Research

Administrative History

This record was compiled pursuant to General Orders No. 67 issued by the Adjutant General's Office on August 13, 1862 to comply with President Lincoln's August 4, 1862 order calling for a draft of 300,000 militia to serve nine months.

Much of General Orders No. 67 is based on General Order No. 99 issued by the U.S. War Department on August 9. This order outlined specific procedures to be followed by each state for the enrollment and draft of the militia. It stipulated that each governor appoint a commissioner for each county "to superintend the drafting and hear and determine excuses of persons claiming to be exempt from military duty." To assist these commissioners, governors were also to appoint an examining surgeon for each county.