The National tribune., 1889-12-19
FIGHTING THEM OVER
What0 Veterans Have to Say About
Their Old Campaigns
MICHIGAN IN THE WAR.

EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: In reply to
the letter Of Comrade Wilbur III. Webber, Lam
pasas, Tex, in which be calls attention to the
fact that the statistics for the losses and enroll
ments of Michigan regiments, as quoted ia your
columns from my recent work, "Regimental
losses" differ from the figures given in Michi-
gan in the War" lie notes in my figures that
while the losses are greater the enrollments are
less; difference by the way, which does not
dctract from the brilliant record of the Michi-
gan regiments, MS ii only indicates harder fight
ing aud greater percentage Of loss. STILL &C
curacy is what we want, and so we will wave
the question Of the additional laurels and get at
the facts.
First, as TO the difference in enrolment.
The comrades attention is called to the fact
that the State Of Michigan published another
work relating TO these matters, besides Michi-
gan in the War" While the latter consists of
one volume, devoted almost entirely 10 regi-
mental histories, the other comprises six large
volumes Of regimental lists, aud contains the
name and record OF each enlisted man in the
Michigan regiments. i made up my enroll
ments from the latter, It being official publi-
cation as well as the work referred 10 by Com
rade Weber. Moreover, il gives the enroll
meuts name by name; while IN " Michigan in
the War" the enrollments are merely stated in
totals
/ had long ago noticed. on counting the
names in these printed Michigan Records, that
the result fell short of the total enrollments as
given in Michigan in the War; and. with
hope Of reconciling this seeming discrepancy,
j wrote 10 Gen. ID. B. Anger, Adjutant- Gen
eral Of the State.-Whom COmrade Weber also
quotes-asking him for the company enroll
menis, to which the General kindly answered,
Rs follows:
Referring to yours Of the 9Th inst. relative TO
count of soldiers IN various regiments OF this State
during the OF the rebellion. IL has been found
impossible TO comply with your request owing TO
the very limited clerical force allowed this Office
rsfah limo rTl In MI
OF my ability. forward you 10y express this day
copies Of Reports Of this Office for 1862, and 1866 in
elusive. These books show, 10y name, the final dis
position Of each soldier from this State. As these
volumes are Row quite rare tisreqnested that they
be returned at your earliest convenience.
ID. b. ANGER, Adiuiant General.
But long before the receipt of this letter /
had purchased a set Of these Reports and had
used them in compiling nay Michigan enroll
ments. Still, ] was glad 10 have the official as
surance that these Reports were reliable and
correct j think myself that they are sub
stautialy correct; and, as slight test, on
ceiying COmrade Nebber's letter. turned TO
them and found: 9th Mich. Vols, Co. H, Viii
bur II. Nebber, Eaton County; discharged at
expiration Of service Aug. %, 1864" Other
Michigan soldiers will probably find their rec
ords in these volumes, with the exception Of
deseTters, and Gen. Anger explained in his let
ter how these should be accounted for and add
ed 10 the enr0llments.
In making up the total enrollments Of the
Michigan regiments / counted these records
name by name. The question may then arise
rs 20 why there shoald be any discrepancy be-
tween the two publications. Well, the excess
as given IN Michigan in the War" may be
due 20 various reasons. The enrOlments in
that volume seem 90 have been counted from
the Enster-out rolls, in which case men who
were transferred from one company to another
would be counted twice. while ia "Regimenta
Losses IayOid that. Again, at the close Of the
war some regiments received from dishanded
organizations large accessi0ns Of recruits, with
unexpired terms, men who were left in the
field when their regiments went home For
instance, Michigan in the War" credits the
1st Mich. Cav. with over 5000 men; correct
bat that regiment did not have 5000 men en-
rolled prior to Appomattox, its enrolment
having been swelied By transfers from the 5th
and 9th Cav. after the war closed. IN " Regi-
mental Losses j omit all such transfers. and
seek 10 give only the number enrolled during
The war. Again, Michigan in the War" ia
Guided the bands in the enrollments. and does
% properly; but omit the bands on account
OF the percentages. Again, re-eBlisted veterans
arc counted twice in State enrOllmcBts while
aim 70 give only the number Of individuals
who actually served. These causes ali tend 10
show larger number than could be included
properly ID the enrollnents as shown In Regi-
mental Losses and quoted in TIE NATIONAL
TRIBUNE.
Again, there were unassigned recruits" be-
longing to each regiment, men whose names
Bppear on the State records IN connection with
these regiments, but who never Joined their
commands In Regimental Losses" this
class Is omitted. It brings credit 10 the vet
eraus 10 unduly swell the enrolment of their
regiment however much IL might assist the
State IN establishing its quota
Ny statistics for the eDTolments Of other
States, rs quoted from time 10 time in The Ma
TToNAL TRIBUNE, were arrived al in the same
way, and after a careful examination Of the
same conditions The State OF New Jersey, for
instance officially states the enrolment Of the
9Th N. }. at number 25l too many, by reason
n just that Uumber Of transfers from one com
PaHy 70 another, the number Of these transfers
being tabulated in the recapitulaton showing
the total enrolment.
COmrade Weber asks. again, as to why Col
Fox ia bis Regimental L0sses" credits the
regiments with a greater number Of deaths
Than the State publication. In reply, / would
tay that after compiling the losses Of the
Michigan regiments from the individual rec
Drds. printed ia the official State Reports al
luded TO- and 0nparing them with the totals
given 10 Michigan IN the War;" j afterward
compared my figures also with the records on
Die % the War Department az Washington
From the latter il became clear that the State
records were lacking, and / corrected mine &C
c0Fdingly
The question may then arise as 10 why the
Information recorded at the War Department
hiAl4tA DC more COLD PleLE IMAM lEat lie at
the State Military Bureau. To start with the
General Government has a Pension Bureau and
the State has none. Through the applications
for pensions made by the friends o. deceased
soldiers the War Department has asceftained
The 60 fate q thousands who were borne on the
nuster-Dut rolls IS missing" or were unac.
counted for. Again, the State Bureaus have
,Hy the muster-Out rolls from which 70 com
pieie their nIOrtuary statistics and these rolls
often fail 70 account for all the members of the
regiment. When the regiment was mustered
out, IA 1885, there were many whose fate was
unknown; many absent ones VINO could not be
accounted for. They may have been missing ia
actlon; may have been captured and died 1T
AndersOnville; may have been furlOughed and
died while absent. Some, even, who were killed
In action were borne on the rolls az muster-out
o. deserters. Then there was a large class of
men known as unassigned recruits" MANY
OF whom died al the recruiting barracks or on
their way % the regiment, bat who were not
picked Up IN borne on the rolls.
Now, for - years the War Department has
had large force Of competent men employed
IN correcting these omissions and perlectinR
The rolls, and their work has resulted In large
increase N the recorded number Of deaths
The mOrtuaTy records Of the Adiutaut-C;en.
erals Office AZ Washington are kept ia q man
ber that would excite the admiration az any
gtatistician. The work 10 done under au intel.
Egent and admirable system, one not excelIed
even by the statistical work Of the German
fHrWw NfrFW1 md II a