COLONEL JOHN L. CHATFIELD.

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Connecticut sent forth no more accomplished or gallant soldier than he had he lived, he must have won high distinction. A modest, fearless, pure-hearted, devoted man, - his record is that a knight might envy. His deeds and noble sacrifice will live on sunlit pages and in warm hearts, when new generations shall read the imperishable record of the Rebellion, and bless those whose heroism saved the nation and freedom from destruction.

"Pride of his country's banded chivalry,

His fame their hope, his name their battle-cry,
He lived as mothers wish their sons to live,

He died as fathers wish their sons to die."

CHAPTER XXVIII.

More Troops wanted. A Draft. The Result. Call for Seven Hundred Thousand Men. Seven Hundred Dollars' Bounty. Work of Recruiting. The Twenty-ninth Regiment. -Enlistment and Departure. - Re-enlistment of Veterans. Recruiting Rapid. — The Quota of the State full, with a Surplus. — Soldiers'-Aid Societies. — Hartford, Bridgeport, New Haven, Norwich, Danbury, Derby. - The Work at Home and in the Field. — A Thanksgiving Dinner.

IN June 22, 1863, Gen. Joseph D. Williams resigned, and was succeeded by Horace J. Morse as Adjutant-General of Connecticut. The three hundred thousand nine-months' troops recruited in the fall of 1862 were now about to be mustered out of the service; and arrangements were made to re-enlist them as veterans. The War Department called on Connecticut for two regiments of veteran volunteer infantry. The United States offered to each man a bounty of four hundred and two dollars, to be paid in installments during service, or at muster-out if sooner discharged. The State offered a bounty of a hundred dollars. Servicechevrons were authorized to be worn as a badge of distinction. Col. George H. Burnham of the Twenty-second, and Col. S. P. Ferris of the Twenty-eighth, were granted authority to raise these regiments. This plan was soon changed, and the projected new organizations abandoned.

On July 1, it was ordered by the War Department that a draft should be made from the enrolled militia, and that fifty per centum should be added to cover exemptions. The quota of this State was 7,692; the number to be drafted, 11,539.

A provost-marshal general was appointed at Washington, and an assistant, Major D. D. Perkins, for Connecticut, to

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have all charge of recruiting and a draft. A provost-marshal was also appointed in each congressional district as follows:

1st District, Capt. Lucius S. Goodrich of Simsbury.

2d District, Capt. Benjamin S. Pardee of New Haven.
3d District, Capt. Leverett Wessells of Litchfield.
4th District, Capt. Isaac H. Bromley of Norwich.

There was great opposition to a draft on the part of many; and the hostility culminated in terrible mobs in New York, Boston, and some other cities. Similar violence was threatened in Connecticut; and secret meetings of the "peacemen" were said to be held for the purpose of organizing resistance to what they called "conscription." It was widely declared to be their purpose to rush into the provost-marshals' offices, and destroy the boxes while the draft was proceeding. On the other hand, Union Leagues were well organized, strong and resolute; and these were in some cases armed to meet the impending danger.

Gov. Buckingham also called for two battalions of volunteer infantry, under Major George D. Chapman and Major John C. Hollister. The companies immediately reported; but the stern purpose overawed the malcontents, and the draft proceeded peacefully, the services of the battalions not being required.

During the extra (fall) session of 1863, a resolution was passed, setting forth a belief that rifles, muskets, and pistols had been taken illegally "from their proper places of deposit, and delivered to individuals, or organized bodies of men not recognized by the military law of this State;" and calling on the Governor for information.

His Excellency replied in a message, of which the following is an extract:

“In July last, a large number of men in the city of New York, under the influence of leaders hostile to the National Union and in sympathy with Rebellion, banded together to resist the draft ordered by the President of the United States under congressional authority.

"They at once became an infuriated mob; they compelled men to leave their labors, and close their places of business; they went from house to house, aud from street to street, overpowering whatever obstacles impeded their progress. Arson, pillage, and robbery were unrestrained. Innocent citizens were beaten, shot, and hung. The rioters became a power so formi

dable, that they could not, even by the most solemn pledges that their alleged grievances should be redressed, be persuaded to resist from their hellish work. They held the city, with its untold wealth and millions of people, for days in the terrors of anarchy.

"At the same time, riotous demonstrations were made in different parts of the country; and, without concert of action, gentlemen residing in various sections of this State, whose opinions and judgment are entitled to high consideration, represented the danger in their respective localities in the following language:

"Those who oppose the draft are making every effort to unite themselves together for resistance.' 'There is no doubt of an organization here to resist the draft.' Threats of resistance are loud and frequent in our midst.' 'Notices have been posted, threatening those who aid the draft.' Men have pledged themselves to break the boxes which contain the names of men enrolled for the draft.' 'Secret meetings have been held, at which it had been determined to commence open resistance on the night of a given day; but for some reason it was postponed.' 'I want a sufficient number of men to guard my property from the mob which is likely to arise to pillage and burn.' I do not take counsel of my fears when I assure you that I anticipate an outbreak in this place.' These disturbances throughout the country are the result of a combination of traitors both North and South.'

"In this critical and alarming condition of public affairs, men of true and well-known patriotism, belonging to both the Republican and Democratic parties, offered their services to preserve public order, and made requisition upon the Executive for arms. In examining the statutes, I found authority to furnish the active militia, and the enrolled militia when ordered into active service, with arms; and nothing to prohibit the use of them by others whenever public necessity requires. Also, that no place is designated for the deposit of arms purchased by the State, and not in the hands of the militia; and that the commander-in-chief may issue such orders as he shall judge expedient to carry into execution the intents of "An Act relating to the Militia," which act is especially intended to give him full power and authority to use both the active and inactive militia to prevent rebellion and insurrection.'

"Considering our perilous condition, and the fact that the active militia of the State, including the Governor's Guards, was composed of less than one thousand men, orders were issued from this Department for the transmission of arms to the following persons, residing in the towus herein named, upon the execution of proper bonds for their safe-keeping and

"Prior to the assembling of your honorable body, four hundred of the above-described muskets, and as many sets of accouterments, were returned

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to the State Arsenal, or transferred to military companies newly organized in the towns where the arms were sent.

"Exceptions might be taken to the language of the resolution, which, assuming that the Executive has acted without legal authority, calls upon him for proof: but I prefer to have every public act of mine, together with all the circumstances connected with it, fully known; and most cheerfully submit to your deliberate judgment, and to the impartial decision of your constituents, whether such Executive action has put in jeopardy the rights or the person of any law-abiding citizen, and whether the Executive would not, under the circumstances by which he was surrounded, have proved faithless to the high trusts committed to him by a confiding people, if he had not placed the arms of the State where they could have been used to maintain the supremacy of law, and preserve public tranquillity. "WM. A. BUCKINGHAM."

Of the whole number (11,539) drafted for in the State, 8,000 were exempted on various pleas; and 248 principals and 2,248 substitutes were mustered into the service. Of these, 400 deserted; and the following were assigned to different Connecticut organizations: First Connecticut Volunteer Artillery, 54; First Connecticut Volunteer Cavalry, 4; Fifth Infantry, 424; Sixth Infantry, 228; Seventh Infantry, 142; Eighth Infantry, 171; Tenth Infantry, 4; Fourteenth Infantry, 834; Twentieth Infantry, 150; Twenty-first Infantry, 1; 14th Rhode-Island Artillery (colored), 66.

On Oct. 17, the president called for an additional force of three hundred thousand to strengthen the regiments in the field. The same bounties were offered; and a draft was provided for in case the requisition should not be filled by Jan. 5, 1864. The re-inforcements which the draft had failed to yield, now began to be furnished by voluntary enlistments.

Many towns had already made extravagant appropriations for bounties; which would involve them in lawsuits, and perhaps insolvency, if continued. Gov. Buckingham, accordingly, convened the General Assembly in special session, to meet on Nov. 3.

By an act approved Nov. 13, a State bounty of three hundred dollars was ordered paid to each volunteer non-commissioned officer or private who should enlist, and be credited to this State, under the call of Oct. 17; and every town was prohibited from making any appropriation for volunteers.

The quota of the State was 5,432. The recruiting was placed entirely in the hands of United-States officers; and