The National tribune., 1903-05-07


O1G. and SIP espcctivcIy-Gi6.93I. or 40
per cent. of the entire number recruited
within the two months.
l. More than 2.GG0.C30 men were fur
nished on the Union side. and about $780,
600 approximation. Gil the Confederate
an aggregate, North and South. of 1900
GEO. That is to say, from April 10 1851,
to April %, 1850, Il period of about Is
consecutive months, the country supplied
monthly. an average of almost II ,00O-a
large army-for military service.
DISARMAMENT.
April 2S 1863. in view of the speedy
termination of hOstilities, the Secretary
of War. Immediately after his return from
n meeting of the Cabinet, directed General
Orders, No. II, series of 1860, for rcduc-
ing the expenses of the military establish
ment' to be promulgated.
That order was prepared, personally, by
the Secretary, and handed to me, with d-
rections TO change it as might seem neces-
sary. The order, in its main features, was
found to cover fully every essential con-
nection with so great and important an
undertaking, and is here referred to, as
illustrating the wonderful knowledge. in
detail. which the distinguished Minister
of War possessed relative to the military
establishment. He knew it, intimately, i'll
all its parts; such had been the great de-
votion and study given by him to the per-
sonnet and matericl.
Preliminary orders to muster out were
given as follows:
April %. All recruits, drafted men, sub
stitutes, and volunteers remaining at the
several State depots.
May 4. All patients in hospitals; except
veteran volunteers. and the veterans of the
First Army Corps Hancock
Nav & Ill troOpS of the cavalry arm
whose terms of service would expire prior
to Oct. !.
May o. All officers and enlisted men,
whose terms would expire prior to May 81 i,
inclusive.
To cover the
HEAVY UNDERTAKING OF DIsBASDING
the principal portion of the forces, with
their regiinen,al and company OrganiZa-
tons, General Order, No. -, from the
Adjutant- Generals Office, dated May 10,
was promulgated.
AT the meeting which decided the
method the Secretary realized the vast
ness of the work about to be undertaken,
and the responsibility attaching to the
War Department. When Informed that
had already prepared method for eff
fecting the disarmament he gave evidence
of his great relief. The arrangements for
the care of discharged troops having been
completed. orders 10 muster out and dis
charge from service were issued. The Or
ders were of various dates between May
II, 1865, to July II, 1866.
The rapidity with which the work was
executed will be apparent from the fact
that, to Aug. T. Gi0,S06 troops had been
mustered out; Aug. 22, 719,33S; Sept. ii,
al, 107; Oct. -, SJ,2UJ; Nov. -, $780,
9G3; Jan. 20, 1866. 91S, 722; Feb. 10, 3d.
452; March 10, 9G1 ,SS1; May ], 9GS, 1872;
June 80, 1,O10,670; Nov. !, ,023,0 21, leav-
ing then in service II ,0I3 volunteers, col
ored and white.
The command of Maj.-Gen. Sherman
(Army of the Tennessee and Army Of
Georgia. and the Army Of the Potomac
were first to complete their musters-out en-
tirely. Regiments began leaving Gen.
Sherman's command, then numbering
present and absent, 11G, 1873 officers and
men, from the rendezvous near Washing
ton on May %, and on Aug. l the last one
of the regiments mustered out left Louis
vile, Ky, to which point the command
(after the musters-out thcrefrOm were
partly completely was transferred, and the
armies composing it merged into one, call
ed the Army of the Tennessee. The work
of mastering out the troops was not con-
tinuous--it was interrupted and delayed by
the transfer of the two armies from Wash
ington to Louisville and their subsequent
consolidation.
Regiments began leaving the Army OF
the Potomac numbering including Ninth
Corps, 1G2S51 officers and men, present
and absent from the rendezvous near
Washington OIL May 30, and about six
weeks thereafter Gully 49, the last regi-
ment started for home. During the inter
val the work, like that of Gen. Shermans
command was not continuous. 1t was in
terrupted and delayed by the movement of
the Sixth Corps from Danville, Va, to
Washington, and the consolidation, by or
ders of June %, of the remaining portion
of the army into Il provisional corps, num-
bering, present and absent, -, 500 officers
and men.
RAPID WORK.
Thus for the two commands in question,
and between May % and Aug. ~ two
months) 279,034 officers and men, present
and absent, were mustered out and placed
on the way to their homes.
Including other armies and departments.
the number was increased by Aug. 1.-TWO
months and seven days. to GAO, SOC officers
and men.
From the foregoing it will be seen that
the forces were mustered out mainly by
Sept. IA, or within two and n half months
from the time the movements of troops