Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1862-12-19

For some time past the Tory press OF TINS
State has devoted considerable attention to
an apparent discrepancy between the state
ment Of Secretary Stanton that the quota for
Iowa had been filed, and the proclamation Of
the Governor, stating y unless eight thou
sand men were raised oluntary enlistment
before the LIST day of January next, draft
would be ordered throughout the State for
the purpose of filling up the decimated ranks
of the old regiments. A great many truly
loyal men were deceived by this cry, influ,
enced to great extent by the Gate City, Of
Keokuk, the editor of which had by some
means become ensnared in the trap, and
published an article denunciatory Of Gov.
Kirkwood. In order to set the matter at rest
in the minds of all loyal men, we dropped
line to the Governors Military Secretary, ask
ing an explanation. In reply we have received
the subjoined communication from Mr.. N. II.
Brainard, the Secretary. 1t is complete
refutation of all the charges that have been
made by the semi-secession sheets, and by
few other papers of loyal caste, in this
State, which have been misled by their state
ments, and explains in clear and straight
forward manner the reasons why resort to
drafting may become necessary if the quota
apportioned to our State to fill up the old
regiments be not made up by the 1st day Of
January. We commend the letter to the
perusal of our readers. Will the Gate Cit,
COPY it, and thus disabuse the minds of its
readers of the erroneous and pernicious i'm.
pressions they have received from its former
article:
JOHN MAHIx, Esq, Editor of JOURNAL, Muscatine.
DEAR SIR Yours of the 18th inst. is re-
ceived, in which you say: 81 inclose herewith
clipping from the Burlington Argus, in
relation to the draft. You will see it contains
an extract from report of Secretary Stanton
stating that Iowa has more than filled her
quota. How is this :? Was the Secretary
mistaken? or, if not, why is a draft impend.
ing. If you can explain this matter, please
do so, and oblige," &C.
Many honest men and true patriots desire
the same information, and gladly avail my.
self of your columns to explain, as well as
may, the Governor being absent. Had all
editors been as careful as yourself to learn
the facts before assuming something wrong in
our State authorities, many would have saved
themselves from the position of him who
iudgeth matter before he hears it.
That those in sympathy with the rebellion
should find fault and seek occasion to do SO
with every one, and especially with every
official who is laboring to his utmost to sup
port the Government and aid in putting
down this rebellion, is perfectly natural and to
be expected. The Ethiopian cannot change
his skin, nor leopard his spots, nor can an
editor in sympathy with the rebellion fail to
exhibit his sympathies; but that editors
claiming to be the fast friends of the Govern
ment, and especially one in so prominant and
influential position as the editor of the Gate
C;ty, should vie with those before named in
heaping abuse upon such officials, and labor
ing to en.barrass their action, is inexplcable
upon any theory creditable to themselves, and
it is compliment they richly deserve that
their articles are copied into every rebel
sheet, and commended with the greatest
gusto-and, should they reach rebeldom, will
there be paraded in glowing capitals, to com
fort the hearts and revive the spirits of every
faltering traitor.
The Government has made three distinct
calls upon the States, during the last summer,
for troops, to increase the armies in the field :
LIST. A call for 100000 men, as volunteers
for three years or during the war, of which
the quota assigned to Iowa was l0,570 men.
I'd. A call for 100000 militia, to be
drafted, for nine months service, Of which
our quota was as before 1850 men, but
would accept volunteers for three years OF
during the war in place of them.
Sd. A call for sO05 men, to fill the old
regiments (Which, on the 18th of August, had
been reduced to that extent), with notice that
if this last call was not filled by volunteers,
special draft would be ordered to fill it.
Recruiting officers were sent from the old
regiments in the field to all prominent points
in the State, to enlist men for the old regi-
ments. Recruiting commissions were also
issued to men in all parts of the State to en-
list for new regiments, and the Governor
issued his proclamation calling for men to fill
these several demands. Our people rushed
to the ranks with astonishing rapidity, but
each was at liberty to choose his position
either in an old or new regiment. Over this
the Governor could exercise no control, but
used every influence in his power to induce
men to enlist in the old regiments.
Come to gather up the recruits for the cd
regiments, and those so enlisted for the new
ones, we found that, while we had twenty-five
new regiments, enough to fill our quota OF
q, 40 on both the calls for 300,0 900 men, we
had less than 1000 for the old regiments
A I'D lot ~ ho ohSoruo1 hoV.o1xy H11oI
quotas under the two calls for 10000 men,
all surplus having been furnished last year
and was not credited to reduce these quotas.
Thus the two first demands made upon us
were filled, but the last and most important
remained, and still remains, sadly deficient.
say most important, because, in part, for
the reason given by the Gate Gty-that the
old regiments contain full set of officers,
drawing pay, and a full regimental organiza-
ton with but fraction of regiment in rank
and file
The editor of the Gate City blames the
Governor for not consolidating these regi-
ments and disposing of the surplus officers,
while he should know that they are in the
service of the United States, subject to the
control of that government, which has
decided upon different mode to remedy the
difficulty, and gives notice that if not done
voluntarily, it shall be by compulsory pro-
cess, and still presses it most earnestly and
sensibly as the most efficient and economical
way to increase our military force.
The Governor has exhausted every means
in his power to comply with this demand, but
as yet with little success. He has finally had
prepared table showing the delinquencies of
fhoco counf;oc thaf have fai1od RI f,rnich fho;v
quotas for the two calls for 400, 900 men and
sent 1t to them, urging them to fiji their de-
fciency by volunteers for the old regiments