Louis Davenport; Dr. Keiffer, surgeons. C. H. Buhl of Wayne resigned after serving a considerable time, and was succeeded by Joseph Warren.

In counties where commissioners and surgeons were not appointed by this order, the Sheriffs thereof were authorized to designate commissioners, with power to appoint surgeons.

On account of the want of preparation in most of the States for an immediate draft, the Government found it expedient to postpone the period for it to take place and to extend the time for the completion of the regiments in process of organization.

In the meantime the most strenuous and effective measures were being continued by most of the townships and wards then behind to furnish the number required of them without recourse to draft, and to aid in this, large local bounties were offered and the most efficient means of recruiting employed.

The results of the military census are presented in the following table taken from the Adjutant-General's report for 1862. Where the figures are omitted in the first column, the counties failed to make returns.

Table showing the number of persons between the ages of 18 and 45 enrolled by Assessors, September 10, 1862, the number exempted, and the number subject to draft; together with the number returned in June, under a law of the State.

In the same report of the Adjutant-General is found the following statement regarding the population of counties and the number of persons subject to draft on the basis of the census of 1860:

"The total population of the counties above enumerated at the census of 1860 was 715,595. The proportion of persons residing therein who are subject to draft is as 1 to 857-1000. The counties which have made no returns are Alcona, Alpena, Chippewa, Delta, Gratiot, Grand Traverse, Houghton, (included with Keweenaw in 1860,) Iosco, Leelanaw, Marquette, Manitou, Manistee, Muskegon, Osceola, Oceana, Ontonagon, Presque Isle, and Schoolcraft, and their aggregate population in 1860 was 35,415. The same ratio which rules in the counties from which returns have been received would produce in the counties last mentioned a military strength of 4,507, making the aggregate of persons yet remaining in the State between the ages of 18 and 45, and subject to draft for military purposes, 95,578, less the number of volunteers who have enlisted since September 10, 1862."

The War Department, now fully aware of many obstacles in the way of making a draft at that time and hoping that the necessary additional troops could be raised by volunteer enlistments, left the time for drafting to the discretion of the governors.

Early in September three companies of men, nearly full, had been offered from the Upper Peninsula, and there was reason to believe that three more would be filled in the same section of country. The 27th infantry was, therefore, with the assent of the Government, organized and put in rendezvous at Port Huron in command of Lieut. Col. Thomas S. Sprague. The authority given by the War Department to Col. Kellogg to raise the 7th cavalry was confirmed by the Governor, and that regiment was thereupon organized and ordered, under date of October 29th, to rendezvous at Grand Rapids.

At the same time the Governor accorded permission, (the same having been previously given by the General Government, subject to his approval,) to Col. John Stockton, of Mount Clemens, and to Capt. James J. David, of Trenton, then in the U. S. Quartermaster's Department, to raise an additional regiment of cavalry, and the 8th was thereupon ordered, with its camp at Mount Clemens, and the 9th, which had its rendezvous at Cold

water.

An urgent desire having been manifested to organize another infantry regiment, Col. Edward Doyle, of Detroit, received authority, with the assent of the War Department, to raise the 28th; and on application the Department also consented to the raising of a regiment of sharpshooters, the organization of which had been placed in the charge of Capt. C. V. DeLand, of the 9th infantry. The Government had specially authorized advanced bounty and one month's pay to volunteers in either of these regiments, and vigorous efforts were very generally entered upon to fill their ranks.

It was supposed by many citizens that were an opportunity offered for men to enlist for the same term as the law provided for drafted levies-nine months-larger numbers would avail themselves of it to volunteer for that period who declined to accept a longer service. Willing to afford every reasonable encouragement to the disposition so generally manifested to furnish all the men required without resorting to draft, and fully mindful, also, of his obligations to the National Government, His Excellency, on the 29th of November, issued a proclamation which so clearly represents the situation at the time, and is so intimately connected with the State military record, that we take the liberty of presenting it in full:

To the People of the State of Michigan:

It is essential to the maintenance of the honor of the State, by meeting its obligations to the Federal Government, that the quota of the troops required of Michigan under the call for 600,000 men should be speedily furnished. I have felt great confidence that this might be done without resort to a draft, but it will be impossible at the rate enlistments have been making for the last month and more. The number required of each town and ward in the State has been assigned upon the principle of giving credit for all recruits furnished since the first of July last. Substantial justice in this respect has been done toward all. To be exact was impossible, and to go back of the first of July was impracticable, both because the order of the Secretary of War did not authorize it, and because there was no reliable record by which such credit could be made up with any chance of fairness.

It is, therefore, indispensable that the several towns and wards of cities should furnish the number of recruits assigned to them, and I take this occasion to assure the people that unless the men are furnished by voluntary enlistment they will be taken by the draft.

For the purpose of still giving abundant opportunity to fill the quota of the State by voluntary enlistment, recruiting will be continued as follows: 1st. Recruits will be received for new regiments now forming in the State, and for all the old regiments now in the field, until and including the 29th day of December next. These must be enlisted for the term of three years or during the war.

2d. From the 1st to the 16th day of December next volunteer recruits will be received for the old regiments only to serve for nine months, in pursuance of the act of Congress.

3d. On the 30th day of December next the draft will commence and proceed until the requisite number is obtained in all those towns and wards which shall then be found delinquent.

Less than four thousand men are now required to fill the entire quota of the State, and I earnestly hope that they will be found to come forward cheerfully and enlist for the war, as all our troops thus far have done. And I desire this not so much because there is anything discreditable in a draft, as because it is exceedingly desirable that all the troops from Michigan should stand on the same footing in the army. Let the people of Michigan make one more loyal and vigorous effort, and the entire number required can be obtained, and the high reputation of the State for patriotism and promptness will be maintained.

Dated Jackson, November 29, 1862.

AUSTIN BLAIR.

The aggregate number of troops enlisted and mustered up to December 23d, 1862, as reported by the Adjutant-General, was as follows:

Total, including recruits, sent to the field before July 1st, 1862, 24,281; "Lancers" and "Hughes' Horse Guards," regularly mustered into the service, but disbanded without leaving the State, 987; three regiments of cavalry, ten of infantry, and one battery, sent since July 1st, 13,739; recruits (including six for nine months) received from July 1st to December 23d, 2,162; estimated strength of three regiments of cavalry, two of infantry, one of sharpshooters, and two batteries, organizing in the State, 4,400. Total, 45,569.

This does not include volunteers from this State who have gone into the regiments of other States, to a number known to exceed 1,400.

A considerable number of recruits had also been enlisted in the State

during the summer and fall for the regular army, probably three or four hundred at least.

These troops, with the exception of a few of the earlier regiments that were mustered into service by the late Lieut. Col. E. Buckus, Capt. J. C. Robinson, and Capt. H. R. Miner, U. S. army, were mustered under the direction of the late Gen. J. R. Smith, U. S. army, a citizen and resident of Michigan, who was United States military commander in the State and chief mustering officer until the adoption of the provost marshal's system when he was detailed as commissary of musters, in which capacity he served until the close of the war. The energetic and faithful services rendered by him aided much in facilitating the speedy despatch of troops to the front.

The report of the Adjutant-General of the State for 1862 closes with the following extract, which undoubtedly expressed the estimation in which the Michigan troops were held, and did not by any means over-estimate their services, and certainly was correct as to the loyalty and patriotism of the people at that period of the war:

"At the time of making the last annual report from this department, covering only a small portion of the force now in the service from this State, it was thought that the regiments then reported would be all that would be required to suppress the rebellion; but another year is nearly closed, and regiment after regiment has been raised, until a large army has gone from the State, and still the rebellion goes on. Notwithstanding all this, the loyalty and patriotism of the people is unexhausted. The same determination seems to exist as at the commencement of the war, that it must be put down, and the nation redeemed at any sacrifice. The promptness and cheerfulness with which every call made by the General Government upon the State has been responded to bespeaks the intelligent loyal patriotism of its people. The people of Michigan are intelligently loyal on the subject of the war, and her soldiery are intelligently brave and patriotic, true to the honor of their State and their nation, preferring on all occasions death before dishonoring either.

"The troops from the State of Michigan have gained a prominent position in the armies of the nation. They have done their duty faithfully, fully, and fearlessly, and borne the brunt of many well-fought fields. Some of them have proved an anomaly in modern warfare; suddenly called from the common avocations of life, and within a very few days of the time of leaving their native State, they have been pitted against the veteran troops of the enemy of their country in superior numbers, and completely routed. them. It has been the fortune of some of them voluntarily and successfully to lead the 'forlorn hope,' regardless of opposing numbers. Their scars and thinned ranks now attest their services to their country. The honor of their nation and their State has been safe in their hands, and both will cherish and reward them. Monuments to the memory of the brave dead are now erected in the hearts of the people, and national monuments to their memory will be erected by a grateful country."

The military operations in the field in 1862 had not been much in favor of the Union cause. In December the Union army in Virginia had failed in its attack on Fredericksburg, the Western army had been successful at Stone River in the same month, both important engagements, and in effect nearly balancing. Yet the people of the country seemed not to be discour aged nor to falter in their determination to press on to ultimate success by putting down the nefarious rebellion. In good old Michigan loyalty and patriotism seemed in the ascendant.

Governor Blair, in his message to the Legislature, in January, 1863, in

speaking to the Michigan soldiers in the field, alludes to their services as follows:

"Gentlemen, I commend the Michigan troops to your active sympathy and support. By their heroic endurance of the hardships of war, and by their splendid bravery in battle, they have crowned the State with glory. Their battle-cry is 'Michigan! remember Michigan,' and Michigan must remember them. We have already a long list of immortal heroes dead in battle. I hope you will in some appropriate way place upon the enduring records of the State your appreciation of the valor and patriotic devotion of these brave men. Let us hand down their names to posterity upon an illuminated page, that they may be revered as examples for all time to come. They belong to history now. We must take care that it is rightly written. Your hearty thanks are also due to the gallant men who still uphold the flag of our country in the field, and have lately borne it on to victory over bloody ground. Let us send them warm words of cheer from home. May God give them other and greater victories, and bring them speedily back in peace and triumph. Then, indeed, shall Heaven's arches ring with glad

shouts of welcome.'

In February following, the Legislature expressed in the following joint resolution the sentiments of the Michigan people on the war question:

"That we are unalterably opposed to any terms of compromise and accommodation with the rebels while under arms and acting in hostility to the Government of the Union, and on this we express but one sentiment-unconditional submission and obedience to the laws and Constitution of the Union."

In March, the following preamble and resolutions were passed by the Legislature in compliment to the Michigan soldiers in the field:

Whereas the citizen soldiers of Michigan have responded cheerfully to their country's call, have never hesitated or faltered when duty prompted or danger threatened, and by their indomitable fortitude under the fatigues and privations of war, their heroic bravery and brilliant achievements upon the battle-field, have crowned themselves with glory, and given to Michigan imperishable renown; therefore,

Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the State of Michigan, That, tendering to them the thanks of the State for their valuable services, we also assure them that while Michigan thus holds them forth as examples of emulation to the soldiers of other States, she is also proudly grateful to them for the renown which their noble deeds have shed upon her name, and claiming them for her own, she points to them with feelings of maternal pride, and in the language of the noble Roman mother exclaims, "These are my jewels."

Resolved, That the Governor be, and he is hereby, required to forward a copy of the foregoing preamble and joint resolution to each of the regiments and batteries of Michigan soldiers now in the field.

An act was passed by this Legislature authorizing the payment by the Quartermaster-General of $50, State bounty from March 6, 1863, which was continued until November 20th following. The Legislature also legalized the action of the townships, cities, and counties in raising bounties for volunteers.

In compliance with a recommendation of the Governor, the Legislature generously appropriated $20,000 to assist sick and wounded soldiers in the field, and likewise to aid those in the State, and in payment for services of agents to properly carry into effect the measure. In 1865 an additional amount of $25,000 was set apart for that purpose.