Expenditures from September 1, 1863, to September 1, 1864, being total amount of State Orders issued, $18,700 42 12.3 3 72 38 14 47 8 04 3 18,700 42 To paid Charles H. Ross, for keeping books and accounts one year, To sundry traveling expenses, Respectfully submitted, $31 07 20 50 13 85 4 92 200 00 18 30-288 64 JNO. HOWE, JR. CORRESPONDENCE RELATIVE TO ARMS AND EQUIPMENTS FOR THE MILITIA OF VERMONT. (Referred to on Page 24 of the Journal.) Hon. Edwin M. Stanton, Secretary of War: STATE OF VERMONT, EXECUTIVE CHAMBER, SIR-I have the honor to inquire if the War Department will furnish say fifteen thousand rifled muskets with the necessary equipments and ordnance stores complete for the purpose of arming the Militia of the State of Vermont, in the event of an organization of the same at the approaching session of the Legislature I have the honor to be, with high regard, ལག་ཉ J. GREGORY SMITH, Governor of Vermont. WAR DEPARTMENT, Washington City, Sept. 14, 1864. SIR-In reply to your note of this date, in respect to furnishing arms and accoutrements for the Militia of your State, I have the honor to inform you that, in the event of the Vermont Legislature passing a law for the organization of the Militia of that State, this Department will on your requisition furnish immediately fifteen thousand stand of arms, with accoutrements complete, the arms to be the first quality of Springfield rifled muskets. The necessary supplies of ordnance stores will also be furnished If it will not be deemed improper, I beg leave to say that in my view it is the duty of every State to organize and arm its militia promptly, and by suitable drill and instruction prepare them for their duty as soldiers, to protect their homes and maintain the Government of their choice. Until the present rebellion I was of those who hoped there could be war no more, and that mankind had become wise enough under our government to live at peace. But when I saw the slaveholders of the South and the corrupt politicians of the North plotting together to overthrow the government of the United States, and establish for themselves perpetual dominion, North and South, my mistake was revealed and the full force of the maxim, that "eternal vigilance is the price of liberty," came home to me. I am now in favor of arming every free man, but arms without organization is of little account. therefore, in favor of organizing freemen as soldiers, and when this is done, rebels and traitors. will not be apt to repeat their crimes The militia of every State should be organized, trained and instructed in the use of arms, if they wish to live in peace. His Excellency, Yours truly, I am EDWIN M. STANTON, Secretary of War. J. GREGORY SMITH, Governor of Vermont. CORRESPONDENCE RELATIVE TO HOSPITAL FOR SICK AND WOUNDED VERMONT SOLDIERS. (Referred to on Page 25 of the Journal.) STATE OF VERMONT, EXECUTIVE CHAMBER, } Col. S. W. Thayer, Jr., Surgeon General of Vermont : Montpelier, Oct. 29, 1863. DEAR SIR-By a joint resolution of the two Houses, the Governor of the State is directed, at as early a day as possible, to take such measures as in his judgment are necessary to provide further and ample accommodations for the sick and wounded Vermont soldiers. In compliance with such resolution, you will please make such examinations of different locations within this State as may be suitable for the erection cf hospitals for such increased accommodations, and make such plans and estimates as may in your judgment be necessary, and report to me at the earliest practicable moment, giving your opinion of the best location, and such other suggestions as may occur to you on the subject. I am most truly yours, J. GREGORY SMITH, Governor of Vermont. STATE OF VERMONT, SURGEON GENERAL'S OFFICE, SIR-I have the honor to acknowledge yours of the 29th of October, accompanying a copy of the Joint Resolution of the two Houses, directing "the Governor of the State to take such measures as are necessary to provide other and ample accommodations for the sick and wounded Vermont Soldiers." Agreeable to instructions received from your Excellency in your official communication to me, I have visited several towns in the Northern, Middle and Eastern sections of the State, and examined such Iccalities within their borders as are of convenient access by public thoroughfares, for the purpose of ascertaining the most suitable place for the erection of hospital buildings, to furnish increased accommodations for our sick and wounded soldiers. In all the towns I have visited, I have found good sites for hospital buildings, barracks and camps, easily supplied with pure running water, and in every way favorably situated for the preservation and recuperation of the health of the soldiers. As being particularly well adapted to such a purpose, I will mention Swanton, St. Albans, Burlington, Vergennes, Middlebury, Rutland, Waterbury, Montpelier, White River Junction, Norwich, Newbury and St. Johnsbury. In consideration of the facts in my possession, I will most respectfully make the following suggestions: First, That temporary buildings of wood be erected on the Marine Hospital Grounds, so as to furnish ample accommodations for at least two hundred patients. It is necessary at this time to make additional provision for patients there, in consequence of the contemplated removal of the old Town Alms House, a building we have used in connection with the hospital proper for convalescent soldiers. Second, That a wooden aqueduct be constructed, to convey an abundant supply of water, for all seasons of the year, to some point within the enclosed Government Grounds, on which the buildings are located. I further recommend, (provided it meet the unqualified approval of Surgeon Chas. McDougall, U. S. A., Medical Director, Department of the East,) the erection of temporary wooden buildings, for wards, officers' quarters, culinary purposes, dispensary, and all others necessary for hospital accommodations for three or four hundred patients, on what is known as the Fair Ground," in Montpelier, for the following reasons, viz: First, It has an altitude considered favorable for the successful treatment of a large class of diseases contracted in the army, from exposure to the pestilential miasms emanating from swamps and low grounds, consisting of about twenty acres of land, situated about half of a mile east of the town, (sufficiently remote for the easy enforcement of all the necessary Sanitary and Military regulations,) upon the upper terrace of table land eighty-five feet above the bed of Onion River, and six hundred and fifty feet above tide-water, surrounded nearly on every side by up-towering green hills. Second, it can with trifling expense be furnished with an abundance of fresh running water; two good aqueducts from the hills above pass across it to the intervale below, either sufficiently large to furnish all necessary supplies. Third, It is a central locality, easy of access for the transportation of patients, and affording better facilities to a larger number of friends and relatives of sick and wounded soldiers in hospital to visit them when confined there by necessary army restrictions, than any other place in the State, a fact that should not be lost sight of in selecting a place for our returned volunteers, who are sick and disabled, having been made so by the unavoidable contingencies of war conducted where soldiers are exposed to the influences of pestilential miasms in addition to the unavoidable casualties of campaign life. From personal observation and experience in the treatment of a large number of sick and wounded soldiers who have been under my care in the U. S. M. General Hospital at Burlington, I am satisfied nothing has contributed more to their recovery, than the exhilerating influences of their native air, and to know that they are so near their homes as to be able to receive visits from their relatives and friends. In taking into consideration the facts, that a larger proportion of our State volunteers are from towns more conveniently accessible to Montpelier than any other place in Vermont, and that the pecuniary condition of their families is such as will not allow a considerable expenditure of time or money to visit them in hospital, I do most earnestly recommend to your Excellency, the judicious exercise of your influence and authority in the establishment of hospital accommodations at Montpelier, in manner, form and extent to be hereafter considered. Most respectfully submitted, by Your most obedient servant, SAM'L W. THAYER, JR. Surgeon General Vermont. His Excellency, J. GREGORY SMITH, Governor of Vermont. MEDICAL DIRECTOR'S OFFICE, DEPARTMENT OF THE EAST, No. 125 Bleeker Street, New York, Sept. 27, 1864. SIR:-The General Hospital at Montpelier, Vt., being completely organized and in full operation, 1 beg leave to congratulate your Excellency, and all those connected with its inception, upon its complete success You may feel well satisfied that the State of Vermont has not only all the hospital accommodations needed for the treatment and comfort of her gallant sons, at Burlington, Brattleboro' and Montpelier, but that the noble institution at the capital of the State is not excelled by any one erected by the government in either this Department or the whole country. The able report of the Surgeon General of your State, Dr. S. W. Thayer, to whom great credit is due, fully sets forth the advantages of the position at Montpelier, for a General Hospital, and it is scarcely necessary for me to repeat them. My attention had been for a long time attracted to that mountain region, and I fully coincide with his views All the benefits seem to be secured in this selection; a central position, accessible by water and railroads, a fine dry atmosphere, free from all malarial influences, an elevated position above tide water, peculiarly beneficial in the treatment of the diseases of southern climates, and all the advantages and exhilarating influences of beauty of scenery and contiguity to home. It must be a great satisfaction to you, as it has been to me, that everything has been done to enhance the value of the site and surroundings by judicious improvements, to secure all the comforts due to the sick and wounded soldiers of Vermont. The importance of this Hospital in another aspect. is worthy of your notice and that of the Legislature. Experience and observation have shown, and that conclusively, that the Scourge of all armies, chronic affections of the bowels, can only be safely combatted on the high lands of our country, and away from the sea coast. To this point my attention and thoughts have been especially directed. Should the time soon arrive, which we can all now anticipate, when your beautiful Hospital will be less crowded, and the number of Vermont patients daily diminished, we may ask your co-operation and kindness for the transfer to your green hills and Hospitals, of those wasted and enfeebled companions in aims from other states, to reap the benefits of climate and elevation not secured to them elsewhere. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, His Excelleny, J. GREGORY SMITH, C. MCDOUGALL, Surgeon U. S. A., Governor of Vermont. Medical Director Department of the East. |