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The Draft
Draft Statistics
First Congressional District, OCT. 1, 1863.Enrolled in 1st Class 7675 Enrolled in 2nd Class 3721 Quotas assessed 1505 No. drafted 2256 Accepted men who entered service 79 Accepted men who procured substitutes, 154 Accepted men who paid commutation 723 Total 956 Rejected for disability 573 Exempted under 2nd section of Act of Congress 190 Exempted for other causes,--alienage, non-residents, etc. 331 Twice enrolled 8 Died 4 Failed to report, and deserted after reporting 163 Drafted men whose cases remain undecided 31
Second Congressional District, SEPT. 30, 1863.Enrolled in 1st Class 8816 Enrolled in 2nd Class 4637 Quotas assessed 1763 No. drafted 2645 Accepted 1107 Accepted men who entered service 124 Accepted men who procured substitutes, 261 Accepted men who paid commutation 722 Total 1107 Rejected for disability 966 Exempted under 2nd section of Act of Congress 246 Exempted for other causes 206 Died since draft 2 Failed to report, and deserted after reporting 68 Cases remaining undecided 59
Third Congressional District, SEPT. 26, 1863.Enrolled in 1st Class 7231 Enrolled in 2nd Class 3545 Quotas assessed 1447 No. drafted 2170 Accepted 720 Accepted men who entered service 115 Accepted men who procured substitutes, 215 Accepted men who paid commutation 390 Total 720 Rejected for disability 625 Exempted under 2nd section of Act of Congress 144 Exempted for other causes,--alienage, non-residents, &c. 326 Failed to report 283 Cases remaining undecided 72
RECAPITULATION
.Enrolled in 1st Class 23,722 Enrolled in 2nd Class 11,903 Total enrolled 35,625 Quota assessed 4715 No. drafted 7071 Accepted 2781 Entered service 318 Procured substitutes 630 Paid commutation 1833 Total 2781 Rejected for disability 2157 Exempted 1426 Died 5 Failed to report and deserted after reporting 557 Cases undecided 145 Of the men raised by the draft, 181 have been sent to the Second Regiment, 200 to the Third Regiment, and 192 to the Fourth Regiment. The residue, 27 men, to make up the complement of 200 for the Second and Fourth Regiments, are sick at Long Island. Probably about 150 more men will be sent to the Second and Third Regiments, according to late orders, mostly made up of those who have not yet reported for examination at District Head Quarters. Ten negroes are at Long Island, to be sent to a colored regiment, when the draft is completed. One hundred and sixty-four men are at Brattleboro', organized into two companies, for duty there until further orders.
The quota assigned to the State, to be raised by draft, was 4715 men. There have been raised, under the draft, including those who have entered the service, those who have furnished substitutes, and those who have paid the commutation of $300 each, 2681 men. This leave 1934 men to be raised by supplemental draft, if not otherwise furnished by the State. Under General Order No. 191, of the War Department, dated July 10, 1863, the State has been authorized to raise two regiments of Infantry, and one battery of Light Artillery,--equivalent to 2180 men,--to be credited on the quota of the State. If raised, the necessity for a further draft, under the quota assigned to the State in July, will be avoided. If not raised voluntarily, they must of necessity be raised compulsorily,--since the absolute duty of furnishing men to the Government, and not money in lieu of men, is conceded by all loyal citizens. By the terms of General Order No. 191, only veterans could be enlisted in these organizations, who had served in the army of the United States not less than nine months, and a bounty of $300 was offered to each recruit, in addition to the bounty of $100 and premium of $2,00 before authorized,--in all $402. But on the 7th of September permission was given by the War Department to enlist men for these regiments, who had never served in the army,--paying them the same bounty and premium ($102) which was paid to volunteers in 1862.
For the purpose of raising the regiments and battery thus authorized, General Order No. 2, (Appendix A,) was issued by the Governor of this State, August 3d, 1863, and recruiting officers were appointed and stationed in different parts of the State. The recruiting officers have worked actively and faithfully, and every effort that can be made, has been employed to stimulate enlistments. But I regret to report, that the progress thus far has been so slow, as to be almost discouraging. There are various causes contributing to this result,--the severity of the campaign in Maryland, with which the nine months' regiments closed their term of service,--the amount of sickness which has prevailed among the men, since their return to the State,--a general misunderstanding of the nature of the call upon the State and of the obligation to raise these troops,--and, undoubtedly, to some extent, the absence of that general determination to meet promptly all calls for men, made upon the State, which, in 1862, so effectually aided the efforts of recruiting officers. But, without expending time in examining for reasons, but one result is admissible, and that is, the men must be furnished. Opportunity being afforded to avoid another draft, every consideration of State pride will induce us to raise the required number of men. It is to be hoped, and it is believed, that the selectmen of the several towns and the patriotic citizens of the State will awake to the importance of renewed effort in this respect; and, with their influence and active assistance, success is certain.
Source: Report of the Adjutant & Inspector General of the State of Vermont, 1863; contributed by Mike Ellis, Rochester, Michigan