Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1863-01-10

cost color, shape, and quality. But its inevi
table crcumocution, in respect 10 the new corps
and the inability of the state COVER VI. MT always
10 control the provision and issue tl supplies to
tho best advantage-in the absence Of any de-
pot of supply in New England-werc clogs
| on our recruiting service which we did not en-.
counter in 1861, when the state delivered its reg
| lments to the federal government fully armed
| ana EQUIPPED al its own expense. Nevertheless,
| the number OF troops sent from the state in 1860
| largely exceeded that of the previous wear. the
| PERIOD occupied being about the same in both,
Tor during the spring of 1862 the federal row
| eminent pursued the policy of refusing to accept
| new troops, and even discontinued for awhile the
recruiting for corps already in the field Early in
| June, however, it was resumed, and a call for
| l5,00O more volunteers for three years was made
on Massachusetts, which in August was followed
by the call for 10 900 militia for nine months A
comparison Of the dates ut which the various
corps raiGed by the state during the two years
were sent into active service shows that nowith-
standing the change in the system of supplies
and the increased difficulty of recruiting by rea-
son OF so large portion of the population of mil
itary age having already been enlisted the mill
tary movements Of 1862 were as prompt and ac-
tive rs were those of 1861. THE table mar ied
tA) attached to the printed copy of this address
affords means for the comparisonI Whatever
may have been the comparative disadvantages
under which in 1862 assumed the duty of
raising anew the Massachusetts contingent for
the Union army, the unfailing patriotism of the
people and the powerful support of the munich
pal governments enabled us to overcome all diff
culties.
The orders fixing the time for MARCHING each
corps from the state are practically determined
by the military authorities of the United States
nave always insisted thlt, so far as possible
every corps should receive a full outfit aud COMP
ment before leaving the commonwealth. Thus
much have felt demanded by my duty TO
the soldiers and the people. And | deeply re-
greet the denial of request that all of the
troops Of Massachusetts destined for expeditions
by sea should be permitted TO remain in barracks
and to embark from our own ports, where the
government of tier own state could protect
them from such needless hardships and perils as
were encountered by some of them in their en-
campment and embarkation at New York.
The conduct of the troops of this common
weaIth, whether in camp, on the march, or I'M
Ger nre, has won the unqualified commentator
OF all the generals under whom they have served
Ihey are universal fayorites, sought for by com
mandcrs for their intelligence, obedience, and
Naior Interesting reports of their military his
tory from the colonies of many of the corps, and
letters from many general officers under whom
they have acted, have been received which af-
ford evidence, besides that derived from other
sources, of the brilliant herosm and patient en-
dutance OF these sons and brothers of our people
These documents are ali in the hands of the adj
Jutant general, who will remember them in the
preparation of his annual report
THE DRAFT.
1t is impossible to find space in this address TO
narrate all the proceedings under which our con-
ulgent OF militia was raised. The requiSitions
rom me national government the regulations
under which this department was conducted the
orders emanAing from the military headouar.
tiers OF the commonwealth the rules there adopt |
ed AMI its methods of proceeding, will be feciied |
In the report Of the adiutant general And a full |
and carefully prepared narration and explanato- |
~ statement of all matters relating especially to |
the drafting OF militia will be found in that re-
port.
The orders for nineteen thousand and eighty
Inll!!tla, TO be drafted for nine months service |
tingent of the three years vofbsosri of nnr con-
on the second of June The duties thus imposed, |
in their manifold details relating to the new en-
rollment, exemption, computation OF quotas, dis |
trbution of quotas, and the like, plainly demand |
ed the undivided supervision of an. officer to be |
specially detailed for that service No officer |
then on duty could be spared for the employ |
ment. To this end appointed gentleman, as |
an assistant adjutaut general, OF rare adaptation |
to the precise labors these peculiar dutieS in |
volvcd who has performed his delicate and ar |
duouS task with success and intelligence which |
merits this acknowledgment.
Questions Of grave practical importance, at-
fectug'the interests and feelings Of large masses
of the people, sometimes involving local ana &C. |
ographical considerations, points of honor on |
which whole communities were sensitive, points |
of right even, t, uching which all men are Jeal- |
Gus, many of them difficult, all of them new and
without precedent, have crowded upon the cX' |
ecutive for decision. For their correct decision |
he alone was responsible The responsibility |
could not be shared Grateful for the cordial, |
intelligent and constant assistance have always
received from all the other officers surrounding |
me, military and civil, as opportunity was AFFORD
ed them, | o~e TO the people OF Massachusetts |
and to the officers Of their municipal govern |
meuts, an ineXpressibe gratitude for the copsld-
crate turbearance, the manly zeal, the unlaiter
ing patriotism with which the determinations
of this department have been accepted ana suS-
tanned
BoUNTIEs
The pay ment of bounleS by cities and towns
to encourage enlistmentS in the military service,
thus relieving their enrolled militia from Delng
subjected 70 draft, will demand your attention,
and Legislation will be needed in order to legatze
such action of the municipal authorities L re-
specially recommend that the commonwealth
assume all such bounties up to some reasonable
and liberal amount, per capita. Inc call Haue
upon given locality for recruits is matter OF
convenience in the raising of troops. The duty
of furnishing its contingent, in fact, resides IN
the commonwealth itself; and, since the policy
was universal, and was adopted by common CON
sent, Of substituting the motive of bounties in
the stead OF conscripton, cannot doubt that
true equity requires the burden of taxation for
their payment 10 be ascertained and laid on the
taxable property and polls of the whole people,
in the proportion which the whole burden bears
to the valuation Of the whole commonwealth.
Otherwise we shall esve it to the towns to pay,
not in proportion to their means of payment, nut
in proportion 10 the humber of men they enlist
ed. This would seem 10 be unjust to the poor
or towns, and the more so because such COM
munites have already TO endure the loss to their
Industry and prosperity occasioned by deyoung
their young and active men to the service of the
county.
would venture the suggestion that this is a
kind of obligation which ought not to be unne-
cessarily thrown on the shoulders of another gem
GRAFTON. The duty Of bearing arms in the ma
tonal defence rests on the generation OF the
time being The expenses incident 10 the Sc
lection of the precise individuals who shall per-
form military duties for the community, should
be paid by those who constitute that community,
and recommend that system Of state taxation
be adopted for the eXtinguishment within five
years, of this class of Obligations.
DESERTIoNS.
Desertion. in the sense of wanton flight from
| duty, | am confident is rare. But, owing to the
| unsystcmanzed way in which sick and wounded
| men were for many months disposed of, the diff
ficulties attendant finding their regiments and
| reaching them, aud their dread of the GONZALES
| cent and the stragglers' camps at Alexandria,
| many men not unwilling to do their duties, have
| been detained from their regiments, and not ac-
| counted for until at last they became marked on
| the rolls as absentees without leave. Certain
| conspicuous instances of such mistakes have &C.
CURED within my personal knowledge. Conva-
escept soldiers are detained as nurses in hospi-
| tails; others are sent on detached duty of every
sort, detailed to assist quartermasters and com
missaries rolls returns, books of whole regl-
ments are utterly lost ON retreats or hasty march
es; and many missing men are In consequence