The Story of the Raising and Organization of a Regiment of Volunteers in 1862 / Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States, Commandery of the District of Columbia, War Papers 46

The author recounts how a volunteer infantry regiment was raised and organized in 1862, tracing recruitment by private individuals commissioned by the governor, the promise of officers' commissions and men's bounties, and the hurried, improvised procedures used to enlist, examine, and muster companies. He describes the varied social backgrounds and inexperience of officers and men, the practical strains on discipline and selection, anecdotal recruiting incidents, medical and administrative shortcomings, and the logistical steps that moved disparate companies into a unified camp ready for service. The account balances practical detail with reflection on the system's strengths and weaknesses.