General Orders No. 121

GENERAL ORDERS, No. 121.

WAR DEPARTMENT,

ADJUTANT GENERAL'S OFFICE,

Washington, August 29, 1862.

ORDER CONCERNING SUPPLIES TO DRAFTED MILITIA.

The commissioners for drafting in each county will, on the assembling of the draft at the county seat, appoint a lance corporal for every eight men, and a lance sergeant for every sixteen men, and will make fair and reasonable contracts for cooked provisions sufficient to subsist the men until their arrival at the camp of the rendezvous, and twenty-four hours thereafter; copies of these contracts, and duplicate bills, certified by the commissioner and by the mustering officer, will be sent to the Commissary General for payment.

The commissioner will accompany the men to the camp, taking the control of them, providing for their transportation by railroad or steamboat when practicable, and where it is necessary to march, he may provide a reasonable amount of transportation for the provisions and baggage of the men. The expenses of transportation will be paid by the Quartermaster's Department on duplicate bills, certified by the commissioner.

The chief mustering officer of each State will immediately, in conformity with the regulations of the Subsistence Department, advertise for separate proposals and make contracts for uncooked rations for each camp, and will also immediately make their requisitions on the Commissary General for funds to meet all subsistence for drafted men, while they remain at camp of rendezvous.

Until companies are organized, the rations will be supplied on the returns of the commander of each camp, and his receipt will be the basis for a settlement with the contractor.

After organization into companies, rations will be issued on returns signed by the company commanders, and approved by the commandant of the camp.

After being organized into regiments, rations will be supplied to the Regimental Quartermaster on regimental returns signed by him, and approved by the Colonel -- the Regimental Quartermaster being charged with their distribution to the companies.

Cooking utensils, and such other camp equipage and blankets as can be furnished by the Quartermaster's Department, will be supplied as soon as possible by the United States Quartermasters hereinafter named, on the requisitions of the commandants of camps of rendezvous within their respective districts, and will be issued by such commandants to the men, as follows: Each man receiving a blanket will receipt for the same, which receipt will be turned over by the commandant of the camp of rendezvous to the quartermaster of his regiment, as soon as he shall be appointed, and he shall make the proper entry on his account.

Camp equipage, issued before the organization of companies, will be receipted for by the lance sergeant of the squad, and taken up by the quartermaster of the regiment, on his return, as soon as the regiment is organized. When issued after the organization of a company, it will be receipted for by the captain, and taken up in like manner.

It will be the duty of the officer of the United States Quartermaster's Department to forward to the several camps of rendezvous, as soon as possible, camp and garrison equipage, necessary for the first organization. Arrangements now in progress will provide the uniform clothing, which will not be issued to the soldiers until the organization of regiments is completed.

As the sudden call for volunteers and militia has exhausted the supply of blankets, fit for military purposes, in the market, and it will take some time to procure by manufacture or importation a sufficient supply, all citizens who may volunteer or be drafted are advised to take with them to the rendezvous, if possible, a good stout woolen blanket. The regulation military blanket is 84x66 inches, and weighs five pounds.

As all clothing, blankets, and shoes issued by the United States to its troops are charged at average cost, and no soldier who furnished his own blanket is required to draw one, it is to his interest to supply himself, and thereby avoid much discomfort, as it is impossible for the United States to supply all the troops immediately.

The camps of rendezvous in the different States will be supplied by the United States Quartermasters, as follows: Camps in

Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Captain McKim, Assistant Q. M., Boston.

Vermont, Connecticut, Rhode Island, New York, New Jersey, (part of,) Colonel Vinton, Deputy Q. M. G. New York.

New Jersey, (part of,) Pennsylvania, Delaware, Colonel Crosman, Deputy Q. M. G., Philadelphia.

Supplies for Drafted Militia.

Genl. Order No 121.

War Dept.

Gen. Order

No 121