The National tribune., 1903-05-14

field. The Acknowledgement Hau, Siihpi!.
to do with the formal reeniistment OF the
veterans The plan for their recruitment
was devised and prepared by the Provost
Marshal-Gcneral.
The following is summary OF the num-
Der:
Militia three and nine months
from April Il, 1861, TO May
], 1Sij5 1"o,o-l
Volunteers from May ), 1851, to
May l, 1868 Il, ~. ~
Colored troops during the. war;. lG!',dZ4
Total l''io'-ot
Veteran volunteers. reenlstment in the
field. 1896 under the recruitment sys-
TEN of the ProvoSi-Niarshal-G los
Pol.
RECRUITING MACHINERY.
The foregoing involved:
/. The establishment and management
of the general depots or rendezvous in the
several States for collecting and instruct
ing recruits.
. The care of all recruits Qnciudins
those enlisted under the Prorost-harshai-
Generals Bureau after arrival at general
depot. r
3. The organization of the recruits for
new commands. into regiments and coa-
panies; also the framing of the numerous
orders and regulations relative TO the Or
ganization of the volunteer forces, ana the
responsibility for their enforcement
q. The forwarding of all troops, new
organizations and detachmenss OIL recruits
for old ones, to the field.
:. The muster-in of commissioned DILL
GERS and enlisted men for all ORGANIZATIONS
in the field, and for those serving else
where under the control of Commanding
Generals of Departments. rms important
duty involving many difficult questions,
upon the solution of which depended the
beginning of pay, or date of rank. required
at times Il CORPS OF 200 Commissarics and
Assistant CommSsarics of Musters, or
one Comm:ssary for each military geo
graphical division and department, ana
each army and one assistant for each dlyi-
sion Of troops.
6. The mastering out and dischargins
all volunteers and militia, and the gem
eral direction CT them whilst returning 10
their homes.
Z. The charge connected with person
mel of l.G34 co. officers and enlisted men
in so far as involved their military records.
OF this number. the records attached to
$1,000 commissioned officers, involving
leaves OF absence, designations, d!sIniSsals,
etc.
PROV sT-AIARsHAL- BUREAU.
The following is condensed summary
of the results Of the operations Of that bu-
rcau frcm its organization TO the close Of
the war:
/. BY means Of a full and exact enroll
ment of all persons liable to coGscri2tion
under the law of March 3, 1863, and its
amendments. complete exhibit of the
military resources of the loyal States i'll
men. not including l0OO.516 soldiers ac-
tually under arms when hOStilities ceased.
q There were 1,12GG2i men raised, nj
an average cost Ton account Of recruit
ment. exclusive of bounties) of S9.S4 per
man: while the cost of recruiting the
1.3JG.Jg3 raised prior to the organization
of the bureau was S34.01 per man. \ saw
inr of 10 cents Oh the dollar in the cost of
raising troops was thus effected under this
bureau. notwithstanding the increase in
the price OF subsistence, transportation,
rents, etc, during the last two years of
the war.
There were 1926 deserters arrested
and returned to the army.
The vigilance and energy of the officers
OF the Bureau in this branch of business
put an cifcctual check to the widespread
evil of deseriion. which at one time i'm
paired so seriously the numerical strength
and efficiency of the army.
i. The quotas Of men furnished by the
various parts of the country were equal
lied. and proporti0nate share of military
service secured from each, thus removing
the very serious inequality of recruitment
which had arisen during the first two years
e of the war and which when the bureau
was organized had become an almost in.
superable obstacle to further progress in
raising troops.
,. Records were completed, showing
infinitely the physical condition Of 1.0lf
176 of the men examined and tables OF
great scientific and professional value have
been compiled from these data.
g. The casualties in the entire military
force of the Nation during the war of the
rebellion, as shown by the official muster
rolls and monthly returns. have been com,
piled. showing, among other items. J.221
commissioned officers and 90.SGS enlisted
men killed in action. or died of wounds
while in service: 1921 commissioned Off
GERS. and 1920 enlisted men who died
from disease or accident; making an as
eregate of 2S0.1 officers and men of the
army who lost their lives in service.
VETERAN VOLUNTEERS
In addition to the foregoing, the Pro
yost-Marshal-General has referred. in his
report for 1866, to the reenlistment. and re
organization in 1863 and 1864 of regiment,
then in service termed after reorganiza
tion, Veteran Volunteers" as follows:
1.-The loss by expiration Of enlistment o.
entire regiments and companies, after the,
had seen service enough to become valua
biz soldiers, proved a serious drawback tt
military operations during the first tive
years of the war. Soon after the organi
cation of this bureau its attention was di
rected to the discovery and application OF
a remedy for this evil. An examination
in the Summer of 1868 showed that of 95t
volunteer regiments, seven independent
battalions, 81 independent companies, anG
15S volunteer batteries then in service, the
terms of 455 regiments, three battalions
IS independent companies, and 81 batter
les would expire prior to Dec. 81. 1864
leaving the army to consist ut that date OF
sol regiments, four Independent battal
ions, % independent companies. and Il