REPORT.

STATE OF NEW-YORK.

INSPECTOR GENERAL'S DEPARTMENT,

To His Excellency WASHINGTON HUNT,

December 15, 1851.

Commander-in-Chief of the N. Y. S. Militia:

Sir,-In compliance with the duties of this department, the undersigned reports as follows:

By the "Act to provide for the enrolment of the militia, &c.," passed May 13, 1847, the State was to be divided into eight military divisions, the first of which is composed of the counties of New-York and Richmond. The remaining seven divisions were each to be divided into four brigades, and each brigade was to be divided into two regiments, making fifty-six regiments in the State, exclusive of the counties of New-York and Richmond. The organization of the first division was provided for by a special act passed in 1847, and is now composed of thirteen regiments. In order to provide for the organization of the military force of the remainder of the State, the law of 1847 authorized the Commander-in-Chief to assign officers to the command of the respective brigades, regiments and company districts, according to the seniority of their commissions. The officers so assigned, were to continue in command until the organization of their respective corps was fully completed, when an election of officers was to be held. Under this law but few organizations were effected.

The law passed April 16, 1851, authorized the Commander-inChief" to appoint and commission the brigade, regimental and company officers necessary to complete the organization of all

military districts" not then organized. The thirty-seventh section of the same act, authorized the appointment of an Inspector General, whose duty it should be to "attend to the organization of the militia of this State ;" and empowered the Commander-inChief, to "prescribe by rules and regulations the duties to be performed" by said officer. By virtue of the instructions contained in "General Order No. 368," it was made the duty of the Inspector General among other things, "to proceed as early as practicable to visit the several military districts of the State which had not been fully organized, and adopt such measures of co-operation with the militia officers and others as would best promote the immediate organization of companies, battalions, regiments and brigades according to law;" also to "visit the organized districts, inform himself of the actual condition of the several corps as far as was practicable, and render all proper aid in improving their organization, discipline and efficiency;" also "to inspect (as frequently as other official engagements would permit) every branch connected with the military service, including armories, arsenals and military property of all kinds; and to make reports of all his proceedings to the Commander-inChief."

At this time many of the regimental districts of the State were without any organization, while others were so imperfectly organized as to be of little service to the State. The organization of the military of a State, is, under the most favorable circumstances, attended with many difficulties. In our own State, these difficulties were much increased by the disrepute into which our whole military system had fallen, in consequence of the inefficiency of old organizations. Much time and labor are required to remove the obstacles to be overcome in introducing a new and efficient military organization in each of the unorganized districts of the State. In those districts where the military organizations were incomplete, it became the duty of the Inspector General to ascertain and recommend to the Commander-inChief suitable persons to be appointed and commissioned as officers in the brigade, regimental, and company districts. In the discharge of this difficult and delicate duty, the undersigned has been governed solely by a desire to secure the services of such

men as would make the military organization of the State honorable and reputable, and hasten its completion. The harmony and efficiency of our military system require that all extraneous considerations should be kept out of view, in the selection of officers to carry that system into successful operation.

Since the passage of the act of April 16, 1851, the following persons have been selected and appointed as Brigadier Generals, to wit:

11th Brigade, Albert T. Dunham, Albany County.
14th 66 Thomas S. Gray, Warren

Albert Rice, Jefferson
“ Jacob Morris, Broome

16th 66

18th

Wm. C. Brown, Onondaga

30th

D. W. C. Littlejohn, Oswego

Aurelian Conkling, Cayuga 66

Calvin T. Chamberlain, Allegany County.

Field officers have been recommended and commissioned to the regimental districts, as follows, to-wit:

26th regiment, in the county of Schenectady.

At the time these appointments were recommended and made, nearly all the foregoing brigades and regimental districts were without the form of an organization. The undersigned takes great pleasure in assuring your Excellency, that the officers who have thus far been been appointed, are all actively engaged in

the work they have been commissioned to perform, and give assurance that their respective corps will be complete in their organization, at an early day.

The brief time that has elapsed, since the present plan for the re-organization of the militia of the State was entered upon, has not afforded an opportunity for visiting all of the regimental districts of the State. There are several districts, yet remaining without any military organization, to which early attention will be given. While much has already been done towards restoring the militia of the State to the honorable position designed by the framers of the present plan for its re-organization, an important work still remains to be done, to render that re-organization complete.

The armories of the State which have been visited and inspected, have been found in a condition highly creditable to the officers having them in charge. It can hardly be necessary to particularize, when all are entitled to commendation, and none are deserving of censure. It is proper however to state, that much credit is due to the officers and soldiers of the several companies composing the 54th regiment, and attached to the 25th brigade, commanded by Gen. L. B. Swan, for the zeal and perseverance they have evinced, in maintaining for several years their respective organizations. Their armory at the city of Rochester is, in good condition, and the property of the State is well secured, and kept in perfect order. The 65th regiment under the command of Col. G. A. Scroggs is fully organized, and the arms of seven of the uniform companies composing that regiment, are deposited in one armory at the city of Buffalo. The spacious room (50 by 60 feet) occupied by them, is used as a company drill room, and a drill of some one of the companies is held every evening of the week (except Sunday) through the entire year. The guns and other property of the State in the possession of said companies, are kept in excellent condition. The fact that the expense for room rent, fuel, lights, &c. amounting to $350 per annum, has hitherto been paid by the voluntary contributions of the officers and soldiers of the military companies of that city, furnishes evidence of their willingness and ability to perfect and maintain such a military force as the location seems to demand,