Scope and Content: During the Civil War President Lincoln issued a call on July 2, 1862 for 300,000 men to serve for 3 years. The Federal Militia Act of July 17, 1862 authorized the president to call up state militias into national service for 9 months and “to make all necessary rules and regulations.” The President’s General Order 94 of Aug. 4, 1862 called for 300,000 militia to serve for 9 months. States not meeting their quota by Sept. 3 (or Aug. 15 for the July 2 call) would be subject to a draft, the first instance of the federal government assuming the authority to draft in the United States. –The Secretary of War issued General Order 99 (Aug. 9), specifying that governor of each state was to enroll all able-bodied men 18 to 45. In Massachusetts, the state Adjutant General issued General Order 38 (Aug. 21), directing selectmen or other officials of each municipality to assemble an enrollment list of all eligible men. The order also provided for a drafting commissioner for each county and surgeons, to be appointed by the governor. They were to establish exemptions, such as for those already in the military, working on railroads, or with issues of age or poor health. –On Aug. 23, 1862, William Rogers was commissioned Second Assistant Adjutant General to administer the draft in Massachusetts. Rogers established each municipality’s quota based on the total number of able-bodied men before the war had started in 1861, as well as giving credit for the number of men it had already sent to the war effort.
Notes: Box 1: Berkshire. Essex.  Box 2: Essex (ctd). Hampden. Norfolk.  Box 3: Worcester
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