August 25, 1864
To the People of West Virginia.
Executive Department.
Wheeling, August 2d, 1864.
Under the late call of the President for 500,000 men, authority has been granted by the War Department to raise one new regiment of Infantry in this State. Upon application with proper recommendation, under the regulations for organizing new regiments, &c., one Second Lieutenant will be raised, who will be conditionally mustered into service from the date of his appointment, and will be paid as much from the date of his master into service upon the pay-roll of his company; but should he fail to enlist an organized company, within the time designated by the War Department, the men will be transferred to some other company, his appointment cancelled and he will be discharged without pay. But any person so commissioned as Second Lieutenant, who shall recruit twenty-five men, will receive an appointment in the company to which his men shall have been transferred.
This regiment must be recruited and organized by the 5th day of September; if not organized by that time it will be consolidated into a Battalion, so as to form and be mustered into service before that date, else complete companies will be organized and assigned to old regiments.
Upon the appointment of officers to recruit for this regiment, they be furnished with all necessary papers and instructions, and the places of rendezvous for recruits made known. Authority will also be given to persons to recruit for old organizations in the field, and to any person furnishing necessary papers and instructions, and the places of rendezvous fro recruits made known. Authority will also be given to persons to recruit for old organizations in the field, and to any person furnishing twenty or more men for old organization reduced below the minimum number having vacant Lieutenacies, a commission as Lieutenant will be given.
Enlistments under the present call may be made for one, two, or three years, as the recruits may elect, and Government bounties will be paid as follows: "To men who enlist for one year, $100; for two years, $200, and for three years, $300."
By an Act of Congress, approved July 4th, 1864, "further to regulate and provide for the enrolling and calling out of the national forces." The Executives of the different States are authorized to send recruiting agents into any of the States declared to be in rebellion, except the States of Arkansas, Tennessee and Louisiana, to recruit volunteers, which will be credited to the State and sub-divisions thereof who may procure the enlistment. Under this act one recruiting agent will be appointed for each country in the State, desiring it.
The number of men to be furnished by the State under the present call is about 2600, which must be recruited by the 5th day of September; if not recruited by that time a draft will be made in the delinquent counties and districts to supply the number then remaining to be furnished. The time is short, and without a vigorous effort in each county and sub district, a draft is inevitable.
Under former calls of the President for troops, this State has surpassed the most sanguine expectations of all in furnishing her quota. We have every reason to believe this will be the last call for troops to suppress the rebellion. Heretofore when calls have been made, if men were drafted, they had an opportunity of avoiding the service by paying the commutation fee, now men, not money, must fill the demand.
LET WEST VIRGINIA ONCE MORE AVOID THE DRAFT.
A. I. BOREMAN.
By the Governor:
F. P. Peirpoint, Adjutant General.
Aug8-1m
Timeline of West Virginia: Civil War and Statehood: August 1864