State claims upon ground of insufficiency of vouchers, but which decision, upon the appeal of Col. Loomis, the Secretary of the Treasury reversed, and ordered a settlement of the accounts. An appeal was also taken upon the suspension and dis allowment of accounts in the Third Auditor's office ($85,732.67), which is set forth in the report. "I am recently advised, by letter from the Treasury Department, that upon last settlement there was found to be due the State four hundred and sixty-eight thousand two hundred and sixty-five dollars and ninety-eight cents ($468,265.98), and that the amount of suspensions and disallowances has been reduced to twentyseven thousand three hundred and ninety dollars and seventy-four cents ($27,390.74) "Thirty thousand dollars have recently been paid by the government on the balance found due on our accounts; which sum is sufficient to pay off all warrants drawn upon the State Treasury against the war fund. "In this connection, I desire to call your attention specially to the report of Col Loomis. It gives a complete history of a necessity for all expenses incurred by the State for the general government, and, in my opinion, clearly establishes the right of the State to the reimbursement of every dollar we have advanced, and which yet remains suspended. Colonel Loomis' labors in the adjustment of our war accounts have been invaluable, and it is recommended that a sufficient appropriation be made for his services and expenses." But the name of Allen C. Fuller has been more frequently mentioned in State military matters than that of any other man beside Governor Yates. He came to Belvidere in 1846, a young lawyer, without means, without patronage, with nothing upon which to depend, but industry, integrity and capacity. He soon built up a lucrative practice, and by sympathy with and participation in public interests, he became a leading and influential man in Northern Illinois. He was elected Judge of the Circuit Court, the duties of which high office he discharged with much ability. He was upon the bench when the war broke out, and was tendered the position of Adjutant-General. The members of the bar objected to his resignation, and urged him to accept temporarily the appointment. He accordingly entered upon its duties November 11, 1861, and in July following resigned his seat on the bench. That he has faithfully performed its laborious duties, has been attested by the Legislature and Governor. The House of Representatives at its last session unanimously adopted a report of its committee appointed to inspect the AdjutantGeneral's office, and from which report we extract the following: "That we have thoroughly examined the office of the Adjutant-General and find ADJUTANT-GENERAL ALLEN O. FULLER. 605 it a model in completeness; one that preserves in all its glory the proud records of our soldiery, and reflects infinite credit upon the great State whose sons they are. "That in the judgment of this committee, the thanks of every patriot citizen of the State are due to Gen. Fuller for the able and efficient manner in which he has discharged the duties of the office, and for his indefatigable efforts in collecting and preserving this glorious record of a glorious State." Governor Yates, in his last message of 1863, says: "I refer you to the report of the Adjutant-General, to whose untiring labors, and able and faithful co-operation I acknowledge myself deeply indebted, and in the management of the military affairs of the State." In his last message, after regretting that the Adjutant-General's serious illness in November and December, 1864, had prevented the preparaof his biennial report, the Governor says: "I have also inspected the Adjutant-General's Office, and deem it proper to say that it is as complete in all its arrangements, and in the perfection of its system and method, as any similar office in the United States. General Fuller has been a most able, faithful and energetic officer, and is entitled to the gratitude of the State." These official "well dones" are echoed by the officers and boys in blue. They have recognized in the General a true and competent friend. In 1864, the leading Republican journals of the northern part of the State and some from the Central and Southern advocated his nomination as the successor of Governor Yates, but the choice fell upon the brave General Oglesby. He was elected to represent Boone County in the General Assembly, and on the 1st of January resigned the position of AdjutantGeneral, and was chosen Speaker of the House of RepresentativesBefore adjournment, that body by unanimous vote, adopted the fol. lowing: "Resolved, That we tender our heartfelt thanks to Hon. Allen C. Fuller, our presiding officer, for the kind, courteous, able and impartial manner in which he has presided over us, and as such recognize in his general bearing and demeanor the perfect model of a gentleman." The Adjutant's office has been most economically managed. Indeed it may be doubted, if in any other department of State service so much labor has been performed for so slight a remuneration. In his report of 1861-2, General Fuller says: "Under the law of May 2, 1861, the salary of the Adjutant-General is fixed at seven dollars, the first assistant at six, and second assistant at five dollars per day. No express authority was given the Adjutant-General to employ clerks, but the law authorized you to employ such clerks, aids and messengers as the public interests might require, and allow them such reasonable compensation as in your judgment they should be entitled to. "When I took possession of the office, November 11, 1861, three clerks and a messenger boy were employed, beside the Adjutant-General and his assistants. No injustice is done in saying that such had been the pressure of business upon the office that its affairs were very much behind hand. There were but few rolls on file and few permanent records. Un "Notwithstanding the great increase of business, I have endeavored to keep the expenses of the office to the very lowest possible figure, and in this I have had the generous co-operation of my assistants and clerks. The average number of hours which they have actually labored is not less than sixteen out of twenty-four. der your direction they have been employed, and the average compensation has been a little less than three dollars per day. But it will be seen, by schedule F, that one hundred and sixty-one days have not been charged by both assistants, and their places to that extent have been supplied by these clerks. "It will also be seen that the number of days' service performed by clerks from April 16, 1861, to January 1, 1863, is 1,779, at a compensation of $5,261. The total amount of salaries and clerk-hire during this period is $14,548. The total amount allowed to the Adjutant-General and his two sssistants, by law, for the same period, is $11,250, leaving $2,743 (beside one dollar a day for messenger boy), for clerkhire, or at the rate of $2.20 per day for two clerks. This is explained by the additional fact that in my salary from November 11, 1861, to January 1, 1863, being 416 days, would amount to $2,912, whereas but $1,288, or pay from the first of July last is charged. The reason for this deduction is that until July last I held the office of Circuit Judge of the 13th Judicial Circuit, and I have not felt at liberty to draw salaries for two offices. "I trust I have kept the expenses of the department, considering the amount of labor performed, within proper limits. The extent of that labor few can know as well as those who have performed it. The General has sustained to the boys in blue a sort of paternal relation, and will ever meet from them a cordial welcome. reader will find copious extracts. The As the writer was dependent upon the reports and archives of the Adjutant-General's office for much of the material woven into the preceding chapters, he has thought proper to introduce the reader into the same office. General Fuller's successor is Brigadier-General Isham N. Haynie, formerly Colonel of the Forty-eighth, of whom more anon. |