The daily Green Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1861-1865, 1863-12-30
The 18th Regiment.

1t seems to US very clear that, if the 18th regi-
ment is expected to 60 into the service at ALL
some means other than those now being employ
ed must be used to fill up its ranks. 1t is now
nearly il not quite four months since recruiting
for this regiment commenced, and it does not yet
number five hundred men. This slow progress
has resulted from various causes.-A very gem
era and quite fatal fever prevailed among the
nine months men soon after they returned to the
State, which unlavorably influenced enlistment.
The bounty Of four hundred and two dollars
was only offered to veterans while raw recruits
who chose TO enlist, received but one hundred
and two, the War Department at the same
time Offering three hundred dollars to raw re-
cruit8 who enlisted in the old regiment; and
this, Of course, prevented the recruiting officers
from obtaining anything but veterans for the
l7th.--When the call for 800 900 volunteers
was made, Government bounty of three hun
bred dollars was offered to all and the towns
at once began to offer additional bounties in most
cases as high as three hundred dollars, aud in
many as high as five hundred dollars, while in
only exceptional nstances,-like Montpelier and
Woodstock and some other towns-were these
local bounties offered to those who might enlist
in the 18th regiment These bountes still
made it an object for raw recruits everywhere to
enlist for the old regiments, and IN most towns
made the bounties for veterans, who should enlist
for old regiments, from two to four hundred dol
lars better than if they enlisted in the 18th regi-
ment. And in addition to this, the great ma jority
of towns in the State, being apparently only desr-
Gus of making up their quotas under the last
call, Disseminated 10 their influence as we'll as
their bounties against the l7th regiment, and in
favor of volunteers who would be credited TO
them under the last call for volunteers. These
facts are of themselves an adequate cause, without
mpeaching the patriotism of the nine months
men, for the i'll success attending recruiting for
this regiment.
Bot while we are not disposed to charge blame
anywhere but upon unfortunate and unforeseen
circumstances for this failure to fill the 18th
regiment, the fact still remains that the regiment
o not full, and, as matters now stand, is not like
~ to be. We have been officially informed that
after the 9th day OF January no bounties but the
one hundred dollars will be paid to any volun-
that date for the 17sh will practically cease and
between now and then, for the reasons already
given, the enlistments will be for the old reg-
ments, even among veterans, rather than il the
veteran regiment. The result will be that the
State will find itself, after January 9th, with
about half regiment Of men who have enlisted
in good faith flor the 18th regiment, whom it
would not be treating fairly, either to discharge,
or to disband and distribute among other regl-
ments, and yet whose ranks it will be difficult,
not to say impossible, to fill by further enlist
ments. 1t is clear that it is the duty of those
having the charge of this matter to find some
emedy for this difficulty.
And to US there seems to be simple, easy
and perfectly feasible way Of avoiding any trouble
and yet filling the regiment. 1t is simply his
Put enough Of the volunteers just enlisted under
the call for 100000 volunteers into the l7th reg
iment to fill its ranks after January 9TH Thi,
must be practicable, and we cannot see how i
would 10 any way lessen the value to the Fedora
Government of the volunteers Just raised, Will
it would make the 18th regiment immediae
servceaoe, thus adding 500 men at once to tn
army, who are drawing pay yet now, and for som
time to come, will otherwise add nothing t.
the strength of our troops in the field.
We suppose it would be necessary to get tn
consent of the War Department before this coul
be arranged, but cannot comprehend why tina
need be difficult matter. The ranks Of tn
I'd, Sd and 9th regiments were filed with tn
men raised by the draft in this State. leaving tn
5th, 9th, 7th, 9Th, 9th, 10th and l tn regiments t
be filled BY volunteers. None of these regiment
not even the 9th, requires 500 men to fill il
ranks. Twenty-Five hundred recruits must Fl
them to the maximum, leaving a surplus of som
700 or 500 vounteers--if the quota Of the Stat
is filled, as there is no doubt i. will b,-a porto
of whom can be put into 40 more servceabI
place than in the 18th regiment This will Civ
the State an additional effective regiment in tn
, field, and we very much fear that no other metl
cd will accomplish that result.
OF course this is subject for the considerable