Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1864-10-20


Selectmen to see that the enrolment
lists were properly corrected. Upon the
| returns thus made the quotas of the Sc
veral towns were assessed Owing,
however, either TO the fact that the no.
tices did not reach all the towns, or to
misunderstanding and neglect on their
part, great discrepancies were found to
exist when the quotas were announced.
and numerous applications were made
to the Acting Assistant Provost Marshal
General for the correction of these errors
and the reduction of quotas. A careful
examination into these complaints sat
is1ied that officer that there were just
grounds for them, and that further OPP
portunity should be given FOR correcting
the lists. Accordingly on the oath day
of August notice was given to the towns
to correct the lists, and upon returns
being made, it was ascertained that the
former enrolment was too large by near
ly five thousand, and that consequently
the State had been assessed nearly eight
hundred men too many. A new assess
ment of quotas was therefore ordered.
The Acting Assistant Provost Marshal
General, however, did not feel authorized
to make any alteration or reduction of
the general quota assessed 10 the State
at large. or to the several Congressional
Districts Consequently the new assess
ment to towns was made upon the
amended enrolment, still retaining the
basis of the old assignment of quotas to
the State aud Congressional Districts.
This mode of assessment although af-
fording relief 30 some towns only in
| = H. 80, al Vsff+h
! relieving the real point of difficulty. It
| became necessary, therefore, to apply to
| the War Department for the necessary
relief | accordingly 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 authority 10 ap-
! portion this to the several towns entit-
led to the same, so Us to equalize the
several Congressional Districts. The
| number thus credited was seven nun
! dred aud sixty-seyen men, which have
been properly distributed 10 the towns,
| thus giving TO many towns who had
already promptly furnished their full
| quotas. u large excess and credit TO ap-
ply on future calls, while at the same
time those towns which were unjustly
burdened by too excessive an assess
ment have been properly and Justly re-
leved
RECRUITS OF 1862.
The question Of the expiration Of the
! term of service OF the recruits who en-
listed into various regiments from this
State in the summer and fall Of 1862,
has been an exceedingly delicate and
troublesome one, both to the State au-
thorities and to the General Government;
and while | have labored earnestly both
by FREQUENT correspondence with the
War Department and by personal inter
views, to secure for them what seemed to
me but an act Of justice | am yet tcom-
PEELED to report my inability to accom-
plish any favorable result.
A simple narration of the facts will
better convey to your minds the true
r position of affairs, and enable you tC
Judge of your duties to these men under
the peculiar circumstances in which they
{ are placed.
In 1852 the Governor Of Massachu
, setts obtained from the War Department
a special order for that State to the eff
, feet that the term of service of all vol
|
i the field, would expire with that of tht
, regiment to which they might attach
themselves, which order was promul
e gated in the usual form by publication
in the papers of the day. At the same
time efforts were being made to recrui
: for the Vermont regiments, and the or
, der from Massachusetts being published
!; in the form of a general order, and in pa
, pers that were extensively read in thit
e State, inquiry was made of the Stat,
q authorities, both by officers recruiting
, and by the recruits themselves, whethe
: the term of service of such as might en-
. list in the Vermont regiments would ex
: pire with that of the regiment int
f which enlistments might be made T,
s this inquiry, reply as | am informed
t was uniformly made, that it woald, ant
a assurances were freely given in all case
Y where the question was raised, till it be
|, came the general understanding through
V out the State. Upon the strength o
If these, coming thus authoritatiyely, re
II cruits enlisted freely and joined the re
giments of their preference.
My attention was first called to th
subject by memorial, signed by severa
of these recruits, who had been informe'
unoffici.!ly that they were to be held 70
the full three years service. The enlist
ment contracts and muster rolls, sione
by the recruits, were for the period G
e three years, but these were at the tim
= regarded as mere form, the assurance
it given being most prominent in tn
minds of the recruits and being who'll
|, relied upon by them. The faith of tn
d State thus became strongly pledged t,
l. these men, and they had the right to be
lieve that the pledge would be preserves
O inyiOlate.
; In May last first called the attentio
If Of the President and Secretary Of Wa
h to the subject, and they informed m
i that no authority had ever been granite,
,e to this State for such assurances as wer
l. given, and while they deeply regrette
is the disappointment TO these recruit:
is and would cheerfully grant the reques
re for their discharge with the several rec
IL iments to which they were attached,
it could consistently be done, yet, tina
ov.I tIs .o+x l.