THE REGIMENT.

CHAPTER I.

Suggestions of Adjutant-General Schouler-General Order No. 4-Response of the militia-Legislative act to increase the militia-News of attack on Sumpter-Awakening of the North-Permission to raise six regiments in Massachusetts-General Order No. 12-The six regiments being organized-Selection of companies for the Tenth-Appeal to the citizens of Western Massachusetts-Arrival of the Barrington company-Appointment of officers-Muster of the Regiment at Hampden Park-The first battalion drill-Appointment of Surgeons-Anniversary of Bunker Hill-Rations. As early as the autumn of 1860, it became evident to all reflecting minds of the Northern States, that civil war was imminent, and Massachusetts commenced early to prepare for the coming struggle.

As required by law, William Schouler, Adjutant-General of Massachusetts, made his annual report in December, 1860. It was addressed to Governor Banks, and in it he says:

"Events have transpired in some of the Southern States and at Washington, which have awakened the attention of the people of Massachusetts, in a remarkable degree, to the perpetuity of the Federal Union, which may require the active militia to be greatly augmented. Should our worst fears be realized, and this nation plunged into the horrors of civil war, upon Massachusetts may rest, in no inconsiderable degree, the duty of staying the effusion of blood, and of rolling back the black tide of anarchy and ruin. She did more than her share to achieve the independence of our country, and establish the government under which we have risen to such unparalleled prosperity, and become the Great Power of the American Continent; and she will be true to her history, her traditions and her fair fame. Should it become necessary to

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increase the number of her active militia to a war footing, the
present organization offers an easy and a good means.
The pres-
ent companies could be filled to their full complement of men,
and the regiments to their full complement of companies; new
regiments of infantry, new battalions of riflemen, new companies
of artillery and cavalry could be formed with which to fill the sev-
eral brigades, and make our present divisions five thousand men
each, with proper apportionment of the several military arms. This
of course would require a large outlay of money which would
doubtless be cheerfully met by our people, if their honor and the
welfare of the country demand it of them."

The Adjutant-General suggested

"That a board of officers be called, as provided in section one hundred and sixty-three, chapter thirteen, of the General Statutes, to consider and recommend such changes as their judgment shall approve, and their experience suggest." "In the meantime," he said, "I would suggest, that a general order be issued, calling upon commanders of the active force to forward to head-quarters the names of the persons composing their commands, also their places of residence, so that a complete roll of each company may be on file in this department. The companies that have not their full quota of men should be filled by new enlistments to the number fixed by law; and whenever new enlistments are made or discharges given, the names of the persons enlisted and discharged should be forwarded immediately to head-quarters and placed on file."

Governor Banks, to whom the report was addressed, retired from office four days after it was printed, and before any action could be taken upon the recommendations made. They looked to a greatly increased active militia force, and were the first official suggestions made for strengthening the military force of the Commonwealth and placing it upon a war footing.

Governor Andrew adopted the suggestions of Gen. Schouler, and on the 16th day of January, eleven days after his inauguration, directed the Adjutant-General to issue General Order No. 4, which created intense interest throughout the State, and especially among the active militia.

COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS.

Head-quarters, Boston, January 16, 1861.

GENERAL ORDER No. 4.

Events which have recently occurred, and are now in progress, require that Massachusetts should be at all times ready to furnish her quota upon any requisition of the President of the United States, to aid in the maintenance of the laws and the peace of the Union. His Excellency, the Commander-in-Chief, therefore orders,

That the commanding officer of each company of volunteer militia, examine with care the rolls of his company, and cause the name of each member, together with his rank and place of residence, to be properly recorded, and a copy of the same to be forwarded to the office of the Adjutant-General. Previous to which, commanders of companies shall make strict inquiry, whether there are men in their commands, who from age, physical defects, business or family causes, may be unable or indisposed to respond at once to the orders of the Commander-in-Chief, made in response to the call of the President of the United States, that they be forthwith discharged, so that their places may be filled by men ready for any public exigency which may arise, whenever called upon.

After the above orders shall have been fulfilled, no discharge, either of officer or private, shall be granted, unless for cause satisfactory to the Commander-in-Chief.

If any companies have not the number of men allowed by law, the commanders of the same shall make proper exertions to have the vacancies filled, and the men properly drilled and uniformed, and their names and places of residence forwarded to head quarters.

To promote the objects embraced in this order, the general, field and staff officers, and the Adjutant and acting Quartermaster-General will give all the aid and assistance in their power. Major-Generals Sutton, Morse and Andrews, will cause this order to be promulgated throughout their respective divisions. By command of His Excellency, John A. Andrew, Governor and Commander-in-Chief.

WILLIAM SCHOULER, Adjutant-General.

The active militia of Western Massachusetts responded with alacrity. Meetings were held at the armories of the companies composing the Tenth Regiment Massachusetts Militia, rolls called, men who could not respond, from business or otherwise, were honorably discharged, and their places filled from the many applicants who besieged the

officers for chances to enroll themselves.

February 6, 1861, the House of Representatives voted the following bill for the increase of the volunteer militia, as follows:

Chapter 49.-An Act in relation to Volunteer Militia.

SECTION 1. The volunteer militia companies, as now organized, with their officers, shall be retained in the service; and hereafter, as the public exigency may require, the organization of companies of artillery may be authorized, on petition, by the Commander-in-Chief with advice of the Council, and the organization of other companies may be authorized, on petition, by the Commander-in-Chief, or by the Mayor and Aldermen or Selectmen, by his permission; and said companies, so retained, and so organized, shall be liable, on a requisition of the President of the United States upon the Commander-in-Chief, to be marched without the limits of the Commonwealth; but all additional companies, battalions and regiments which may be organized under the provisions of this act, shall be disbanded whenever the Governor or the Legislature shall deem that their services are no longer needed. Companies of cavalry shall be limited to one hundred privates, and a saddler and a farrier; companies of artillery to forty-eight cannoneers, twenty-four drivers and a saddler and farrier; the cadet companies of the first and second divisions to one hundred, and companies of infantry and riflemen to sixty-four privates.

SECT. 2. The fourteenth section of the thirteenth chapter of the General Statutes, and all laws or parts of laws now in force, limiting the number of the volunteer militia, are hereby repealed. SECT. 3. This act shall take effect upon its passage.

Under the provisions of this bill, the companies which before had numbered only about forty privates each, were recruited up to the number required. At this time the