Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1865-03-07
9l,993

1t is conjectured that nearly an equal number
have gone into the service and been placed on rolls
who are not recorded in the camps of instruction.
he returns accurate in the four States of Vr-
gna, North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia.
In the month Ui June, 1868, the matter of con-
scription in the States of Florida, Alabama. Missis
sippi and Tennessee, was taken from the control of
this bureau and placed in the hands Of Brig Gen.
Pillow, who con inued to administer it until Janu.
ary, 1864. This bureau has never been able to
obtain any record or report of the operation of
scypOn in those States daring that period Of seven
months. |. is believed none exist. Much of the
year 1864 exhausted in the endeavor to get rid
of the system Of General Pillow and re establish
more uniform and efficient service. 1t is believed
the returns, Stree March, 1864, from those States,
are nearly correct
In the States of Florida, Alabama Tennessee
and Mississippi there has been failure" to exc
cute the law of conscripton for the reasons stated
above. In the other States it has been executed
with much uniformity and vigor, as the agencies
assigned to the duty and the circumstances Of the
country would allow.
Where there have appeared diversites they have
resulted from the difference in the efficiency of OIL
GERS the opposition of State authorities the ress-
tance of communities, and the exercise of the dis
cretion vested in the Executive. In many cases
localities rdering on the lines Of the enemy have
required different proceedings from those applca-
BILE to the interior. In of these great lenen-
cy necessary, in some, such rigor as induced
the Executive to charge military commanders with
the service In some sections the condition of the
populations demanded leniency, others admitted the
utmost rigor. Since January, 1864, in all the
States east Of the Mississippi the general sys
TEN has prevailed.
Instructions local officers have been uniform
with the special variations indicated The differ
ence in the returns of four Eastern States Is fully
accounted for, thus: IL Virginia and South Caro-
lima there has never been exhibited the slightest
opposition the conscrption law and after its pas
sage large numbers Of men passed into the service
without being compelled to go through the camps,
thus evadng the law on point to obey it in
another way. In North Carolina and Georgia
there was popular and constituted resistance The
consequence was that while in Virginia there were
but IA 0G0 conscripts there supposed to be 49,
600 quasi volunteers While in North Carolina
there are 81 SEQ onEcrpts and perhaps less than
5000 quasi volunteers. In Georgia the case is diff
ferent, and presents this aspect: That so violent
was the prejudice against conScriptiOn, that only
about 8 900 have been returned, and vet the peJ-
pie choosing their own mode OF going iGto service
have sent it is supposed, about 2G 900 quasi volun-
teerS. The constant and persistent effort Ct this
bureau has been 20 preserve uniformity, and palli-
ate all inevitable disturbances in the administration
Of the law.
/ remain most respectfully,
Your obedieOt servant,
JNo. 4. PRESTON
Brig Gen. 4 Supt