of any depot of supply in New England-were clogs on our recruiting service which we did not encounter in 1861, when the State delivered its regiments to the Federal Government, fully armed and equipped at its own expense. Nevertheless, the number of troops sent from the State in 1862, largely exceeded that of the previous year, the period occupied being about the same in both, for during the spring of 1862 the Federal Government pursued the policy of refusing to accept new troops, and even discontinued for awhile the recruiting for corps already in the field. Early in June, however, it was resumed, and a call for 15,000 more volunteers for three years was made on Massachusetts, which in August was followed by the call for 19,000 militia for nine months. A comparison of the dates at which the various corps. raised by the State during the two years, were sent into active service, shows that notwithstanding the change in the system of supplies, and the increased difficulty of recruiting, by reason of so large a portion of the population of military age having already been enlisted, the military movements of 1862 were as prompt and active as were those of 1861. [The table marked (A) attached to the printed copy of this Address, affords means for the comparison.]

Whatever may have been the comparative disadvantages under which in 1862 we assumed the duty of raising anew the Massachusetts contingent for the Union army, the unfailing patriotism of the people and the powerful support of the municipal governments enabled us to overcome all difficulties.

The orders fixing the time for marching each corps from the State, are practically determined by the military authorities of the United States. I have always insisted, that, so far as possible, every corps should receive a full outfit and equipment before leaving the Commonwealth. Thus much I have felt was demanded by my duty to the soldiers and the people. And I deeply regretted the denial of our request that all of the troops of Massachusetts destined for expeditions by sea, should be permitted to remain in barracks and to embark from our own ports, where the Government of their own State could protect them from such needless hardships and perils as were encountered encountered by some of them in their encampment and embarkation at New York.

The conduct of the troops of this Commonwealth, whether in camp, on the march, or under fire, has won the unqualified commendation of all the generals under whom they have served. They are universal favorites, sought for by commanders for their intelli

gence, obedience and valor. Interesting reports of their military history from the colonels of many of the corps, and letters from many general officers under whom they have acted, have been received, which afford evidence, besides that derived from other sources, of the brilliant heroism and patient endurance of these sons and brothers of our people. These documents are all in the hands of the AdjutantGeneral who will remember them in the preparation of his Annual Report.

The Draft.

It is impossible to find space in this Address to narrate all the proceedings under which our contingent of militia was raised. The requisitions from the National Government, the regulations under which this department was conducted, the orders emanating from the military head-quarters of the Commonwealth, the rules there adopted and its methods of proceeding, will be recited in the report of the Adjutant-General. And a full and carefully prepared narration and explanatory statement of all matters relating especially to the drafting of militia, will be found in that report.

The orders for nineteen thousand and eighty militia to be drafted for nine months' service came while we

were yet raising a part of our contingent of the three years' volunteers, called for on the 2d of June. The duties thus imposed, in their manifold details relating to the new enrolment, exemption, computation of quotas, distribution of quotas, and the like, plainly demanded the undivided supervision of an officer to be specially detailed for that service. No officer then on duty could be spared for the employment. To this end, I appointed a gentleman, as an Assistant Adjutant-General, of rare adaption to the precise labors these peculiar duties involved, who has performed his delicate and arduous task with success and intelligence which merits this acknowledgment.

Questions of grave practical importance, affecting the interests and feelings of large masses of the people, sometimes involving local and geographical considerations, points of honor on which whole communities were sensitive, points of right even, touching which all men are jealous, many of them difficult, all of them new and without a precedent, have crowded upon the Executive for decision. For their correct decision he alone was responsible. The responsibility could not be shared. .Grateful for the cordial, intelligent and constant assistance I have always received from all the other officers surrounding me, military and civil, as opportunity was afforded

them, I owe to the people of Massachusetts and to the officers of their municipal governments, an inexpressible gratitude for the considerate forbearance, the manly zeal, the unfaltering patriotism with which the determinations of this Department have been accepted and sustained.

Bounties.

The payment of bounties by cities and towns to encourage enlistments in the military service, thus relieving their enrolled militia from being subjected to draft, will demand your attention, and legislation will be needed in order to legalize such action of the municipal authorities. I respectfully recommend that the Commonwealth assume all such bounties up to some reasonable and liberal amount, per capita. The call made upon a given locality for recruits, is a matter of convenience in the raising of troops. The duty of furnishing its contingent, in fact, resides in the Commonwealth itself; and, since the policy was universal, and was adopted by common consent, of substituting the motive of bounties in the stead of conscription, I cannot doubt that true equity requires the burden of taxation for their payment to be ascertained and laid on the taxable property and polls of the whole people, in the proportion which the whole