John S. Preston to James A. Seddon, March 18, 1864

Hon. JAMES A. SEDDON, Secretary of War:

Sir: Governor Watts, of Alabama, in his letter to the President, dated 8th of March,* and handed by you to me, states that there have been many companies raised in Alabama for conscript service and the arrest of absentees,; and that these companies have in general done little good and frequently much harm to the service. These companies were raised by Brigadier-General Pillow when assigned to conscription service by General Johnston. The evils complained of were manifest on the transfer of the conscription service in Alabama to this Bureau, and instant steps were taken to ascertain the condition of the companies, by what authority raised and assigned, the material of which they were composed, and all other matter necessary to a proper disposition of them.

It involved a slow, difficult, and delicate inspection. Most of the companies were mustered for the war, contained many conscripts liable to general service, and were of such character that if suddenly disbanded the men might be entirely lost. If the conscripts were withdrawn, they would disband, and if ordered to the field the conscript service would be utterly without support. The investigation is progressing, and in the meantime all that can be spared from conscript service have been ordered to report either to General Polk or to officers authorized by the War Department to raise and organize forces. The process is now at work under the orders of an efficient commandant of conscripts, and it is hoped that all, or nearly all, the companies will soon be placed in the field except one for each Congressional district reserved for conscript service.

I still believe that the very worst agency to have control of conscription, except that of generals commanding, is the local civil or military authorities. Wherever it has been tried it has proved a disastrous failure, and such would be the result of Governor Watts’ plan. If the State authorities or generals commanding would actively and cordially co-operate with the conscript authorities instead of endeavoring to control or oppose them good might result.

During my six months in this Bureau there has never been one man sent to the field by State authority. Thousands have been kept from the field by the action of that authority. The collisions between the State and conscript authorities have been universally caused by the effort of the States to keep or take men from the conscript officers.

The same experience indicates that no general commanding a department or district having control of conscription has sent one conscript out of his department. I am not informed that fifty conscripts have been sent from Mississippi, Alabama, Florida, or Tennessee to the Army of Virginia while General Pillow, under General Johnston, had control of conscription in those States.

The difficulties, delays, and irregularities of conscription do not result from the difficulty in finding men, but the impossibility of getting those men out of the hands of recruiting officers under generals commanding, of Governors, judges, and demagoguing politicians. These are the real impediments to the success of this Bureau. From one end of the Confederacy to the other every constituted authority, every officer, every man and woman is engaged in opposing the enrolling officer in the execution of his duties. It is their efforts to meet and overcome these obstacles which causes the outcry against these officers and suggests these crude plans for the service to which they are assigned.

With the present onerous, responsible, and important functions charged upon the conscription authorities, it may be worthy of consideration whether the duty of arresting absentees may not be confided to other agencies; but for conscription merely you cannot devise a better system than the one now in operation.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,