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Adjutant and Inspector General Reports
1862 Report
The several companies of militia were organized into regiments, as follows:
Colonel, Asa P. Blunt Lieut. Col., Roswell Farnham Major, Levi C. Kingsley
Co. A West Windsor Guards, Capt. Charles L. Savage. " B Woodstock Light Infantry, " Ora Paul, Jr. " C Howard Guards, " Leonard W. Page. " D Tunbridge Light Infantry, " David F. Cole. " E Ransom Guards, " Hamilton S. Gilbert. " F New England Guards, " Darius Thomas. " G Allen Greys, " Ebenezer J. Ormsbee. " H Bradford Guards, " Preston S. Chamberlain. " I Saxtons River Light Infantry " Carlton H. Roundy. " K Rutland Light Guard. " Walter C. Landon.
Colonel, Francis V. Randall. Lieut. Col., Andrew C. Brown Major, Lawrence D. Clark
Co. A Emmett Guards, Capt. John Lonergan. " B Moretown Company, " Oscar C. Wilder " C East Montpelier Company, " Lewis L. Colburn. " D Colchester Company, " William D. Munson " E Morristown Company, " Joseph J. Boynton " F Richmond Company, " John L. Yale " G Bakersfield Company, " Marvin White " H Lafayette Artillery, " William V. Peck " I Montpelier Company, " John M. Thacher " K Highgate Company, " George S. Blake
Colonel, William T. Nichols Lieut. Col., Charles W. Rose Major, Nathaniel B. Hall
Co. A Bennington Company, Capt. Ransom O. Gore " B Wallingford Company, " John C. Thompson " C Manchester Company, " Josiah B. Munson " D Shoreham Company, " Charles E. Abell " E Middlebury Company, " Edwin Rich " F Castleton Company, " Joseph Jennings " G Bristol Company, " Noble F. Dunshee " H Rutland Company, " Walter C. Dunton " I Vergennes Company, " Solomon T. Allen " K Danby Company, " Alonzo N. Colvin
Colonel, Redfield Proctor Lieut. Col., William W. Grout Major, Charles F. Spalding
Co. A West Fairlee Company, Capt. Horace E. Brown " B Danville Company, " James M. Ayer " C West Randolph, " Corn's N. Carpenter " D Wait's River Company, " Charles G. French " E Island Pond Company, " Warren Noyes " F McIndoes' Falls Company, " Xerxes C. Stevens " G Lyndon Company, " Stephen McGaffey. " H Frontier Guards, " Riley E. Wright. " I Barton Company, " Wm. H. Johnson " K St. Johnsbury, " Geo. B. Woodward
Colonel, Wheelock G. Veazey Lieut. Col., Charles Cummings Major, William Rounds
Co. A Bethel Company, Capt. Henry A. Eaton " B Brattleboro Company, " Robert B. Arms " C Ludlow Company, " Asa G. Foster " D Townshend Company, " David Ball " E Springfield Company, " Alvin C. Mason " F Wilmington Company, " Henry F. Dix " G Barnard Company, " Harvey N. Bruce " H Felchville Company, " Joseph C. Sawyer " I Williamsville Company, " Lyman E. Knapp " K Chester Company, " Samuel Hutchinson
These regiments were assembled in camp at Brattleboro' as room as the barracks, constructed for them by the United States, were ready for occupation.
The Twelfth Regiment went into camp September 25th, was mustered into the United States' service October 4th, with 988 officers and men, and left the State October 7th.
The Thirteenth Regiment went into camp September 29th, was mustered into the Unites States' service October 10th, with 953 officers and men, and left the States October 11th.
The Fourteenth Regiment went into camp October 6th, was mustered into the United States' services October 21st, with 952 officers and men, and left the State October 22d.
The Fifteenth Regiment went into camp October 8th, was mustered into the United States' service October 22d, with 935 officers and men, and left the State October 23d.
The Sixteenth Regiment went into camp October 9th, was mustered into the United States' service October 23d, with 949 officers and men, and left the State October 24th.
All the regiments were delayed by the want of barracks and the inability of the General Government to supply them with the necessary clothing, arms and equipments, as early as they were ready to receive them. The Twelfth and Thirteenth Regiments were armed with the Springfield rifled musket, except one company of the Thirteenth, for whom arms were to be provided, as soon as they arrived at Washington. The Fourteenth, Fifteenth and Sixteenth Regiments were supplied with muskets entirely unsuitable for service, which will be changed for better arms, before they are required to be used for any other purposes than drill, -- assurances to that effect having been given by the War Department.
In addition to the men mustered into service in these regiments, 118 enlisted men have been left in the State and not yet mustered, -- some of whom were sick, at the time of muster, and others absent with leave; many of them will undoubtedly be able, very soon, to join their regiments.
Of troops raised and mustered into the service of the United States for nine months.
Twelfth Regiment, 988 Thirteenth " 953 Fourteenth " 952 Fifteenth " 935 Sixteenth " 949
Whole number required from Vermont
First requisition for 500,000 men 8,160 Second requisition for 300,000 men 4,898 Third requisition for 300,000 men 9 mos. 4,898 Total, 17,956
Whole number furnished by Vermont
On first requisition for 500,000 men, 9,283 On second requisition for 500,000 men, 4,164 On third requisition for 500,000 men, 4,777 ----- Total, 18,224
Of which number, there have been raised and mustered into service, during the present year, 11,952.
Appendix D contains a copy of the Roster of all the troops raised in the State during the war.
Appendix E shows the number and names of the men furnished by each town in the State, for three years, or for nine months' service.
There are now in the field, from this State, fifteen regiments of Infantry, one regiment of Cavalry, two batteries of Light Artillery and three companies of Sharp Shooters, numbering, at the present time, over 16,000 men. It is of the highest importance to the men, who are thus engaged in the service of the country, to the financial interest of the State, as well as its history, and to the officers of the State, in enabling them to respond to the numerous and varied inquiries of anxious friends, and to furnish the regiments with recruits from time to time, as needed, and with such necessary supplies as are not provided by the General Government, that returns of the condition of the troops should be made to this office promptly, at stated times. This subject has engaged much of my attention, during the present year.
At the commencement of the year no mode had been provided by law, or in practice, for returns of the alterations occasioned by the various casualties of the service. Very early in the year General Order No. 1, (Appendix B.) was issued, for the purpose of remedying this difficulty. The importance of its requirements did not appear to be understood; and the commanding officers of at least two of the regiments made formal protest against their obligation to obey any order emanating from the State authorities, although expressing their willingness to furnish, as a matter of courtesy, the desired information.
My own view was very distinct, that the troops mustered into the service of the United States had not, by that act, so far dissolved their connection with the State, in which they were raised, from which they expected, with confidence, all necessary supplies, not furnished by the United States, and from which they were receiving a material portion of their monthly pay, as to deprive the State of the right to know, officially, as often as her interests required, their exact condition.
The opinion of the Legislature, upon this subject, was expressed by the statute of November 21, 1861, requiring returns of alterations to be made to this office each three months, commencing with January 1, 1862.
Blank forms for these returns were prepared and distributed; and the officers of the several regiments have complied with the requirements of the statute, and in most cases promptly; and when delays have occurred, they have generally been the result of the exigencies of active service field. And I have also been indebted to the officers of most of the regiments for prompt and full reports of casualties in action, and other matters, of interest to the people of the State.
Desiring, however, to obtain still more full and frequent information of the exact condition of the several regiments, I early requested that the adjutants of the several regiments would send to me copies of the Consolidated Morning Reports of the first and fifteenth of each month. this request has also, in most cases, been cheerfully complied with; and I have found that the information, thus obtained, of great value, in various respects, -- and more especially in reference to the number of recruits required from time to time. From the Third, Fifth, Sixth and Eighth Regiments these returns have been especially prompt; and the officers of all the regiments have, during the summer campaign, by their returns and their correspondence, kept me very fully advised as to the condition of their respective commands.
Copies of all the returns of alterations in the regiments have been from time to time, as received, transmitted from this office to the Treasurer, as required by the statute; and all information, affecting the State pay of the men in service has been communicated to him.
By various statutes of this State, commencing with the act of April 26, 1861, all the troops from this State, in the service of the United States, are entitled to the State pay of $7,00 per month, -- the three years' troops from the date of enlistment, -- the Twelfth Regiment from the time they obeyed the order to hold themselves in readiness for active service, -- and the remaining regiments from the time of company organization.
As there is no Pay Department in the militia organization of this State, the duty of superintending the payment of the amount due, under these statutes, from the time, when the right to receive pay commenced, to the time of muster into the United States' service, has devolved upon me. This has been attended with very considerable labor and great responsibility. Every regiment and every detachment of recruits has been paid, after muster and before leaving the State, upon duplicate Pay Rolls prepared in this office. The course adopted, in making this payment fully, to the day of muster, and promptly, before the men left the State, has proved beneficial in all respects.
The Seventh and Eighth Regiments also received, before leaving the State, from Major Thomas H. Halsey, U. S. Paymaster, their United States' pay, from the day of enlistment to the first day of March; and the Ninth, Tenth and Eleventh Regiments, and the several detachments of recruits for the old regiments, received from Maj. Halsey, before leaving the State, one month's United States' pay in advance, and from Major William Austine, U. S. Mustering and Disbursing Officer for Vermont, twenty-five dollars advance bounty. All assurances given by the United States, in respect to pay and bounty, have in all cases been promptly and fully performed.
Intimately connected with the subject of pay, is that of the Allotment System, under the act of Congress of July 22, 1861, and the statute of this State of November 20, 1861. The importance of this system to the enlisted men can hardly be over-estimated. And the plan adopted for carrying it fully into effect, in this State, has proved eminently successful. The system is fully explained in General Order No. 6, (Appendix B.) issued June 9, 1862.
Being fully impressed with its importance, I have taken especial care that the men of each regiment and detachment for three years' service, raised during the year, should have ample opportunity to allot, if they desired to do so, before leaving the State, and should have al the details of the system fully explained to them.
Means were also taken, early in the year, under the direction of the Governor, to afford to the regiments in the field opportunity to allot.
The following abstract will show that the troops from Vermont have appreciated the importance of the system, and the advantage of placing in safe hands, at home, for future use, such portion of the Government pay as is not needed by them for present purposes.
ABSTRACT OF ALLOTMENT OF PAY,
FOR EACH PAY DAY, OF TWO MONTHS
Second Regiment $7,171 Third " 7,887 Fourth " 11,595 Fifth " 5,027 Sixth " 9,380 Seventh " 23,731 Eighth " 22,063 Ninth " 16,776 Tenth " 18,642 Eleventh " 14,861 First Cavalry 14,026 First Battery 2,578 Second " 874 Second Co. Sharp Shooters 1,006 Third " 2,002 RECRUITS IN APRIL. Second Regiment 924 Third " 603 Fourth " 934 Fifth " 652 Sixth " 1,028 RECRUITS IN SEPTEMBER. Second Regiment 3,470 Third " 1,656 Fourth " 1,118 Fifth " 1,038 Sixth " 1,244 First Co. Sharp Shooters 468 Second " 444 Third " 100 Total, for each Pay Day, $171,298 Total, for each years, $1,025,448
It will be perceived, that great advantage has been gained by having the Allotment Rolls prepared and executed, while the regiments remained in the State.
It is [a] matter of regret, that this system was not made applicable, by law, to the regiments enlisted for nine months. But probably some means can be authorized, by legislation, by which the men of these regiments may have facilities afforded to them for transmitting their money home, at each pay day.
There are still some thoughtless men, who, not having parted with the right to draw their State pay upon their own order, draw their orders in camp, and dispose of them at a discount, varying, generally, with the degree of conscience possessed by the sharper, into whose hands they fall. It may be well to provide, by legislation, such additional mode of countersigning the orders, as will secure their only being drawn in cases, where there is a positive necessity, that the man should have the use of the money in camp.