Raising of Troops
fested by the people to raise the required number of men without drafting, and also fully mindful of his obligations to the government, on the 29th of November issued the following proclamation, which clearly presents the requirements of the government at that time, and the mode by which they are to be met:
To the People of the State of Michigan:
It is essential to the maintenance of the honor of the State, by meeting its obligations to the Federal Government, that the quota of the troops required of Michigan under the call for 600,00.0 men should be speedily furnished. I have felt great confidence that this might be done without resort to a draft, but it will be impossible at the rate enlistments have been making for the last month and more. The number required of each town and ward in the State has been assigned upon the principle of giving credit for all recruits furnished since the first of July last. Substantial justice in this respect has been done toward all. To be exact was impossible, and to go back of the first of July was impracticable, both because the order of the Secretary of War did not authorize it, and because there was no reliable record by which such credit could be made up with any chance of fairness.
