William Schouler, A history of Massachusetts in the Civil War: Volume 1

[534] the Springfield companies, because, at the time when the men were recruited, the refusal of the Government to allow them the bounty to which they were clearly entitled, both by the law of Congress and the orders of the War Department, created a wide-spread dissatisfaction, and served for a time as a block upon the recruiting service in the State, and at a time, too, when men were most wanted, and it was of the highest importance to cultivate a kind regard in the hearts of volunteers, and the people generally, for the cause of the Union. It was also of special importance to the city of Springfield that the men should be accepted, and thus form a part of a large contingent which that city had to furnish under the call of the President for volunteers. It is from incidents of this kind that much of the historic interest of each State in the war is derived.

We have already given the letter of Miss Philena M. Upham, transmitting a scrap-book which she had made, which, in our judgment, was one of the pleasant reminiscences of our great, active war. We have also given the letter of the Governor to Senator Sumner, requesting him to give the scrap-book to the Amory-square Hospital, to be first read by Miss Anna Lowell. We find on the Governor's files a letter of Jan. 9, to Miss Upham, in which he says,—