done honor to the nation, while many are in command in the rebel army, attempting to destroy the government that has nurtured them, and given to them the military knowledge that, in their ingratitude, they have turned against it. Almost every Southern State has its military institution, and this has rendered the rebellion far more formidable, as it is not owing to the numbers alone of an army that its strength, consists, but much depends on the skill of its officers, and the discipline they are able to maintain in their commands. It is to be hoped that we may learn wisdom from their ex ample in this respect, and that so useful an object may not be longer neglected, but that a military professorship will be au-". thorized and sustained in our State University, adding to its general usefulness, and to the bright reputation it now enjoys., It is expected that our victorious soldiers will soon return to their homes crowned with honor and glory, burdened with arms and materials of war, which, from the exposed position of Michigan, it is highly important that our State should be well, supplied with; the rebellion will have been crushed forever, and our veteran soldiers will be unwilling longer to submit to insults heaped upon the nation that their prowess has greatly assisted to restore to its more than its former greatness, as it has been obliged to do in its hour of trial; our neighbors must be taught to respect us, and we should have an Arsenal and Armory belonging to the State, in which to securely store these munitions of war, in readiness to meet any emergency that may arise. The following is a statement of the amount of moneys received from the State Treasurer during the year, the payments made, and the balance on hand. The State of Michigan in account with Colonel J. H. Fountain, Quartermaster General. DEBIT. 1861. Dec. 31. To amount purchases during the month,. $ 84 13 Jan. 21. To amount expenditures during the month, 5,776 23 Nov. 30. By balance on hand as per last account Sept. 30. "cash from Col. J. E. Pittman for one artillery horse returned,..... Oct. 23. cash from State Treasurer,.... $5,000 00 6,000 00 60 00 10,500 00 $51,424 92 1862. Dec. 1. By balance,.... $212 03 The amount disbursed above is classified as follows, viz: For transportation of recruits and sick and wounded "repairs of ordnance and camp equipage,. . . . . . rent of offices, &c.,..... 1,007 09 612 66 subsistence of State recruits at Fort Wayne,.. fare of volunteer surgeons and nurses to Balti more, Md., for service with the army of the "compensation of clerks in the Adjutant Gene ral's Office,.. 148 00 1,539 20 130 00 143 70 618 59 876 78 For clothing, camp and garrison equipage, mostly for the 10th regiment,.... supplies delivered to regiments last year, and "traveling expenses at various times, of Hon. ... paid Darius Clark, Esq., State agent in New $27,847 58 853 49 460 98 285 38 "compensation of Commissioners, &c., preparing for the draft of the militia,. postage and telegrams,... 260 18 6,580 02 200 00 437 17 925 12 $75,085 16 Included in the above amount for clothing, camp, and garrison equipage, about $25,300 was paid by the Auditor General in Michigan War Bonds at par. Of the original "War Loan" of one million of dollars, the sum estimated and authorized by the Legislature for the purpose of raising and fitting out ten regiments of Infantry, there is still unappropriated about $400,000, and the bonds are now worth a premium; with the amount of the loan already ex pended we have sent about twelve regiments at the State expense, paying them till they were mustered into the service of the United States, besides defraying other expenses, such as salaries of officers and clerks of the military departments, transportation of sick and disabled soldiers, agents, surgeons, nurses, sanitary supplies, &c., expense of preparing for the draft, and all other expenses of a military character, as it has been necessary to draw on this fund for all military purposes, the Legislature having neglected to provide a contingent fund to meet these demands. Inasmuch as a part of this appropri ation remains unapplied, and government is now defraying most of the expense of enlisting, arming and equipping our soldiers, and as the public mind is unprepared to find an appropriation for any particular purpose remaining unexpended, I would earnestly urge an alteration of the law authorizing the War Loan, that a portion at least, of it might be used at the discretion of the Executive for the purpose of improving the sanitary condition of our Michigan soldiers, and for such other purposes of a military character as in his judgment may be deemed requisite and necessary. From personal observation in the army of the Potomac, I am satisfied that a great amount of suffering in the army is occa sioned for the want of proper hospital supplies; our sick soldiers in the field are often obliged to subsist for a long time principally on hard bread and salt meat, a diet illy calculated to restore the sick and wounded to a condition to endure the fatigues and exposures of camp life, the toilsome marches and the struggle of battle in which many of our regiments are too often called to participate. It is useless to attempt to disguise the fact that very many valuable lives are lost for want of suitable supplies of this nature. By your direction I visited our regiments on James River, Va.. in July last, to look to their welfare, immediately after the series of battles and retreats in front of Richmond. Finding them suffering greatly for want of vegetable diet and nutritious food, I immediately returned to Washington, hoping to |