Delaware State journal and statesman., 1862-06-17
A Draft at Savannah.

A Savannah correspondent of the Charles
ton Courier furnishes an amusing descrip-
lion of the scene which ensued on the ocea-
sion of draft for four hundred men in Sa-
Vamah, to complete requisitiun for troops,
the requisite number not having volunteer
ed Fifteen hundred of the business men
and mechanics of the city were drawn up in
Il hollow square on the parade ground all in
a high state of excitement, which the follow
ing proceedings took place.
The Colonel now takes his place in the
centre, and from the back Of IL magnificent
horse, in II few well-iimed remarks, calls for
volunteers lie said it was n shame that
Georgian should submit to be drafted, aud
dshOnorable to II citizen of Savannah to he
forced into the service of his country. He
appealed TO their patriotism, their pluck and
their peif lie told them of good clothes,
good living, and fifty dollars bounty and ON
tile strength Of these considerations invited
everybody to walk three PAGES in the front.
Nobody did it. An ugly pause ensued,
worse than dead silence between the tick
ing Of Il conversation The Colonel thought
he might not have been heard or understood,
and repeated his catalogue of persuasons.
At this point one of the sides of the square
opened, and in marched II company Of about
forty stalwart Irishmen, men whom their
Captain, in II loud and oXultant tone, an
nounced as The Mitchell Guards We vol
unteer Colonel, in IL body The Colonel
was delighted He proposed three cheers
for the Mitchell Guards, and the crowd in
dulged not inordinately in the pulmonary
exercise. The requisite number did not seem
TO be forthcoming, however, and the Colonel
madO another little speech, winding up with
an invitation TO the black drummer and fler
i. -.
Dixie, which they did, but they came ms they
went solitary and alone; not the ghost OF
Il volunteer being anywhere visible in the
Ethiopian wake. The Colonel looked as
blank as If he was getting desperate, and q
draft seemed Indispensable.
"As dernier resort the Colonel directed
all who had excuses to advance to the centre
and submit them for examination. Did you
ever see Il crowd run away from falling
building ut II fire, or toward a dog-light, OF
strcrt-show2 II You have you can form
some idea Of the tempestuous nature OF the
wave that swept toward the little table il
the centre Of the square around which wer'
gathered the four grave gentlemen who wer'
To examine the documents 1t was u seen,
which, as an uninterested outsider one coul,
hardly hold his sides and laugh ut. Hat,
were crushed, ribs punched corns smashe,
, and clothes torn. Every hand held hl
! magical bit of paper, from the begrimme,
+ digits of the individual just from stable o
foundry to the dainty gloved extremity o
{ the dry goods clerk just from his counter
: Young and old, rich and poor, neat an,
r nasty Americans, Englishmen, lrishmen
- Germuns, Frenchmon, Italians, lsraelite
and Gentles, all went to make up the mot
. ley mass. What a pretty lot of sick am
> disabled individuals there were to be sure
y Swelled arms, limping legs, spine diseases
bad eyes corns, toothache, constitutions
. debility in the bread basket, eruptve dis
|, eases, deafness, rheumatism, not we'll gener
u ally these and a thousand other complaint
were represented as variously and hetero
4 geniously us by any procession of pilgrim
! that eyer visited the Holy Land.
y And 50 the day progressed, nearly te
hours being consumed in tho endeavor t
!, secure IL draft. This afternoon the absentee
:, were gathered together, and the efforts re
newed when, strange to say, every man, VIII
q found the liability imminent of his bein
y forced to enlist, protested that lie was jus
y on the point of doing so, and willingly pit
his name to the roll