thus far raised no troops for a less term than three years. Both for the Government and the soldier the longest term is the best. Let us continue to adhere to this policy, which has given us a most honorable position in the service, and the reputation of the Michigan soldiery, which is now unsurpassed, will continue to grow.

"The work of filling up the quota of the State is for the people. The close of the war visibly approaches, and the sure triumph of the Union cause grows manifest.

"Our troops are now led by tried and victorious generals, leaving nothing to be desired in that direction. Conquering Union armies are in the very midst of the Confederacy, progressing steadily towards the final victory. Let the people of the country stand firmly by the lawful Government, and they can safely meet what is to come."

Immediately following this proclamation orders were promulgated from the Adjutant-General's office authorizing the recruitment of six regiments, one in each Congressional district, permission therefor having been received from the War Department.

On the 26th of July, Col. J. W. Hall was authorized to reorganize the 4th infantry, the term of service of which had expired and the regiment mustered out of service. The rendezvous of the regiment was located at Adrian, where the old 4th was organized, and Col. Hall was made commandant of the camp, with the first district for his operations.

On the 29th of the same month, orders were issued to reorganize the 3d infantry, whose term had also expired. Col. M. B. Houghton, who was connected with the old organization, was entrusted with the charge of raising the new regiment, and its camp was placed at Grand Rapids, with the fourth district for the field of its recruiting.

On the same day the sixth district was provided for by the appointment of Hon. John F. Driggs to take charge of the organization of a new regiment therein, to be called the 31st infantry, with its headquarters at Sagi

naw.

A regiment for the third district, to be called the 29th infantry, was, on the 9th of August, authorized to be raised at Marshall, with Hon. S. S. Lacey for commandant of camp.

In the second district, Hon. W. B. Williams, of Allegan, was, on the 15th of August, entrusted with the organization of the 28th infantry, with the camp at Kalamazoo.

On the 24th of August, Major John Atkenson, of the 22d infantry, was authorized to raise and organize the 30th infantry, its rendezvous to be at Pontiac.

The exigencies of the services did not permit the complete organization of these regiments before the enforcement of the impending draft.

Seven companies, which had been raised for the 30th at Pontiac, were distributed between the 3d and 4th, four companies going to the former and three to the latter, and the organization of the 30th was abandoned.

The 3d, thus reinforced, completed its organization at once, and being mustered in with 879 officers and men, left camp for Nashville, October 20. The 4th also was, by the same means, enabled to take the field, (where a number of men belonging to the old organization, whose terms were unexpired, yet remained,) and left the State with 726 officers and men on the 22d of the same month, also for Nashville.

The 28th and 29th were consolidated into one regiment, designated as the 28th, which, after completing its organization at Kalamazoo, took its route thence for Nashville, October 26, with 886 officers and men.

The Sixth District regiment completed its organization from its own territory, and was the first of the new regiments to leave the State, having broken camp at Saginaw and taken its departure for Nashville on the 6th of October, with 854 officers and men. The regiments originally known as the 30th and 29th, having been consolidated with others, as mentioned above, this regiment was numbered the 29th.

Recruiting having been prosecuted with more or less vigor throughout the State, a draft took place on the 10th of June to fill deficiencies under all former calls, including that of October 17, 1863, and those of February 1 and March 14, 1864, which was followed by supplementary drafts in subdistricts which the principal draft failed to fill. And again, on the 20th of September, there was another draft to supply deficiencies under the call of July 18 and those which remained under the calls preceding it.

The results of the efforts made during the first ten months of the year in the several counties of this State to fill the armies of the United States, both by enlistment and by draft, are as follows: The number of volunteers enlisted in the army, 20,041; the number of men drafted, 1,956; the number of veterans re-enlisted, 5,445; the number of men enlisted in the navy, 430; the total credits in numbers, 27,972; the numbers credited on each term of service from the 1st of January to the 31st of October, 1864—one year, 5,002; two years, 39; three years, 22,931.

The men who paid commutation, as provided by laws in force previous to July 4th, are included among the drafted men to the number of 356.

It is shown in this exhibit that the total number of men raised in the State between the 1st of January and 31st of October, 1864, including drafted men commuting, was 27,972; deduct men commuting, 356; total number of men actually raised during the ten months mentioned, 27,616.

The report of the Adjutant-General's department for 1863 showed that the actual number of men furnished by the State from the beginning of the war to December 31, 1863, was 53,749; the number furnished during the first ten months of 1864, as shown above, is 27,616; making a total to November 1, 1864, of 81,365. The true credit of the State, as represented at the War Department, up to the last date mentioned, is obtained by adding the number of men commuting, viz: 1,982; showing the total credit of the State to be, 83,347.

The striking fact is exhibited by these figures that during ten months only of 1864 the State of Michigan had furnished more than half as many men for the service as were sent from the State during the whole of the first three years of the war, and of this large number of men actually furnished only 1,600 were drafted.

The system of preserving records of credits by sub-districts, required by the laws for enrolling and calling out the national forces, did not become practically operative until the 19th of September, 1863. In the books of the War Department enlistments made previous to that date were entered to the credit of the State at large. All that had been made after that were placed directly to the credit of the sub-district furnishing them.

Approximate number of troops furnished by the State prior to November 1st, 1864 Credits from January 1st to October 31st, 1864, 27,972; enlistments prior to January 1, 1864, 49,793; additional enlistments not included in above from January 1, 1864, 2,026; aggregate October 31, 1864, 79,791. This statement does not include the three month's infantry, Michigan companies in regiments of other States, and some 2,000 additional soldiers whose residence could not be ascertained.

The above aggregate is somewhat smaller than the aggregate shown in

previous statements to have been furnished, and the difference is caused by the number enlisting in the earlier stages of the war whose residence was not reported or could not be obtained. The entire three months' regiment enlisting in 1861 is for this cause omitted from the figures of the statement. The term of service of the 11th infantry having expired during the month of September, 1864, a desire was manifested by some of the officers of that regiment to renew its organization. Orders were issued accordingly, on the 3d of that month, and authority given to Col. Wm. L. Stoughton to command the camp of rendezvous at Sturgis.

On the 3d of November, Major-General Hooker, commanding the Department, being here on a personal inspection, recommended to the Secretary of War, that in view of the exposed condition of the frontier, then threatened by outlaws and their sympathizers in Canada, and the limited number of troops posted for its defence, a regiment of volunteers for twelve months be raised in the State for duty along the Detroit and St. Clair rivers. Despatches investing the Governor with authority for this purpose were the next day received from Washington, and on the 7th orders were issued to organize the 30th Infantry, with its rendezvous at Jackson. In acting upon applications for authority to raise companies and parts of companies for this regiment, preference was given to those who had seen service. On the 22d, Lieut. Col. G. S. Wormer, of the 8th cavalry, was appointed colonel of the 30th, and commandant of camp. Its rendezvous and headquarters were, on the 10th December, removed to Detroit.

The approach of the winter caused no abatement of the activity of the Union armies nor checked the increasing magnitude of their operations. To meet the necessities of the gigantic campaigns then going forward under the direction of the Lieutenant-General, the President on the 19th of December issued a call for 300,000 men to supply a deficiency on the call of the 18th of July, and directing that should the quotas assigned not be filled before the fifteenth day of February following, a draft should be made for the deficiency then existing.

The enrollment of the State was carefully corrected and adjusted by the Boards in the several sub-districts, and the quotas assigned to each.

The enrollment of the counties, with their respective quotas under the call, are exhibited in the following table:

The end of operations in 1864 found the army of the Potomac in the trenches before Petersburg holding Lee as in a trap, Sherman's army in possession of Savannah, and Thomas successful in Tennessee.

This memorable year was fraught with great results to the nation, effected by the unparalleled fighting of hosts of men, wading deep in human blood through carnage dense.

The day and night advances of Grant's army on Richmond were to the Northern people movements producing intense anxiety, strong hope, fervent prayers for success, and sorrow and sadness for the patriots passing away. The desperate advance of Hood on Nashville had been most successfully met by General Thomas, his army completely defeated, routed, and driven in hot haste southward in a most demoralized condition.

General Sherman had gallantly driven the enemy from beyond Chattanooga and onwards, had battered down his strong works at Atlanta, then bidding farewell to his friends, and placing both flanks of his noble army in air, swung off for the sea, leaving the nation in great ignorance and intense uneasiness as to his movements and safety, and is first heard from in the dispatch of General Howard, of his army, saying: "We have had perfect success, and the army in fine spirits;" and then by General Sherman himself, sending to Abraham Lincoln a telegram covering the capture of Savannah as a Christmas present.

The State of Michigan commenced 1865 with that determination to crush out the rebellion which had characterized her soldiers and people so far during the war, as expressed through the Legislature in the following resolution, included among the joint resolutions on the state of the Union, approved March 21, 1865:

Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the State of Michigan, That in the name, and in behalf of the people of the State of Michigan, we hereby re-affirm the devotion of this Commonwealth to the Constitution and Government of the United States, and the earnest determination of its people to do everything in their power to support and sustain the National Administration, in all measures for the vigorous prosecution of the existing war, the utter overthrow of armed rebellion, and the punishment of traitors, until a permanent peace shall be secured, based upon the sub

mission of the rebels, the supremacy of the Government, and the establishment of the Federal Union in all its integrity, one and inseparable, throughout the entire land.

The troops from Michigan, while absent from their homes, honoring their State in the field in these important campaigns, were never forgotten by the Executive, nor by the people. Governor Blair, in his message delivered to the Legislature, January 4, 1865, greets them most affectionately from the Capitol of the State, on vacating the chair which he had so well filled, and highly honored with distinguished ability and efficiency during the years of the war that had passed. Who, in the administration of his executive duties, had been so devoted to the best interests of his State, and so true and loyal to his country, so fair and clear in all his public acts, so untiring in the discharge of his arduous and perplexing duties, so eminently pure in his private life, and so thoughtful at all times of the soldier in the field, that his official career had been deservedly marked with great popularity among the troops, as well as with the entire people. The Governor alluded to them in the following beautiful and kindly language:

“GENTLEMEN: Again and for the last time, I commend the Michigan troops to your continued care and support. They have never failed in their duty to the country or to the State. Upon every great battle-field of the war their shouts have been heard and their sturdy blows have been delivered for the Union and victory. Their hard-earned fame is the treasure of every household in the State, and the red blood of their veins has been poured out in large measure to redeem the rebellious South from its great sin and curse. At this hour they stand under the flag of their country, far away from home, in every quarter where the enemy is to be met-along the banks of the father of waters, in the great city at its mouths, on the Arkansas, in the captured forts of the Gulf, by the waters of the Cumberland, the Tennessee, and of the Savannah, in the chief city of the Empire State of the South, among the conquering columns in the Valley of the Shenandoah, and in the trenches under the eye of the Lieutenant-General in the great leaguer of Petersburg and Richmond. Alas, that they are also perishing of cold and hunger, and disease, in the filthy rebel prisons and pestilential camps of the South. In every situation their bravery has won the approval of their commanders, and their heroic endurance of hardships has added lustre to their name. It is my sole regret at quitting office that I part with them. My earnest efforts for their good shall follow them while I live, and now from this place I bid them hail, and farewell!”

During that session of the Legislature the following concurrent resolutions were passed :

Whereas the Hon. Austin Blair, whose valedictory message was delivered to this Legislature on the fifth of January, eighteen hundred and sixty-five, has retired to private life;

And whereas the four years of his administration have been the most laborious, as well as the most perilous in the history both of the State and of the nation, with eleven of the most Southern States banded together in the most unjustifiable rebellion that the world has ever known ;

And whereas Governor Blair's administration has been marked by eminent ability, rare integrity, and unsurpassed success, as shown by the enlistments and organization into companies, regiments, and batteries, in the most perfect military order, of over eighty thousand men, as brave, true, and patriotic as ever bared their breasts to any foe; therefore

Resolved, (the Senate concurring,) That the thanks of the people of