ment not only to the militia, but to the State itself. To the former as regards the total neglect of martial exercises, and to the latter occasioning the loss of from eight to ten thousand dollars worth of arms, accoutrements and military stores, to be received annually from the government of the United States, on account of the neglect of those civil officers to prepare annually a roll, called the militia roll of all the inhabitants of the state, residing in the township or city, between the ages of eighteen and forty-five years, who are or shall be liable to do military duty, as provided by Sec. 7, in the above act. To avoid the casualty of non-obtainment of the returns of the numerical strength of the present year, I have repeatedly instructed the different commandants to urge those careless city and township officers to the performance of their duty, but in vain; and I had ultimately to issue a circular to them direct, on the fifteenth of October last. 1 am happy to state that by this measure I obtained from a number of those delinquent officers, the said roll, accompanied by the assertion of their ignorance of the existing law, as an excuse for their delinquency. Should the system of einploying these civil officers to obtain the returns, be continued, I would respectfully submit that an adequate allowance or pay be provided for them out of the city or township fund, and that they be held more strictly responsible for the performance of their duty. By the imperfect returns thus obtained, and by taking as a criterion those of the last year, for the districts from whence none are received, the total numerical strength of the militia for the year 1845, amounts to 6,905, and therefore an increase of 1,213, over the year 1844, as will more fully appear by the annexed abstract of my return for this year, which is satisfactorily confirmed by the recent census, by which a population of over 300,000 is shown. It is generally admitted that at least one-fifth of the population are liable to do military duty, and as in this state, where the male population consists mostly of young men, more are subject to do military duty from the ages of eighteen ta twenty-one, than are exempt on account of being over forty-five years. Great care has also been observed by the undersigned, during the year, to keep up the present organization, as regards officers, and by deducting the nine divison inspectors, which grade was abolished during the last session of the Legislature, leaves the number of of ficers yet in commission, including field, staff and line, as appears from the general roster, to be 2,693. It is gratifying to be able to report, that the spirit for the formation and disciplining of independent or volunteer companies is steadily progressing, and a praiseworthy emulation exists as regards the augmentation of their numbers. In many instances, what were heretofore but skeleton companies, have now become full and efficient corps, equiped, uniformed, and fully armed. All that the volunteer companies now desire, is the fostering care and encouragement of the legislature, and a speedy supply of arms and accoutrements, as soon as they are organized and uniformed. In compliance with your direction, I, as early as the eighth of May last, made my requisition on the ordnance department, at Washington, for the needful arms and accoutrements for this year, viz: principally sabres, pistols, and cavalry accoutrements, but have not received them until this day, partly on account of the loss of the vessel on the high seas, which carried the steel (see appendix A.,) and partly owing to the late shipment from the New York depot to this city. I have, however, the satisfaction to state, that I have received by one of the last steamers, 58 packages, in good order and condition, containing, viz: 400 pistols and appendages complete, at $7 50, Amount, $3,000 00 2,800 00 2,160 00 $7,960 00 The whole being equiyalent to six hundred and twelve, and four thirteenths muskets, which are received on account of the quota of arms due to the State of Michigan, under the act of April, 1808, for arming the whole body of the militia, and for which I have signed triplicate receipts. The arrangement made by this department during last year, with the Ordnance department at Washington, for the exchange of the unnecessary carbines, for pistols and sabres hus bee consummated, and the equivalent for 39 carbines returned, is included in the above invoice, (see appendix B,) and these stores cover the quola of arms due to the State, as nearly as can now be ascertained for the present year. For the details as regards the distribution of arms and military stores during the year, as well as to those still on hand, I beg leave to refer to the annexed report of the Quarter Master General. 1 again call your Excellency's attention to the necessity of the State's providing a proper depository for the accumulating arms and military stores, by the erection of a dry and commodious State Armory, under the direction of a competent officer. For the present, the State arms are deposited in and all over the capitol; those stored in the basement story are exposed to rust from the dampness of the atmosphere, and those in the upper part of the building are not safe, owing to their unguarded deposit. The Ordnance stores on hand are for the present, deposited in the Railroad Depot Warehouse. In conclusion, I beg leave to state that copies of the annexed abstracts and returns, with the schedule of arms now on hand, have been duly transmitted by me to the War Department, as directed by law. All of which is respectfully submitted. J. E. SCHWARZ, Adjutant Gen'l. of the Militia of the State of Michigan. J. E. SCHWARZ, Esq., Adjutant Gen'l. M. M., Detroit: } SIR-Your letter of the 8th inst., designating the kind of arms required for the present year, under the law of 1808, and requesting the issue to be made at the earliest possible time, has been received. In answer, I have to state, that with every disposition to comply with your request, it will probably not be in the power of this Department to supply the sabres before next August, owing to the failure on the part of the contractor for sabres, to deliver a number contracted for, within the time specified, in consequence of the loss of the ship in which the steel had been shipped, to be used in their manufacture.Be assured, however, that no exertion shall be spared to issue them before that period, if received from the contractor. The pistols, and all the cavalry accoutrements, can be supplied at once, if desired. I am, sir, respectfully, Your obedient servant, G. TALCOTT, Lt. Col. Ordnance. [B.] ORDNANCE OFFICE, Washington, Oct. 20, 1845. S J. E. SCHWARZ, Esq., Adjutant General, Detroit, Michigan. SIR: I have to inform you, that agreeably to your requisition of the 8th of May last, the following arms and accoutrements have been ordered to be sent to your address, from the New York Depot, viz: 400 pistols, 400 cavalry sabres, and 400 setts of cavalry accoutrements complete. These stores cover the quota of arms due to the State of Michigan, as nearly as can now be ascertained, for the present year; including also, as requested in your letter of the 27th of August, 1844, the number of cavalry arms and accoutrements, equal in value to the 39 carbines, returned in June last, to the Detroit arsenal. The issue of the arms has been unavoidably delayed, as a supply of sabres was only received from the contractor, a few days ago. I am, sir, respectfully, Your obedient servant, G. TALCOTT, Lt. Col. Ordnance. |