The Vermont transcript. [volume] (St. Albans, Vt.) 1864-1870, 1864-10-21

mngs. On tho 18th day OF Nav tho sth COM
pany, and on the 9Th day of July, the 9th COM
pany were also sent to join the regiment. The
10th and last company has been fully organized,
and is now at New Haven, Conn, waiting to be
ordered forward. BY special arrangement with
the Secretary of War, this regiment, though its
ranks have boon sadly docimated by the recent
severe battles, has been accepted as a complete
organization. and authority has been granted to
muster its Colonel
The total amount OF men furnished bv the
State since the commencement Of the war is
thirty-two thousand seven hundred and ten men
AS follows:
For three months service ............. 7s2
For nine months service. observation-disclosures. 1873
For ono years service. .................... 1853
For two years service. ..................
For three years service. ............... %, 1886
82,7ic
The totalnumber in service on the 1stofOctober,
az near rs can be ascertained from the latest re-
turns is about twelve thousand two hundred
aud iifty.
The total number raised since Oct. /, 1869, in
Gliding 18th regiment and Sd battery, and cred
its not heretofore allowed, is 14,020.
The State has thus furnished during the past year
more men than in any previous year since the
commencement of the war. And the prompti-
tude with which they have been furnished inli-
Gates in most unmistakable language the deter
minatlon Of her people to vindicate the power of
the Government in this great struggle, and to
Npl NlSblbuH prosecution Oh tIt war, as tne
only sure means Of establishing a peace that
shall be alike honorable and enduring.
AMENDMENT or ENROLL MzNr.
Previous to tho call of the President for five
hundred thousand men in July last, orders have
been issued by the War Department to the Act
ing Assistant Provost Marshall General Of YER
mont to have the enrolment lists in the several
towns IN the State properly revised and correct
cd up to July Let, 1864. Notices were according
~ published in several newspapers in the State,
calling upon the selectmen to that the en-
rollmCnt lists were properly corrected Upon
the returns thus made the quotas of the several
towns were assessed. Owing, however, either
to the fact that the notices did not reach all the
towns, or to a misunderstanding and neglect on
their part, great discrepancies were found to ex-
ist when the quotas were announced. and nn-
mcrOus applications were made to the Acting
Assistant Provost Marshal General for the cor
rectlun of these errors and the reduction of
quotas careful examination into these COM
plants, satisfied that officer that there were Just
grounds for them, and that further opportunity
should be given for correcting the lists. Accor-
dinghy on the oath day Of August, notice was
given to the towns To correct the lists and upon
returns being made, II was ascertained that the
former enrolment was too large by nearly FIVE
thousand, and that consequently the State had
been assessed nearly eight hundred men too
many new assessment of quotas was there
fore ordered. The acting Assistant Provost
Marshal General however, did not feel autho-
rized to make any alteration or reduction of the
general quota assessed to the State at large, or
TO the several Congressional Districts. Conse-
qUently the assessment to towns was made upon
the amended enrolment, still retaining the ba-
sis al the old assignment Of quotas to the State
and Congressional Districts. This mode of as
sessmcnt although afiording relief to some towns
only increased the burden TO others without re-
lie,ing the real point Of difficulty. 1t became
necessary, therefore, tn apply to the War De-
partment for the necessary relief | according
ly made application, and succeeded in obtaining
not only the proper reduction OF the enrolment,
but also the corresponding reduction of the
quota Of the State, and the authority to appor-
ton this to the several towns entitled to the
same, so ms to cqualize the several Congression-
al Districts. The number thus credited was seven
hundred and siSty-seyen men, which have been
properly distributed TO the towns, thus giving
to many towns who had already promptly fur
nshed their full quotas large excess and
credit TO apply on future calls, while at the same
time those towns which were unjustly burdened
by too excessive an assessment have been prop
erly and justly relieved.
RECRUITS OF 1862.
The question of the expiration of the term of
service Of the recruits who enlisted into various
regiments from this State the in summer and fall
of 1862, has been an exceedingly delicate and
troublesome one, both to the State authorities
and the General Government; and while | have
labored earnestly, both by frequent corrcspon-
dence with the War Department, and by person
to me but an act of justice | am yet compelled
to report my inability to accomplish any favora-
BILE result.
simple narration Of the facts will better con-
voy to your minds the true position of affairs.
and enable you to judge of your duties to these
men under the peculiar circumstances in which
they are placed.
In 1862, the Governor of Massachusetts, OBJ
tanned from the War Department special order
for that State to the effect that the term Of SER
vice of all volunteers cnlisting in regiments then
in the field would expire with that of the regi-
meat 10 which they might attach themselves,
which order was promulgated in the usual form
by publication in the papers of the day. At the
same time efforts were being made 10 recruit for
Vermont regiments. and the order from Massa-
chusetts being published in the form of a gcner-
al order, and IN papers that were extensively read
IN this state, inquiry was made of the State au-
thorites. both by officers recruiting and by the
recruits themselves, whether the term of ser
vice of such as might enlist in the Vermont
regiments would expire with that OF the reg-
mcnt into which enlistments might be made. TO
this inquiry, reply, as | am informed, was
uniformly made, that it would and assurances
were freely given in all cases where the question
was raised. till it became the general under
thrOught the state. Upon the strength
of these, coming thus authoritativoly recruits
enlisted freely and joined the regiments OF their
preference.
My attention was first called the subject by
memorial signed by several OF these recruits,
who had been informed unofiicially that they
were TO be held for three years service, The
enlistment contracts and muster rolls, signed by
the recruits were for the period OF three years,
but these were at the time regarded as mere
form, the assurances given being most promi-
nent ia the minds of tho recruits, and being
wholly relied upon by them. The faith of the
State thus became strongly pledged TO these men,
and they had the right to bclive that the pledge
would be preserved inyiolate.
In May last first called the attention Of the
President and Secretary of War 10 the subject,
aud they informed me that no authority had ey-
or been granted to this State for such assuran-
ces as were given, and while they deeply regret
ted the disappointment to these recruits, and
would chccrfully grant the request for their
with the several regiments TO which
they we're attached If il could consistently be
done. vet. that regard for the public safety COM
PEELED them to deny the request. That the
same question existed in other States, and 10
grant the request in one instance, would settle
The principle as to all, and the great injury
would consequently result TO the service, just at
the critical period Of an important and active
Subsequent applications have re-
suited in q similar manner. The disappolnt-
ment 10 recruits in many instances is very great,
and yet am proud TO say, that, so far as has
come to my knowledge, these soldiers have
borne their disappointment manfully and have
performed ali the duties assigned them with
rheerfulness and alacrity which speaks loudly in
their praise.
alton whether it might not be well to place these
recruits for the remainder Of their term on tho
footing Of re-enlisted men, and, II anything
should be done for these latter, In the form OF
a bounty from the State, that these recruits,
should slso, under these circumstances, be con-
sidercd, and receive the same or propor.ionate
bounty These recruits embrace those who on
-, int ha n