Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1864-12-16
WASHINGTON, Dec. sh. 1864


Mr. EDITOR:
The national capitol is again crowded With
legislators, office holders, and office seekers,
with goodly number of curious lookers.on
to see how the great men of the nation con
duct themselves both in public and private
matters
The prominent subject OF interest for the
past few days has been the War Department
order in regard to The organization of new
volunteer army corps, under the supervision
OF Major General Hancock, who is to be its
commander. The corps is to consist Of not
less than twenty thousand infantry the en-
listed men to be able bodied, and those who
have served honorably for two years, and are
therefore not subject to the draft. Any U. s.
District Provost Marshal is authorized to de-
eide the qualifications for admission to the
corps, and If approved. will furnish the veter-
an transportation to Washington, where he
will be regularly mustered for not less than
one year, and will be paid special bounty Of
three hundred dollars from the substitute fund
upon being mustered into the service. This
special inducement must be understood as in
addition to the regular bounty Of one, two,
and three hundred dollars paid for one, two
and three years en!istments respectively. Also
1t is allowed for any recruit to receive such
local bounties as may be paid at the DISTRICTS
where their families ars domiciled, TO which
district they will be credited. The corps will
have special badge to designate it, or pecu-
liar uniform.
The promise that each recruit who preserves
his arms to the end of his term may retain
/ them as his own, upon being honorably dis
charged from service, is feature which gives
great inducement for good men to encourage
this movement who would appreciate this lib
eral offer of rhe Government, and always
thereafter carefully preserve them as relics
earned In a fearful contest for Liberty and
Union.
The facr is that General Hancock's reputa-
ton as a vigorous and skilful commander il
not to be made by newspaper writer's. but is
already part of our glorious history, made
SO by the numerous brilliant deeds Of the Di-
vision and corps he has commanded during
this war
The arms aud equipments will be the most
approved in possession Of the Government.
All persons desiring Commissions in this
Corps must make application in writing to the
AdJutant General OF the Army, Washington,
ID. c., setting forth their present address, the
date and rank OF their original entry into the
service, the regimental organizations 10 which
they have served, the date and causes of their
discharge, their rank at the time they were
mustered out of service, and If they think
proper. adding military recommendations from
their former commanders.
Applicants must have been two years in the
service, have been honoraby discharged, and
be physically qualified. Their military record
will be examined in the Adjutant Generals
Office, whence it will be referred to Mai. Gen.
Hancock for the purpose Of ascertaining their
fitness for the positions to which they desire
to be appointed. After passing examinatin
Officers will receive appointments, and they
may then be required to proceed at once to
raise veterans under the order. When sui
fcent number has been received and mustered
in, to rank from the date of his acceptance,
his pay also beginning at that date.
There is but little doubt that another draft
will be ordered soon, so States, counties and
towns will do well to give their local bounties
TO the veterans in then midst who may wish
again to win laurels in their country's defence
The greatest success will be in those States
where Governors apply for recruiting officers
to be sent thereto. Great success is anticipated
in completing the organization by the first of
January, as many applications have already
been made and accepted. Young men ofener-
gy and ability will do well to join this veteran
corps, as it will be cherished as an honor in
after days to have been part Of it.
While the country is anxious to see a change
in most of the Cabinet officials, is the opin-
ion of many of our best Legislators and army
officials, as well as intlligent observers of the
course OF Mr.. stanton, that it would be
national calamity TO allow him to retire, for it
is claimed for him, and with truth, that no
Government official mas done his duty as faith
fully as he, or more determinesly opposed and
thwarted the schemes of Copperheads during
the past two years. His radical views on the
slavery question are not seounI to any now in
power, bat far outstrip most Of his colleagues.
His executive ability none even question.
We learn BY letter from Port Hudson,
La. that tho vote in the lst VI. battery was
az far Lin soIn and "a far McClellan Tn