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

siAfh AID TO SOLDIERS FAMILIES.
In October last | appointed John Howe, Jr.,
Esq, OF Brandon, Agent Of the State to furnish
the necessary aid To the families of the soldiers
The report in detail of that department is
herewith transmitted.
From this, it appears tho amount expended
during the past year is SIS, 100 u.
The number of families aided ....... All
Number OF persons aided ............... . O5,
The transactions in the department under Mr..
howes management have been conducted with
great ability and discretion, and while the duties
have been delicate, and the abors arduous,
prompted purely by motives OF patriotism and
without compensation, the interests Of the State
have yet been protected with great fidelity. and
the destitute families of the soldiers have re-
ceiyed that care and assistance which it was the
object OF the law to furnish them.
MILITARY.
On the Sd day of August, 1868, the War Dc
partnent authorized the raising of two addition
al regiments OF infantry and one battery of light
artillery.
In pursuance of this order. my predecessor
made arrangements for, and appointed the nee
essary recruiting officers to raise tho nth Regi
mcnt OF Infantry and the 81 Battery of Artillery,
and also to Il partial extent the 18th Regiment
OF Infantry. II was expected under this order
that these could be raised as veteran organiza-
lions rom the men just returned from the nine
months service, and, as inducements for speedy
enllstments, the Government authorized the
payment of bounty OF four hundred dollars 10
veterans, and one hundred dollars to new re-
crnits.
The severity of the service which these nine
months regiments experienced in the battles of
Gettysburgh, which occurred inst on the eve of
the expiration of their term deferred them from
immediate enlistment, and at the time of my en-
tcrlng upon the duties of my Office, but COM
paratvely few men had enlisted into these or
ganiZations
On the l4th of October, 1863. the. call for three
hundred thousand men was made by the Pres-
dent, 10 serve for three Years, and authority was
gwen for the payment of four hundred dollars
to veterans and three hundred dollars to new
recruits. The quota under the call assessed to
Vermont was three thousand three hundred and
thlrty men, and the period within which to raise
the troops was limited 20 January >, 1864. The
work was at first very greatly retarded from the
dlfficuity OF properly adjusting the credits due
and belonging To the several towns, from the
fact that towns as sub-distriets were not recog-
nlzed by the Government. Efforts were, how
ever, promptly made, by application to the War
Department to remedy the difficulty and after
some delay an order was obtained recognizing
towns as sub-distTicts, and the quotas were ac-
cordingly assessed to the towns and their credits
properly adjusted. The quota Of the State was
then promptly filed within the period limited by
the call and on the first day Of February follow
ing sirfeen hundred and ttre1fy-onc enlisted men
stood to the credit of the State as surplus over
all calls that had been made, This surplus con-
tinued from that time constantly TO augment
with slight variations, under the calls of Febrn-
AIRY l4th and March 18th, so that, at the date Of
the last call by the President, July 18th the
State had an entire surplus"of t,co thousand tu0
hundred and one men.
Under this last call for five hundred thousand
men, the quota Of the State was five thousand
one hundred and fifty-six. Fifty days from the
uate OF the call was the time allotted for filling the
quota, and il is with a feeling Of Just pride that
congratulate the State upon the promptitude
with which she has responded to it, and that on
settlement with the General Government 10 Oc-
tober LIST, there was found TO be due 10 the State
surplus Of one thousand aud fourteen men.
which stands to her credit against any future
call, should such hereafter be made.
The report Of the Adjutant and Inspector
General, which will in due time be laid before
you, will furnish you more fully in detail the
transa otions Of his department. II is but JUS
tice 10 that officer 10 say that the State is largely
indebted to him for the energy and efficiency dis
played in the details OF his department Tho
services rendered by him have been OF great val
ne, and have contributed largely in securing 10
the State the proud position which she this day
enjoys.
The efforts which were made throughout the
State TO fill the quotas under tho first call, the
liberal bounties paid by the towns generally and
the fact that under this call, new recruits recsyed
three hundred dollars bounty from the General
Government, while under the order authorizing
the raising OF the 18th and 18th regiments and
the Sd battery only one hundred dollars was au-
thorized, all conspired to retard enlistments in
ously entertained Of disbanding them altogether,
Great expense had been incurred up to that peri
cd In the attempt TO raise the men, and 10 aban-
don at that point would have involved tho State
IN o very heavy burden. however did not feel
regiment, and accordingly directed the transfer
Of men enlisted for that 10 the 17th regiment.
Application was then made 10 the Secretary Of
War for authority 10 pay new recruits for this
regiment the Government bounty Of three hun