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More than 3,000 Were Drafted!

The Civil War Draft in Vermont
Draft Statistics


           FIRST CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT, OCT. 1, 1863.

Enrolled in 1st Class                                     7675

    "     " 2nd Class                                     3721

Quotas assessed                                           1505

No. drafted                                               2256

Accepted men who entered service                      79

   "      "  who procured substitutes,               154

   "      "  paid commutation                        723---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

    "     " 2nd Class                                     4637

Quotas assessed                                           1763

No. drafted                                               2645

Accepted                                                  1107

Accepted men entered service                         124

   "      "  procured substitutes,                   261

   "      "  paid commutation                        722--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

    "     " 2nd Class                                     3545

Quotas assessed                                           1447

No. drafted                                               2170

Accepted                                                   720

Accepted men entered service                         115

   "      "  procured substitutes,                   215

   "      "  paid commutation                        390---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

   "      " 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--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