Indiana State sentinel. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1863-06-30
JUNE 80, 1863.
The Coming praft.

The Coming Draft.
1t has occurred to many of our friends that
great injustice NAV be done by careless or COR
rupt enrolment of citizens subject to the con-
scription, now going forward in this State. This
should be avoided and prevented by a timely
correction ef errors, to give it no harsber name.
Col. BAKER, the Provost Marshal of the State.
has instituted good system for making the en-
rollment. aud. if carried out as he designs it
should be. could not fail to give general satisfac
tion- But that can hardly be expected, where
so many agents are employed. and these men of
every shade of character, many of them unscru-
pulous partisans. and all of them of the same DO
liticai party.
We would suggest 70 our friends in every
county and township of the State that rigid
inspection of the enrolment lists of the various
townships be at once instituted, and that this be
done before the draft is made Indeed, il should
be done at once in every township where the en-
rollment is completed. To do this properly, a
committee of three intelligent inhabitants Of each
fopnship should be appointed to examine the lists
made out, and see 'oho and tehat class of citizens
have been omitted in the enrolment. IL any 1t
is in this mode that wrong viii be attempted. and
it must be guarded against at the very outset
This committee should be composed of men who
have general acquaintance in their respective
townships. By the aid of the Assessors books.
and comparison of the names. it will be easy to
detect any attempt at fraud in the enrolment
We trust our friends I'm every township will at
once proceed to make the examinations sug
gested.
In regard to the drawing of the names from
the box. this will be superintendel by Colonel
BAKER himself. aud his high character as a citi
zen and officer, is sufficient guarantee that
nothing unfair will be tolerated. Col. B.. we are
assured will not only do this part of the work
faithfully, but he will make it apparent to all cit
zens, that in the drawing out of names. no room
shall be left for doubt as to its perfect fairness
This is all that any right minded citizen can
ask at his hands.
We append. for more general understanding
of the mode of the draft. the letter of Colonel
BAKER, addressed to certain citizens of Indiana,
under date of June ilth. 1863:
STATE OF ISprASA, OFFICE or AssrsrAsrI
PRovosr MARSHAL GENERAL.
lSDIASAPoLIs, June ii, 1863.
Hon. S. E. Perkins. Hon. T. A. Hendricks.
Hon. Thos. Doulng, Hon A L. Roach, Hon.
Joseph Ristine. Hon. J S. Alhon:
GENTLEMEN: In conversation which had
with you last evening you we're pleased to sug-
gest that there is great msapprehenson in the
nd m - fbo Ia of
Congress known AS the Enrolment Act, and es
pecially as to the manner in which il is to be ex-
ecuted, and that explanation from me would
tend to correct the misapprehebsion. | have
therefore concluded to address you, as the best
means of securing the public attention. The
following believed to be the essential features
of the system. viz: 5
L. All able bodied male citizens, aud all for
eigners who have declared their intention to be-
come citizens. between the ages Of twenty and
forty five years. with very few exceptions
named in the act, are declared to be liable to per-
form military du,y. and are divided into two
classes. 81 .a l.l. a arI
q. = Tho 6r~s s'-ss ee-.--isas ,hose who are he
tween the ages of twenty and thirty FIVE years.
and also those who are unmarried and between
the ages OF thirty Eve and forty five years.
3. The second class embraces those who are
married and who are between the ages of thirty
FIVE aud forty FIVE years. 8i4
4. Each Congressional District is made an en-
rollment district. and is provided with Board Of
Enroment. consisting of Provost Marshal, a
Surgeon and Commissioner. This Board has
its headquarters at some convenient place within
the district designated by the Government.
Is 5. The Board divides the district into as many
ub.districts as they may deem necessary. and as
general rule the divisions made constitute each
civil township sub district l-.
g.. An enrolling officer is appointed by the
Board for each sub district.
Z. Each class is enrolled on separate sheets.
&. There is no exemption from enrolment OF
those between the ages of twenty and forty FIVE
years. Questions of exemption for physical dis
ability or for any 9th cause recognized by the
Act. only arise after the draft is made, and
then such questions are TO be decided by the
Board
g. The Government fixes the number of men
to be drafted in each Congressional District. and
these are 10 he apportioned among the sub-dis
tricts by the Board in pursuance Of instruction:
from the Provost Marshal General.
10. The draft will be made at the Headquar.
ters of the district. but there will be separate
drawing for each sub district.
III. The draft is required to be publicly made
under the direction of the Board of Enrolment
IL There will be none drawn from the second
class until the first class is exhausted.
l3 The names of each person enrolled in th'
sub district will be placed in box. and ths
Provost Marshal. or some person designated
by him, 1.-THE drawer being bindfolded.) shal
draw therefrom one name at a time until the re
ouired number is obtained The tickets on which
he names are written will be thoroughly mixet
after they are put in the box and before the draw
ing commences
Ia list or roll of the names as the drawing
progresses will be made, the names being writer
in the order in which they are drawn.
15 All persons thus drafted shall be subjec
for two years from and after the lst day of Jul,
succeeding the enrolment to be called into th,
military service of the United States. and to con
tnue in service during the present rebellion not
however exceeding the term Of three years; ant
when called into the service shall be placed o.
the same foofiny in oil respects as rolunteers. in
eiudins adUanee pay and bounty. as nop proDidet
by taw.
AS far as possible will attend the drawing
myself. and you can assure the people not onl,
that the draft will be fairly made, but that IL vii
be conducted so impartially as to preclude th'
suspicion Of dishonesty. Notice will be given o
the time and place Of making the drawings. ant
the people Of each township can inspect the pro
ceedings personally or by men of their own seec
ton. Respectfully. yours,
CoxnAp BAKER,
Acting Assistant Provost Marshal General TO
Indiana. ...,ts s..a..- 80 r eae
Col. BAxrR will give instructions to the Dis
trict Provost Marshals to submit the completes
Township Enrolment Lists to any citizens whit
may desire 10 examine them, for the purpose sug
gested above. tf- u i1-H
=