The Daily Herald

REPORT OF SAMUEL INGHAM

Agent for the prosecution of the Claim of Connecticut upon the United States, for Militia Services during the Late War: To his Excellency Wm. W. Ellsworth, Governor of the State. December, 1838.

[Continued.]

DOCUMENT A.

WASHINGTON, June 10th, 1837.

SIR: In conformity with your suggestions, I have now the honor to submit to your consideration, a general view of the claim of the State of Connecticut, for the services of her militia during the late war.

By the act of the first of March, 1837, Sec. 6, it is provided—"That for paying the claims of the State of Connecticut, for the services of her militia during the late war, to be audited and settled by the proper accounting officers of the Treasury, under the superintendance of the Secretary of War, in the following cases—

"First, where the militia of the said State were called out to repel actual invasion, or under a well founded apprehension of invasion; provided their numbers were not in due proportion to the exigency.

"Secondly, where they were called out by the authority of the State, and afterwards recognized by the General Government; and

"Thirdly, where they were called out by, and served under the requisition of the President of the United States, or of any officer thereof, the sum of one hundred thousand dollars, if so much be necessary for that purpose, be, and the same is hereby appropriated."

The claim amounts, exclusive of interest, to about $141,649 87, subject to a deduction of 50,000, which was advanced to the State in A. D. 1817. The account commenced in June, 1813. Small detachments were occasionally ordered out to repel invasions of the enemy at various points on the sea-board, but the services were principally rendered in the vicinity of New-London and New-Haven. The militia [except Col. Sanford's command at New-Haven and Bridgeport, which will be hereafter considered] were all called out by, and served under requisitions, of Brigadier General Cushing and Col. Kingsbury, officers of the United States, until the 12th September, 1814, when Gen. Cushing was superseded in command by Major General Taylor, a militia officer of that State.

The force at New-London consisted principally of a brigade under the command of Gen. Isham and subsequently of another brigade commanded by Gen. Lusk. That at New-Haven and Bridgeport, under the command of Lieut. Col. Sanford, consisting of about 600 men, was ordered out by authority of the State and not afterwards recognized by the Federal Government.

The whole claim, therefore, were it not for the act of the 1st of March, 1837, would necessarily be divided, as it was divided by the instructions of the Secretary of War to the third Auditor, of the 22d February, 1817, into two classes, viz: that which accrued previous, and that which arose subsequent to the 12th Sept. 1813. But that act having removed the objection raised by the Executive of the United States against the claim, such classification is not only unnecessary, but improper. As no part appears in strictness to be embraced by the 2d and 3d general heads of the act, it seems proper and peculiarly convenient, to consider it all under the first general head.

The account was made up and transmitted to Washington in 1816, by the then Comptroller of public accounts of Connecticut, under the superintendance of his Excellency John Cotton Smith, who was Governor of the State during the war, and conversant with the circumstances under which the claim arose. Appended to the account so transmitted, was a summary view by Gov. Smith, of some of the most material facts connected with it. This exposition derives peculiar weight from the fact that it was made on the 9th of January, 1817, when all the circumstances were fresh in his recollection.—The following is a transcript of the document referred to:

"A summary view of the circumstances under which the militia of the State of Connecticut were brought into service during the late war—

1813.

No part of the militia of Connecticut was brought into the field until the American squadron took refuge in the harbor of New London, from the superior naval force of the enemy, first of June, A. D. 1813. The pay rolls of the militia called into service for the protection of the national vessels and their coast during that campaign, were, it is believed, satisfied by the General Government, excepting some small detachments suddenly ordered out to repel incursions of the enemy at various points, and who were discharged immediately after the exigency ceased, and before notice could be given to the War department. The pay rolls of these detachments [small in their amount] were presented by the proper officer to the district paymaster, who informed me personally that he had received orders from Washington to discharge them, but that his funds had then failed. They were afterwards paid by the State, and charged to the General Government. No other charges appear in our account for militia services during that year, the authority for such charges will be found in the correspondence already forwarded. During the same year advances were made by the national government to our Quartermaster General and Commissary General, in part, for expenses incurred in their respective departments." The assumption of all expenses of this nature will be seen in the letter of the Secretary of War, of the 13th July, 1813, and the report of Adjutant General Huntington, referred to by the Secretary.

[TO BE CONTINUED.]