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

[379] both of these objects. What gave an impetus to recruiting was the fear of a draft, which the Government was determined to enforce unless the men called for were furnished by voluntary enlistments within a reasonable time. A new enrolment had been made, under the superintendence of Major Rogers, assistant Adjutant-General, and the United-States military commander. Assistant provost-marshals had been appointed in the several Congressional districts to carry out the machinery of the draft; but, thanks to the patriotism of the people and the activity of the city and town authorities, and the officers of the State, the contingent was raised before the end of the year by volunteers. Yet all that was done by the State authorities to aid recruiting, and organize and send forward regiments, did not shield them from complaints by selectmen and others, whose own labors in the work of recruiting left them no time to reflect upon the labors of others. Many letters are upon the files in the State House, filled with complaints of this character. We will quote the answer made by the Adjutant-General to one of these complaints, which will serve to illustrate the whole:—

Your favor has been received; and I wish you would say to the selectmen and others who scold the Governor and me for not sending a mustering officer to Pittsfield whenever they feel like having one, that they had better come here, and try half as hard as I do to have officers sent there, and I think afterwards they would grumble no more at the Governor and the Adjutant-General. Last week I sent a mustering officer to Pittsfield, through the kindness of Captain Collins, United-States chief mustering officer. I told him how much one was needed; and, although the officer sent was needed at “Camp Stanton,” I arranged that he should go to Pittsfield instead. Well, he went there. The next day, he telegraphed Captain Collins that there was no one in camp ready to be mustered in, and requested to know how long he must stay there. This telegram Captain Collins sent up to me, with a little note blaming me for sending his officer two hundred miles off on a sort of tomfool's errand. I advised him, however, to hold on a day or two, and finish up Berkshire if possible; that I had no doubt you would have the recruits ready for him by that time. So I supposed the thing was finished, and that I should have the thanks of the selectmen, instead of “their sweet little curses.” Now, then, I wish you would say to the town authorities who “swear at us,”