, the better was it esteemed and appreciated.
241
ADJUTANT GENERAL.
The splendid contributions of the citizens of Ontonagon County, and the acknowledgment of the same, have already been published to the Asso- ciation and to our State. I will not further refer to it than to repeat that, in proportion to the population of the locality contributing, the liberality of the donors is without a parallel, unless in the generosity of their neigh- bors, the ladies of the village of Hancock. Their remittance of $2,442 25 was sent on the 8th of May, and appears to have been lost or stolen. We failed to receive notice of the transmission of the drafts until July, when I immediately took measures to stop payment to improper persons, and to secure the money for the Association. Just as the negotiation was nearly completed, the original letter and drafts came to hand in an envelope directed and post-marked at Detroit.
Referring to disbursements, the largest item, that of "Expenditures for Michigan soldiers in and around Washington," includes many purchases for soldiers in the Eastern and Western armies during the time they were encamped near the city. It also includes the salaries of the lady agents of the Society. During previous years they had received no more than barely enough to pay their expenses for board. Having an abundance of means to meet all the calls of our soldiers, the Executive Committee thought it proper to pay their visiting agents more liberally, and to present to each of them one month's salary in advance, on the occasion of their leaving the employ of the Association.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.