Commonwealth of Massachusetts. INSPECTOR-GENERAL'S OFFICE, His Excellency JOHN A. ANDREW, Governor and Commander-· in-Chief: GOVERNOR,-In accordance with your request, I have the honor to submit the following Report on the rendezvous known as "Camp Meigs," situated at Readville, Mass. I was placed in command of the rendezvous by Special Order, No. 790, dated "Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Head-quarters, Boston, Sept. 9th, 1862," copy of which is appended, marked "A." Previous to this date certain organizations, recruited for three years service, rendezvoused at various camps at Readville. The annexed list, marked "B," shows the organization and camp where recruited. Upon my assuming command the nine months regiments were in process of recruitment, and the annexed table, marked "C," shows the organizations for that term of service which were recruited at Camp Meigs under my supervision and control. These regiments, upon their return to the State for muster out and final payment, rendezvoused at this camp. I can give no table showing their strength, &c., at this time, as they were not required to furnish morning reports, they being at camp simply for the purpose of making out the rolls and papers necessary for discharge. Table "D" shows the number and designation of the three years.organizations which were recruited at this rendezvous immediately after the departure of the nine months regiments. The Fifty-Eighth Regiment Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry was the last of the regiments here enumerated to leave for the field, and before its departure thirteen unattached companies of Massachusetts Volunteer Militia, called into the United States service for ninety days, arrived at this camp. Table "E" shows the designation and commanding officer of each. Immediately upon the expiration of the term of service for which these militia companies volunteered, certain regiments and companies, as shown in table "F," volunteered for one hundred days, and were recruited to the maximum, armed and equipped at this post. The celerity with which the five regiments of one hundred days troops, enumerated in table "F," were made ready for service in the field, is, I think, unprecedented. Recruits began to arrive on the thirteenth day of July, and on the first day of August, the Sixtieth Regiment, the last of the five regiments to leave the State, was en route for Washington, complete, like its predecessors, in uniform, arms, and camp and garrison equipage. After the departure of these regiments and companies, the rendezvous was occupied by two companies of one hundred days troops, retained for the purpose of guarding the public property of the post. In November, the returning one hundred days troops rendezvoused at Camp Meigs for discharge and final payment. No new organizations were recruited at this camp until December, when two companies of unattached infantry, for one year's service, reported for duty. On the 20th of December, 1864, authority was received from Major-General Dix, then commanding the Department of the East, for the recruitment of nine companies of cavalry, to be assigned to the First Regiment of Frontier Cavalry, (Twenty-Sixth Regiment New York Cavalry.) On the 21st of December this authority was modified so as to give Massachusetts but five companies. On the 31st day of December, Major F. N. Clarke, Military Commander of Boston, and Acting Assistant Provost-MarshalGeneral of Massachusetts, ordered the District ProvostMarshals of the State to discontinue recruiting for the Frontier Cavalry. The recruits already obtained numbered nearly eight hundred, and after filling five companies of the Frontier Cavalry to the maximum, two companies were organized from the surplus for the Third Regiment Massachusetts Volunteer Cavalry, and the remaining unassigned recruits were transferred to the Fourth Regiment Massachusetts Volunteer Cavalry. In March of this year, the last volunteer organization of this State commenced its recruitment, viz., the Sixty-Second Regiment Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, of which Ansel D. Wass was designated Colonel. When the organization had reached a strength of four full companies, the victories before Richmond removed the necessity for its completion, and orders were accordingly issued from the War Department for its muster-out. Table "G" shows the number and designation of the one year organizations above referred to. On the 12th day of May, 1865, the two companies comprising the permanent garrison of the rendezvous, were mustered out of service, by Orders from the War Department, and to guard the property, &c., a detachment of the Eleventh Veteran Reserve Corps was ordered to the post. Shortly afterwards the camp was made a rendezvous for returning troops, and the organizations enumerated in table "H" reported here for discharge and final payment. On the 19th of August, the rendezvous was discontinued by order of the War Department, copy of which is annexed, marked “I." The following shows the number of men, with their terms of service, which have been recruited at Camp Meigs : Adding the proximate number of men recruited before Camp Meigs was established, and which cannot be definitely ascertained from the records of the post, Total, 4,250 . 29,983 The foregoing relates almost entirely to the organizations recruited at Camp Meigs. I now desire to remark somewhat upon the Camp in general. In the winter of 1864 it was thought expedient to remove the barracks and buildings from the camp at Lakeville, known as "Camp Joe Hooker," to Readville. This was accordingly done-the barracks then accommodating five thousand men, and the stables twelve hundred horses, with commodious and convenient buildings for Head-quarters, Chapel, Hospital, Quartermaster and Commissary Departments. The labor imposed upon myself and the officers serving at the post was greater at this time than at any period in its previous or subsequent history. The number of recruits which rendezvoused at the camp, and the amount of labor consequent thereon, is not to be estimated by the recruits accepted and forwarded to the field. Large numbers of recruits, in transit to Gallop's Island or the front, were often in my charge. The number of rejected recruits was very large, and the labor imposed by them was constant and severe. As giving some idea of the number of rejected recruits, and the labor consequent upon taking charge of them while remaining at the rendezvous, and the furnishing of transportation to their homes, I would state that a communication addressed by me to Adjutant-General Schouler, under date of March 3d, 1864, gave the number of recruits rejected between the dates of December 18th, 1863, and March 2d, 1864, as eleven hundred and twenty-six, (1,126.) In June, 1864, the "Eastern Camp," so called, was transferred to the Hospital Department by orders from the War Department, copy of which is annexed, marked "K." This transfer confined the rendezvous to the buildings and barracks known as the "Western Camp." Its capacity being smallit accommodated only one thousand men-tents were necessary and often used. The barracks at this camp were entirely remodelled and refitted in the fall of 1864, much of the work being done by enlisted men detailed for the purpose.. Additions were made to Head-quarters, the Commissary and Quartermaster's Departments. This work was also mainly done by detailed men. The facilities for a rapid and proper organization of troops were now unequalled. The rendezvous was, in every respect, in a most desirable condition-the barracks and all necessary buildings and quarters being in thorough repair, and every possible comfort and convenience afforded to both officers and men. In closing this Report, I desire to return my warmest thanks to the officers who have served upon my staff. The work incident to their positions was at all times laborious, and was generally performed in a manner to which I can make no exception. My recollections of their services and kindness will always be pleasant and agreeable. With great respect, Your Excellency's obedient servant, R. A. PEIRCE, Brigadier-General and Inspector-General of Massachusetts. |