William Schouler, A history of Massachusetts in the Civil War: Volume 1

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Chapter 7:

• Recruiting for the New regiments
-- the position of the armies in the field -- letters from the Adjutant-General to different persons -- establishment ofCamps -- departure of New regiments -- recruits for Old regiments -- letter to Secretary Seward -- suggestions adopted -- foreign recruits -- Letterto General Couch -- deserters -- want of mustering officers -- letter fromGeneral Hooker -- our sick and wounded -- letter to General McClellan -- General Fitz-John Porter -- call for nineteen thousand soldiers for Ninemonths -- appointment of Major Rogers -- preparing for a draft -- Militiavolunteers -- letter to the President -- great activity in recruiting -- liberality of John M. Forbes -- Colonel Maggi -- town authorities ask Civiliansto be commissioned -- First attempt to raise colored troops -- Letterto Hon. J. G. Abbott -- recommends Merchants and others to devote Halfof each day to recruiting -- hardship to Seaboard towns -- attempt to haveCredits allowed for men in the Navy -- difficulties -- earnest letter -- surgeons sent forward -- several recommendations -- battle of Antietam -- Dr.Hitchcock sent forward -- his report -- affairs at the front -- Recruitingbrisk -- Republican Convention -- sharp debate -- nominations -- People'sconvention -- General Devens nominated for Governor -- speeches -- Letterto General Dix -- contrabands -- complaints -- quotas filled -- departure ofRegiments -- invasion of Texas -- Major Burt -- State appointments, &c.

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On the fourth day of July, 1862, the President of the United States issued a call for three hundred thousand men, to serve for three years or to the end of the war. Three days after,—on the seventh day of July,—General Order No. 26 was issued, by order of Governor Andrew, in which it was stated, that ‘a call has been made upon the Governor of this Commonwealth, by the President of the United States, for fifteen thousand volunteers, to form new regiments, and to fill the ranks of those of this Commonwealth now at the seat of war.’ At that time, the Thirty-second, Thirty-third, Thirty-fourth, and Thirty-fifth Regiments were being recruited in the State. To bring the matter of recruiting more nearly home to each city and town, and to invest it with a peculiar and local interest, the Adjutant-General suggested to the Governor, that it would be well to