border. As early as the middle of September, 1861, when General Buckner threatened Louisville, companies of infantry and artillery of the Ninth Regiment reported themselves to General Anderson, at Louisville, at his request; and an artillery company of the Eighth, jointly with one of the Seventh Regiment, were permanently stationed on the Indiana shore, opposite the mouth of Salt river. About the same time, or soon after, when rebel camps had been established in Owen county, Kentucky, the troops of the Ninth and Tenth, together with our loyal citizens under the command of officers of the Legion, performed serious guard duty along our border. Again, during the latter part of May, 1862, troops of the Third Brigade were ordered to Camp Morton to relieve the United States troops who were guarding some 4,000 rebel prisoners there, and finally they entered the three months' service of the United States. On the 10th of June, 1862, another part of the Third Brigade was called into active service for sixty days, for the same purpose of guarding prisoners at Indianapolis. But the most important service was rendered by that Brigade during the month of September of the present year. Cincinnati, and the border counties of Indiana were threatened by General Kirby Smith, while General Bragg was marching on Louisville. All the regular forces which could be spared from Indiana were sent to Louisville. The Ohio river, between Cincinnati and Louisville, was in many places fordable for horse and foot, and bands of guerrillas and recruiting parties could be seen from our side moving on the Kentucky shore. The citizens of Indiana obeyed, promptly and cheerfully, the proclamation of our Governor, but it could not be expected of them that they should, by day and by night, guard the fords and repel with military discipline any attempt at invasion. It was on this occasion (September 12th), that I called, with the consent of his Excellency, Governor Morton, two companies of infantry and one of artillery, of the Ninth Regiment, into active service, to guard some of the most exposed fording places of the Ohio river. The infantry were discharged after two weeks service, on the arrival of Colonel J. O. Gray, with two companies of cavalry and four companies of infantry. After that time, the Eighth, Ninth and Tenth Regiments of the Legion, in conjunction with Colonel Gray's forces, formed a nucleus for our armed citizens to offer a systematic resistence to any invasion across the Ohio river; and I am convinced that these defensive preparations have prevented any attempt being made to invade our State in this section of country. In conclusion, I beg leave to state that the citizens, officers, and soldiers of the Third Brigade, have shown on all occasions, a highly patriotic spirit, ready to serve their country whenever they are called on, and displaying the order and discipline of true soldiers. Your obedient servant, JOHN L. MANSFIELD, Brig. Gen. Com. Third Brigade, Ind. Legion. REPORT OF COLONEL E. A. MAGINNESS, COMMANDING SEVENTH REGIMENT, THIRD INDIANA LEGION, HEADQUARTERS SEVENTH REGIMENT, Major-General JOHN LOVE, Indianapolis : GENERAL:-I have the honor to report that I came into command of the Legion for this county on the 6th of September, 1862. At this time our border was threatened by the rapid approach of the rebels toward Louisville, and the people were consequently greatly alarmed and excited. The Governor of the State had called out the militia of the border counties, to organize as directed by his proclamation. The Legion in this county formed a nucleus for a rapid and tolerably effective organization; and during the time when the danger seemed imminent, the companies performed good service in guarding the gunboat building here, and the Government property which had been removed from Louisville for safety. On entering upon the command, I found the Legion very much disorganized; the alarm consequent upon the invasion of Kentucky, 2 D. J.-50 gave it a temporary vitality, but the danger having passed, it sank into a condition of lethargy from which I think nothing less than some impending calamity can arouse it. To account for this condition, and at the same time to render justice to the Legion, it will be necessary to review briefly its progress from its organization. I am without data, and can only approximate in statements of time and numbers. The Legion in this county was organized under the command of Colonel B. F. Scribner, during the spring of 1861, and consisted of some eighteen companies, and numbered about 900 men. Almost all of these were uniformed, but not over one-third were armed. For the first four months the companies made great progress in drilling and discipline; but after that time the delay in arming them caused great dissatisfaction, and the formation of the Twenty-Third and Thirty-Eighth Regiments absorbed a great many of the officers and men of the Legion who had taken the most active interest in its organization. In fact, there was not a company that had not lost some, and several of them had lost all, of their officers. The result was that the greater number of the companies were disorganized and all of them demoralized. But if the Legion had done nothing else, it had so far served a noble purpose in educating many young men for service in the field, and in infusing a martial enthusiasm into the people, fraught with the happiest results, in assisting to build up our national army. From Colonel Scribner the command passed to Colonel W. W. Tuley. When General Anderson was called to duty in Kentucky, he desired Colonel Tuley to send Knapp's Artillery to a point opposite the mouth of Salt river, and keep it supported by at least one company of infantry. The artillery was accordingly sent and kept there about three months. During that time three infantry companies of the Legion were at different times on service at that point. Two of these companies have been partially paid, but two of them have received no pay whatever. During Colonel Tuley's administration, one company of infantry was sent to Indianapolis to guard prisoners, and continued in that service some months. But, with the exception of these companies, the Legion was utterly broken up, and when I came into command I found even these companies very much shattered, nor have 1 the pleasure at this time to report evidences of a more restored condition. I have stated above the causes which first injuriously affected the Legion in this county; the neglect to distribute the appropriation, by withholding from it material aid, to which it was justly entitled, and reasonably expected, also conspired to assist its downfall. But these canses only hastened its decay. I am satisfied that under the most favorable auspices the Legion could not have enjoyed a continued prosperity under the law that gave it birth. This law is utterly and fatally defective, insomuch as it discovers no inducements to allure, nor penalties to compel, men to join the organization. I will not, however, enumerate its defects. The entire law is a conglomeration of folly and absurdity, and worthy only of condemnation. Amendments can not clothe it even with respectability; it should be repealed, and a new law enacted that will enable the State to rely at all times upon an efficient military force of at least 20,000 men. You have done me the honor, General. to request suggestions as to the requirements for a more efficient military law. I regret that the nature of my engagements have been such as to prevent ne from giving the subject the thought which it demands. but I will state a few suggestions that occur to me at the present moment. The law should be compulsory, so far as to insure the organization of at least 20,000 men; this might be done by compelling all between certain ages, (say between 21 and 30) to belong to the organization. The entire force should be governed by a uniform military law; and attendance to company meetings, and in fact, obedience to all orders of officers, should be enforced by the most stringent penalties. Provision should be made in regard to the removal or punishment. of officers who may be inattentive, or incompetent to discharge their duties. The State should uniform the entire force, excepting commissioned officers, whose uniform should be prescribed, and should hold the men responsible for the care and preservation of the uniform. Battalion drills should occupy one-half day every two weeks. The companies should not consist of over sixty, nor less than fifty inen, and six companies should comprise a regiment. This arrangement would be the best adapted for the convenience of neighborhoods. The regiments would be small, but as they would not be subjected to the diseases of active service, they would always remain of the same strength, and be kept under stricter discipline. I submit these crude thoughts to you, General, for whatever |