ENROLLMENT of NEW COMPANIES

For the Purpose of increasing the numbers and promoting the efficiency of the volunteer militia of the commonwealth, the commander-in-chief announces the following system as the one which will be for the present adopted:--

Enlistment papers will be issued from the adjutant general’s office at his discretion.

When the requisite number of men to form a full company have enrolled their names, and the mayor or aldermen of the city or selectmen of the town, in the vicinity of which said company is situated, have attested the same and certified their approbation of the application directions  will be given to have an inspection of the men enrolled, by some competent surgeon to be designated for that duty, who shall make report whether they are fit for active service, and fulfill the requisitions of the law in other respects.

These conditions having been complied with, company organizations will be granted and the officers chosen will be commissioned, until the number of companies formed is so large that their further increase seems undesirable..

The companies organized in the vicinity of existing regiments, which at the present time have not ten companies, will be annexed to said regiments until they are full.

New regiments will be formed immediately.

The other companies which are organized will remain detached until the exigencies of the service require that they be formed into battalions or regiments.

No commission will be issued to company officers until the commander in chief is satisfied that they are qualified to take command if ordered into active service.

Arms and equipments will be furnished at once to such companies as are attached to regiments or battalions.

Inasmuch as the pubic interests may require that the arms at present in possession of the commonwealth should be retained except when they are delivered to companies which may probably soon be called into active service, detached companies must not expect to be immediately equipped.

But arrangements will be made as soon as possible to have suitable instructors provided when called (to) drill the men? in the services to their country in the field.

Although the law makes no provision for their pay or subsistence until they are summoned to active duty, yet the commander-in-chief renews his invitation to the patriotic citizens of Massachusetts to organize as a part of the volunteer militia, and to qualify themselves to maintain the honor of the state, and the supremacy of the federal government in every emergency.

The extraordinary pressure of applications for leave to organize new companies of militia, and to serve as surgeons, chaplains, nurses, and otherwise, has compelled the governor to request___

1  That all matters relating to military organization, to firearms, and to subsistence, be addressed to the Adjutant General.

2  That all which relates to transportation, clothing, general supplies, & ect. be addressed to the Quartermaster General.

3  That all which relates to benevolent action in aid of the comfort of our soldiers, such as offers to make garments, ect., be addressed to Hon. Josiah Quincy, Jr,  No. 4 Park street, who has consented to superintend this department of labor.

No power is vested by law in the commander –in-chief to appoint chaplains, surgeons, or nurses, to our troops; but the colonels of the regiments appoint their surgeons and chaplains respectively.  All applications, however, of this nature, will be appropriately referred, and lists prepared, which the appointing officers may consult, if they please, for information.  more particularly in respect to the offers of service as nurses, it is desirable that the full name and address of the party should be in every instance given, and if there shall be occasion the for her services, she will be promptly notified from headquarters.

All applications and offers, of whatever description, will be filed, referred, and acted upon in due course of business, but the absolute impossibility of answering them all by letter must excuse the apparent want of attention which in any instance may be inferred from from an absence of a reply.

His excellency the governor directs me to express in the warmest terms at my command his sincere gratitude to the generous and patriotic men and women, to whose communications this note refers, for the support and encouragement which is derived from their sympathy and zeal.