Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1862-12-19
cific for 81 no mon, and VIC have barely filled

cific for 81 ,14o mon, and VIC have barely filled
them.
Our quotas under all calls since the war
began, including the call to fill old regiments,
amount to 49, z06 men. The total number
furnished, g shown by the records Of the
Adjutant Generals Office, is ,993 men
showing deficiency on the sum total of 3,412
men. Could our surplus of volunteers have
been assigned to the old regiments we would
still have been deficient the amount of the
sum last named. E
But the call for the old regiments must be
filled, iffilled ct al, by men enlisted or
drafted. For those regiments and counties
still delinquent, have until the 1st Of January
to fill their quota, and thus avoid draft, and
place themselves along side Of their sister
counties who have promptly met all demands
made upon them. a..s..-s 3
But the Governor and all our Congress
men are accused by the Gate City, Of selfish
ly urging the War Department to authorize
individuals to raise regiments in excess Of
our quota, that they may receive the support
of these individuals in the future. 1t may be
that the editor of the Gate City is the only
honest man alive, and that virtue will die
with him. But am hopeful the officials
named are governed in their official acts, by
as exalted, patriotic and unselfish motives as
governed him in penning the article that con
tains these charges. The volunteers enlisted
for new regiments under the general call, car
ried the number of our regiments of infantry
to 40. The 4lst is the detachment at Fort
Randall. The Secretary Of War authorized
the raising of an Irish regiment-the AID
and also authorized Col. Simmons to raise
the 43d, and Col. Wilson the 9th Cavalry
He also authorized Col. David to raise the 18th
Cavalry, subject to the Governors approval,
which he refused, because of so many troops
raised and being raised. Of all the regiments
thus authorized by the Secretary Of War, the
9th Cavalry is the only one likely to drain the
resources Of the State, of which the Gate City
complains so loudly, and in which JEFF. Davis
heartily joins, as the draining Of Iowa of men
for the Union army bodies no good to him.
The Gate City further demands that the
Governor shall refuse draft until all other
States have done as well as Iowa. Is this the
dictate of patriotism? What would be the
result? All would be brought to the level
of the State that has done the least, and
while the States were thus engaged in striking
balances, settling disputes and refusing to
raise uOOpS, tne reDelllOn WOulu long Slice
have triumphed.
The intention of the Governor is, as have
heard him say, that so far as in him lies, if
our arms are successful, and our Union is re-
stored, all Iowa men, in all future time, may
proudly and truthfully say that of the
good work accomplished, Iowa has done
more than her share. But if we are not sue
cessful, and the Union is broken into frag-
ments, no one shall be able to say to the men
of Iowa, eff your State had done her whole
duty, the legacy of our fathers would not have
been lost"
Which is the true position of the true and
patriotic Governor, this or the one demanded
of him by the Gate City? The loyal heart Of
Iowa beats responsive to the position of the
Governor.
Whether there shall be draft in Iowa de-
ponds first upon filling the old regiments with
volunteers, and secondly upon the orders Of
the Secretary of War. All the action of the
Governor preliminary to draft has been in
strict accordance with the orders of the Sec
rotary of war, yet he is blamed for any such
action by the Gate City, He has not yet got
above the War Department, but holds him.
self subject to their orders, and should they
order draft to fill our old regiments, the
Governor, as a true man and faithful officer,
will see that it is made without stopping to
ask whether some other State is not less pa
triotic than Iowa.
Very truly, yours, N. II. BARNARD,
Mil. Sec'y to Gov.