Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1861-10-15
WHAT MASSACHUSETTS HAS DONE FOR
THE WAR.


performed by this commonw eath in furnishing
troops for the war. In reply to one of these
letters the governor has transmitted the fol
lowing letter, which will be read with interest
by every son o Massachusetts. We copy
from the Boston Journal
COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS.
EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT..
Boston, Oct. 10, 1861.
TO S. +. Wetn,ore, Esquire, Indianapolis, Ia
DEAR SIR: | thank you for the friendly
interest manifested by your ie ter to me of the
9Th inst, on the reputation Of the state Of
Massachusetts for patriotic devotion to the
Union, aud | respond gladly to your request
for positive information to the number of
troops furnished by this commonwealth during
the present struggle for the support OF the
government and the rights and liberties Of the
people
Up to the present time, Massachusetts has
sent 10 the field of actual service twenty-five
full regiments Of infantry tour full batteries
OF artillery, also eleven companies OF infantry
not organized as Il regiment Ia part of them
serving in New York 10th regiment, and
A part at Fortress Monroe and vicinity and
one battalion OF rifles
Five regiments of infantry, the rifle battal-
ion and one battery OF light artillery were
three months troops, which have returned,
and our present force in the field may be
stated as follows
Seventeen tull regiments of inlautIy
Eight companies of infantry at Fortress
Monroe;
hree companies OF infantry in the New
York 10th;
Three full batteries OF light artillery, six
pieces of cannon to each battery, with one
hundred and iiity,sX men and about as many
horses to each.
Besides these we estimate that about fifteen
hundred Massachusetts citizens Pave enlisted
in regiments of other states, nine hundred of
whom went from this city early in the war, to
join the Irish brigade at New York.
Al the present time We have three regiments
in camp land nearly full OF infantry, which
are under orders to march next Monday five
gIore regiments in camp and in such state
OF torwariness as to insure their marching 10
the seat of war before the close OF the present
month, with two additional batteries of light
artillery within the same period OF time.
OF cavalry, we have now in camp a splendid
regiment, already numbering more than a
thousand picked men, which will be i'll the
field of active duty at an early day.
OF the men Massachusetts, has furnished to
the naval service OF the country, we have not
such exact data but the careful estimates of
some OF our most reliable commercial men
show that to this arm of the service Massa-
chuseits has contributed at least eleven thou
sand, composed of the hardy and vigorous
young men of our maritime towns and cities,
familiar with danger and Injured to hardship,
by past services in the fisheries and CONNER
clal marine ; and who are now rendering the
most efficient service on board all the vessels
OF that immense fleet, which now guards the
entire coast OF the rebel states.
SUph NV dear sir is the record of MaSga--
chusetts, as regards the number of her citi.
ZenS who have volunteered their services al
ready in the defence of the government and
it is one OF which, if we have no desire to
boast, we certainly feel that we have no cause
to be ashamed-especially in view of the fact,
that up to this hour we have not asked or re-
cCived single dollar from the general govern
ment on account OF our large expenditures i'll
arming, equippng, and clothing this large
army of citizen soldiers in the best manner.
Massachusetts has imported her own arms,
and fifteen thousand Enfield rifles Of the best
description are now in the hands OF her cit
zen soldiers and five thousand more and ten
thousand blankets are on the way from the old
country as fast as steam can bring them. All
the clothing tor our troops, all our tents,
horses, wagons ambulances, and camp equip.
age OF all descriptions, the stale has furnished.
Not stopping to inquire what other states were
doing for the cause of the country, or how
much they were receiving from the federal
government, Massachusetts has thought only
OF doing more than her full duty, with the full.
est confidence that the patriotism OF her pto-
pie would never falter in the presence of amy
danger, or in the prospect of any sacrifice OF
blood or treasure that might be required OF
her. and her statute book to day bears wit
ness of her devotion to the common welfare 80
far as money is concerned, by the authority
which was was given to the executive on the
2lst day of May last, to loan to the United
States, i'll addition to all expenses she might
incur in the prosecutions of tile war the further
sum Of seven millions of dollars Il enclose a
copy Of the act for your information, and |
also take pleasure in enclosing a copy of the
statute by which provision is made Tor the
families OF our vOlunieers.)
The foregoing statements, placed in tabular
form Tor convenient reference, will show at a
glance whit Massachusetts has done:-
Jiiiiua-7Hree NonhS Service.
FIVE regiments infantry,
Six companies rilemen.
One battery light artillery.
NOW in the Field
Seventeen regiments of infantry.
Eight companies of infantry at Fort Monroe.
-Four companies OF infantry with n Y 10th
Three batteries of light artillery
Two companies of sharpshooters
Preparing in the State.
Seven regiments Of infantry.
Two batteries of hight artillery.
One regiment Of cavalry
Grand total, when regiments now preparing
aud nearly ready are filled -Twenty-nine
regiments and twelve companies of infantry;
six companies of ridemen; six batteries of
light artillery two companies OF sharpshooter
and one regiment of cavalry; making, with
the volunteers in the naval service, an eff ctye
force OF from t0rytwO to forty five thousand
men and we intend TO continue our exertions
to the end OF the war, and to rise IN energy
and zeal in proportion to the demands of the
cause. The state OF Maine only last Sunday
sent through Boston her tenth regiment of in.
tantry. believe the people of the other New
England states are as fully alive and are as
actively devoted to the service OF the country
as are the people OF Massachusetts. OF their
statistics of enlistment | ann not at this mo.
ment fully advised, save in the single case of
our neighbor Rhode Island. They are as
follows -
MiLtia-T Three Months ,SerUice
One regiment of infantry, 1896 men.
One battery OF artillery, 145 men.
NoW IN The Field.
Two regiments OF infantry, 500 men each.
1882.
One regiment of infantry, 900 men-9O0.
Five battalions of artillery of $50 men each
1850
Preparing in tile State.
Three batteries of artillery of $50 men
each.