ma and Georgia, in 1836, appears to have been 11,737 in the aggregate, thout counting the 1,806 friendly Creek Indians.

The tables A, B, and C, hereunto annexed, are designed to exhibit in the clearest manner, as far as practicable, the diversified information called for by the resolution of the House of Representatives of the 26th of December, 1836; and, whenever any remark is omitted to be inserted in any of the columns of table A, the omission is to be ascribed to the want of official data.

*

The anomaly as to the dates of muster in and out of service of the Florida militia, (the former being noted as anterior, instead of being prior,) as seen in the specifications under the appropriate heads of table A, is ascribable to irreg ularities in the first muster-rolls which were forwarded. These irregularities were reported at the time that payments were required to be made, as seen by the communication of the Paymaster General to the Secretary of War, dated the 4th of June, 1836. And with the view to justify the payments, orders were given on the 8th of June to "re-muster" the said volunteers. The re-muster for payment did not take place until after the volunteers had been discharged; hence the incongruity of dates touching this matter. The like anomaly as to dates of muster in and out of service of a part of the Alabama troops, may be owing to some irregularity which circumstances subsequently required to be corrected-these, however, are not known. In some instances, it will be seen by the table that the dates of muster in and out of service are specified as being one: this is to be ascribed to the fact of having received only the rolls which muster out of service, and which, furnishing, as they must, the requisite data for payments, exhibit generally, also, the dates of enrolment, as well as the commencement of the term; and this last-mentioned fact is regarded as equivalent to, and therefore is assumed as the specification of, the "date of muster in service."

I have, on more than one occasion, adverted to the great defect in our practical system touching the accountability of the personel, and the rendition of regular returns exhibiting the volunteer and militia force, when in the service of the United States. For want of the requisite information now, which has all along been foreseen, it is scarcely practicable to furnish at this time all that is called for by the resolution of the 26th December. I cannot, for example, state, with any exactness, the "terms during which the volunteers actually served," though the time in many cases, perhaps. may be computed so as to coincide with that specified under the head of "for what period mustered;" or, according to the time counted between the dates of muster in and out of service; not without exceptions, however, as may be seen in the Florida, and a part of the Alabama troops, explained above, and in the remarks on the 1st page of table A.

If the salutary "regulations respecting militia service," adopted by the War Department the 23d of June, 1832, could have been observed and strictly enforced, much of the irregularity and inconvenience which have embarrassed the service, with regard to the mustering, "re-mustering," the payment, and the accountability of the volunteers, when in the service of the United States, would, it is believed, have been avoided. This regulation, together with the revised edition of the same, published July 12th, 1836, marked G and H, is herewith respectfully submitted, as a part of this

*See letter of the Adjutant General (D,) and letters of the Paymaster General (E and F,) to the Secretary of War and General Macomb, dated June 4th and 8th, 1836.

report. Due regard to the public service, and the observance of proper economy in the employment of such auxiliary force, would seem to require some legislation on this subject. The experience of the last year sufficiently attests the inadequacy of mere regulations, as such; nor should it be supposed that their wholesome provisions will be better observed for the future, if devoid of the force of legal restriction.

Respectfully submitted,

R. JONES, Adjutant General of the Army

Hon. B. F. BUTler,

Secretary of War ad interim.

A.

STATEMENT of the volunteer and militia forces mustered into the and Territories, respectively, specifying the term of service; the time the time they actually served, so far as the same can be shown by the received at the Adjutant General's office.

+ Employed in suppressing hostilities of the Seminole Indians in Florida.

A.

service of the United States during the years 1835 and 1836, by States and place of rendezvous; the date of musters in and out of service; and muster-rolls and other returns of said volunteer and militia forces

*The anomaly as to the dates of muster in and out of service of the Florida militia, (the former being noted as anterior, instead of being prior,) as seen in the specifications under the appropriate heads of the table, is ascribable to irregularities in the first muster-rolls which were forwarded. In order to justify payments to be made, these volunteers were ordered to be "re-mustered," which, however, did not take place until after they had been discharged; hence the incongruity as to dates of muster.