uc SI UC-NRLF CO CD CO vO o Doc. No. 7 ] |_ part IL II K P() R 1 OF TUB QUARTER MASTER GENERAL OF THE STATE OF INDIANA, IN REPLY TO A RESOLUTION OF THE SENATE. SENATE. Laid on the table and 500 copies ordered to be printed. INDIANAPOLIS: JOHN C. WALKER, STATE PRINTER, 1859. 2 D. J. 20 We 5V it fa R E P O R T QUARTER MASTER GENERALS' OFFICE, ) Indianapolis, Jan. 28, 1859. j Gentlemen of the Senate: In compliance with a resolution passed by you on the 26th inst, I beg leave to make the following report in regard to the Quarter Master's Department, of the number and kinds of Arms the State of Indiana is entitled to draw yearly from the United States government. Prior to the year 1855 we drew annually about four hundred (400) muskets, or their equivalent in other Arms. In 1855 Gov- ernor Wright succeeded in getting the number increased to nearly six hundred (600) guns. The arms are all regulated by the price of muskets, which is thirteen dollars ($13 00) each, so that when we 1 draw Arms of higher price, the number is cur- tailed in proportion to the price. If w r e could have a report of the full strength of the militia of our State we would draw at least double the number we now draw. This will be impossible without a full organization of the militia of the State.. I shall not be able to give you a minute report of the number of Arms in the State at this time, as this would require more time than I now have, but I will give the probably amount, which is, I suppose, all that is necessary at this time. A great number of the Arms are now unfit for use. They are mostly the old flint lock, which are going entirely out of use. Many of the volunteer companies have disbanded, and the arms are scattered over the country. Some provision should be made to have them all collected and returned to the State Arse- nal. The Quarter Master cannot ineur any expenses, unles di- V.;* 264 rectod so to do by the Governor or Legislature. There has been no appropriations made for any repairs or collections of Arms; therefore, there has been none made. Many of the Arms are worth but little, indexed hardly worth collecting and freight. We have at this time in the Arsenal, between six hundred (600) and seven hundred (700) old guns, returned from different counties unfit for use. I would advise a sale of all the old flint lock guns, with all the old Arms of the State to the best advantage. True they would not bring much, but they might be exchanged for new Arms at what they are worth. If something is not done with them they will be a total loss to the State. I am informed that several of the States have sold their old arms. I have had several applications from pur- chasers ottering to buy the old Arms, but having no authority to dispose of them, I now submit the matter to your considera- tion. Prior to 1852, the Arm* were given out on bonds with secu- rities; the Quarter Master not being acquainted with the sure- ties on bonds, had to rely on the certificates of clerks of the counties in which the arms were drawn ; consequently, many of the securities are worthless, at best the bonds are mere nominal things. Since 1852 the Arms have been drawn by the commis- sioners of the different counties, and charged to the counties. But a small portion of the State is supplied with Arms, many of the counties having made no demand. Some that have had Arms have returned them to the State Arsenal. Some counties have drawn largely as they have been more fully organized than others. We have a few demands at this time that we cannot supply until we draw the regular quota for 1859, which, I think, will be in May or June next. The Arms are in the care of the Quarter Master General, and distributed by him at the direction of the Governor. The cost of keeping the Arms are follows : Rent for Arsenal $100 00 Salary of Quarter Master 100 00 Total cost of keeping arms $200 00 For his services, which consists in receiving from the general government, attending to renting house for Arsenal, and all other care necessary to see that all is kept safe and given out when so directed by the Governor, it will be seen that the Quarter Master receives the sum of one hundred dollars, which is the smallest sum paid by any State in the Union. The building now occupied is very unsafe, and I hope you will make some provision for a good State Arsenal. It is almost impossible to procure a suitable room for an Arsenal, at any reasonable rent at this time. We have but few arms on hand 265 that are worth much, but in May we will draw our quota for this year, which will be equal to six hundred (600) muskets with ac- coutrements, which, at their cost, are worth about ten thousand dollars ($^0,000). You will see from this that the State should have a good, safe and substantial Arsenal to keep her arms in, therefore, I would suggest the propriety of the State building on some of the public grounds belonging to the State, a good plain building sufficient for the use of a btate Armory. There are now in the armory between 600 and 700 old guns, with accoutrements entirely unfit for use, without repai ri n g 600 New Percussion Muskets 24 New Percussion Rifles 20 Musketoons , 20 New Sabres 9 Coh's Navy Pistols 4 New Powder Flasks 100 Boxes of new Accoutrements.., 5 267 STATISTICS of Arms now out in the different Counties, with amount of Bonds for the same, prior to the year 1852, and the cost of Arms delivered to County Commissioners under the law of 1852, with the names of the Companies, and their Captains, draw- ing the Arms. Date. NAMES OP COMPANIES. No. of Guns. Amount. ' 1843. ADAMS COUNTY. - Decatur Artillery, Capt. Samuel Rugg 60 Bonds. 82 000 00 April, 1c4G. Abbott Dragoons, Capt. Braddock Pistols 100 50 50 5.775 00 July, 1850 St. Marys Rifle Company, Captain J. B. Britton 64 2 800 00 July 12 1850 ALLEN COUNTY. 60 Cost. 1 020 00 I2o) 60 1 l,3uO 00 1846 CLARK COUNTY. Washington Guards, Captain Wm. Ingram 6J Bond. 1 700 00 June 10, 1856. CARROLL COUNTY. go Cost. 1 <)2'J 00 March 10, 1P47. CASS COUNTY. Cass County Blues, Capt. Wm. Brown 40 Bond. 1 OOU 00 JuneS, 1845. Cass County Rangers Hall's rifles 50 ou 2 000 00 Dee. 1, 1855. [The bonds of these two companies have been sent to the county auditor for collection.] Shipped to auditor of Cass county 60 Cost. 1 U20 00 May 6, 184G. CLINTON COUNTY. Owen Guards, Captain E. B. Reed . 40 Bond. 1 360 00 Oct. 7, 1847. ! Frankfort Guards, Captain Samuel Ayres 20 667 00 Feb. 7, 1847. ! Russelville Rangers, Capt. W. H. Logan 40 1 60 00 May 29 1854 DEKALB COUNTY 100 Cost. June 10, 1855. DELAWARE COUNTY. 60 Cost. 1 <<2 ) 00 1842. ELKHART COUNTY. Goshen Guards 60 Bond. I 98 00 Aug. 6, 1845. j Hunters of Elkhart, Capt. Eliphalet Chase 60 2 100 00 [The bonds of these two companies have been sent to the Au- |ditor of Elkhnrt county.] 268 STATISTICS of Arm*, ^c. Continued. Date. NAMES OF COMPANIES. No. of Guns. Amount. !845. 1843. N' v. 22, 1845. Aug. 15, 1855. July 8. 1844. Oct. 2, 1855. March 24, 1851. Aug, 14, 1846. July 1, 1854. Oct. 27, 1847. Sept. 7, 1852. Aug. 1, 1846. Nor. 19, 1846. 1842. June 25, 1853. Feb. 9. 1854. FAYE'TE COUNTY. Jackson Township Volun'eers. Tupt. K. N. Taylor Bond. $2,000 0" Bonds. 1,000 00 1,775 00 2,525 00 Cost. ; 1,360 99 ! Bond. : 2,888 00 Cost. 1,020 00 Bond. 4.000 00 Bond. 2,000 00 Bond. 1,025 Oil 2,000 00 Bond. 2,1:0 oo Bond. 2,000 00 2,160 00 Bond. 2,000 00 Cost 1,020 00 1,700 00 1,'20 00 1,020 00 1,400 00 FLOYD COUNTY. ! Spencer Greys, care of Capt. Frank. New Albany 60 German Rifles. Capt. Collins 40 ! Floyd County Yellow-Jackets, Cant. Ira Gunn Hull's patent rifles .... 60 : [Bonds of these two companies sent to auditor for collection.] ! Shipped to county comm ssioners Percussion muskets 80 FOUNTAIN COUNTY. i Captain Z^chariah Fergu-on Hall's patent rifles : 50 i Shipped to courty commissioners i 60 GIBSON COUNTY. ' Owensville Guards. Capt. C. Gordon 1520 60 GR\NT COUNTY. Captain John M. Wallace 60 IIENDHICKS COUNTY. Danville Guards, Capt. Nichols 1 i 50 4 Captain John Scott : 60 JE'FERSON COUNTY. Madiso'i Guards, Capt. J. A. Hendncks 1 64 [Bond sent to auditor.] JENNINGS COUNTY. Vernou Volunte-rs, Capt. Morris Wildey 6 Vernon Artillery, Capt J. H. Baldwin 4 ,J JAY COUNTY. 60 JASPER COUNTY. Shipped to county commissioners Percussion rifles LAPORTE COUNTY. Shipi ed to county commissioners j complete . . 60 100 Itrcussion music , c m\. Feici saon rines, compiet-. . 60 Caioines^com]^ p. f v, i f ,,,V Pistols fold) . . 120) 269 STATISTICS of Arms, $c. Continued. Date. NAMES OF COMPANIES. No. of Guns. LAPORTE COUNTY. Continued. Feb. 9, 1854. { Shipped to the county commissioners Old flint muskets 40 June IF. 1856. i Colt's navy pistols 120} Sabres, wi h full accoutrements 60 \ Six pounder brass cannon and carriage Caisson , complete I Artillery sabres, with accoutrements, (drawn by Col. J. C Walker.) LAWRENCE COUNTY. Feb. 11, 1853. Springville Invincibles, Capt. R. G. Norville Muskets MADISON COUNTY. June '23, 1846. Pendleton Invincibles, Capt A. E. Russell- Pistols 110) Sabres and accoutrements 42 1 July, 1846. Madison County Guard, Capt. G. W. Bowers Muskets, complete MARION COUNTY. August 4, 1855. J Marion Artillery, Capt. Darnell- Carbines, complete 40, Six pounder cannon, with carriage, com] lete , 1 April 10. Indianapolis National Guards, Capt. G. F. McGinnis Percussion muskets, complete 82 August 28, 1656. Clermont Guards, Capt. James Russell- Percussion muskets 32 April 20. 1858. Indianapolis City Greys, Captain Hartwell Percussion muskets 72 July, 1858. Marion Guards. Capt. Elijah W. McVey Percussion muskets 62 August 25, 1858. Marion Cavalry, Capt. John Love- Colt's navy pistols 70 Sabres, with ful 1 accoutrements Colt's pistols issued for State Prison and other purposes 56 MARSHALL COUNTY. June 12, 1854. Shipped to county commissioners Muskets complete Carbines (new) complete MIAMI COUNTY. July 20, 1854. Shipped to county commissioners Percussion muskets, complete 100 June 10, 1856. Percussion muskets, complete 60 July 29, 1858. Percussion rifles (new) complete 30j Flii, trifle* (old) '. 4<,( Sets of accoutrements 70) MONTGOMERY COUNTY. July 16. 1849. Ladoga Infantry,. Capt. E. Kennedy- Muskets, complete June 26, 18"4. Ladoga Artillery, Capt. D. Armstr. ng Muskets, complete 60 June 26, 1854. Shipped to county commissioners, for the use of Cnptain Gref- finjrs' company Yager rifles, complete [Bonds of two first companies sent to auditor of county.] Oct. 2, 1854. Shipped to Capt. A. Harper, by order of county commissioners Percussion muskets 80 Dec. 1, 1855. Shipped to rapt. Wood, by order of county commissioners Percussion muskets, complete 1RS6. Shipped to Col. L. Wallace, by order of county commissioners Percussion muskets 270 STATISTICS of Arms, ^.Continued. Date. NAMES OF COMPANIES. No. of Guns. Amount. MOEGAN COUNTY. May 20, 1858. Shipped to county commissioners Cost. Percussion muskets, complete 80 $1,300 00 NOBLE COUNTY. Jly 17, 1856. Shipped to county commissioners Cost. Percussion muskets, complete 60 1,020 00 Ag. 26, 1856. Percussion rifles, complete 50 85000 ORANGE COUNTY. 1842. Orange Guards, Capt. Jas. W. Webb Bond. Muskets, complete 64 2,OUO 00 OHIO COUNTY. Rising Sun Greys Bond. Hall's rifles, complete 40 1,68000 PARKE COUNTY. June 11, 1858. Shipped to county commissioners Cost. Percussion muskets, complete 60 1,02000 PORTER COUNTY. June 9, 1855. Shipped to county commissioners Cost. Oldmuskets, complete 100 1,400 00 July23,1855. Old pistols 100) i oa 4 nn Sabres, with new acoutrements 50) PUTNAM COUNTY. Feb. 9, 1854. Shipped to county commissioners Cost. Percussion muskets 100 1,700 00 Percussion rifles, complete 60 1,02000 Six pounder cannon and carriage PERRY COUNTY. 1843. Indiana Blues, Capt Patterson Bond. Muskets, complete 60 2,00< 00 POSEY COUNTY. Wabash Rangers, Capt. Richard Owen- Pistols with holsters 122; Sabres, complete 6l MOT. 2, 1840. Mount Vernon Guards , Capt. W. J. Whitney Bond. Muskets, complete 60 2,000 00 RANDOLPH COUNTY. Cost. Id ay 26, 1856. Percussion muskets 60 2,04000 Percussion rifles, all complete. RIPLEY COUNTY. 1845. Capt. Calvin Westover Bond. Hall's rifles, complete 60 2,500 00 RUSH COUNTY. 1848. Shipped to county commissioners Cost. Oldmuskets 60 1,000 00 SCOTT COUNTY. New Frankfort Artillery, Capt. Geo. E. Vanpelt Bond. Musketa 60 2,00000 271 STATISTICS of Arms, j-c. Continued. Date. NAMES OF COMPANIES. No. of Guns. SHELBY COUNTY. Nov. 3, 1846. Washington Troop, Capt. Nath. Early wine Pistils, complete 100) Sabres, complete 50j * 2 ' 950 Feb. 18, 1847. Shelby ville Infantry, Capt. Jas. Jones Bond. Muskets, complete 70 2,200 00 ST. JOSEPH COUNTY. May20, 1856. Percussion muskets 50 June 1, 1858. Percussion muskets, sent to Notre Dame University 60. [These arms were shipped to county commissioners.] STEUBEN COUNTY. Jan. 25, 1855. Shipped to ceunty commissioners Percussion muskets, complete SULLIVAN COUNTY. Shipped to county commissioners Percussion muskets, complete , TIPPECANOE COUNTY. r 1, 1856. Shipped to county commissioners- Percussion muskets, complete 1842. Lafayette Blues- Hall's patent rifles 52 1843 Tippecanoe Guards - Hall's patent rifles 50 [Bonds of these two companies sent to county auditor.] VANDERBURGH COUNTY. July 12, 1855. Shipped to county commissioners Percussion muskets 64 Six pounder brass cannon, with carriage and appendages 1 VIGO COUNTY. . Aug. 1, 1846, Honey Creek Guards, Capt. John P. Dufley Muskeis, complete 50 April 21, 1847. Riley Greys, Capt. John McMullen Muskets, complete 40 Sept. 22, 1817. Shipped to county commissioners Old muskets 60 June 21, 1858. Percussion muskets, complete 60 WARRICK COUNTY. May 12, 1845. Boonville Infantry, Capt. J. A. Reynolds- Muskets, complete March 21, 1845. Newburg Rifle Company, Capt. Sam Luce- Hall's Patent Rifles WABASH COUNTY. Au?. 9, 1846. Michael English Muskets, complete 58 July 9, 1855. Shipped to Auditor- Percussion muskets, complete 100 WARREN COUNTY. July 20. 1856. Shipped t3 county commissioners Percussion muskets 60 Percussion rifles 40 March 4, 1843. Independent Blues, Capt. Clarkson Muskets, complete 60 272 STATISTICS of Arms, $0 00 2,000 00 Cost. 1,020 00 Cost. 1,7CO 00 Cost. 1,020 00 1,020 00 273 SUMMARY OF ARMS BELONGING TO STATE. Name of Arms distributed as per Report. Muskets 4,288 Rifles 1,214 Carbines 250 Sabres 677 Pistols. 1,138 Cannons and carnages 6 Caisson. 1 Remaining in the Armory, about Muskets 500 Rifles 100 Sabres 9 Pistols 6 Out of the whole number of pistols, two hundred and fifty are Colt's navy pistols, drawn in 1857 ; two hundred and forty-six of which have been distributed, four remaining in the Armory. There are, I have no doubt, a large number of arms scattered over the State that there is no account of. Prior to the year 1842, the arms were given out on the order of the generals and colonels of the several brigades and regiments, of which I have no account in my office. All of which is respectfully submitted. Your obedient servent, SAMUEL BECK, Quarter- Master General Indiana Militia. iYC 63103 M218849 THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA UBRARY