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soldiers' families?
Such an arrangement would prevent much suffering this winter.’
Aug. 3.—The Governor telegraphs to Senators Sumner and Wilson, ‘Can it be intended by Congress, that volunteers in the field shall fill vacancies by election?
Where is to be the source of discipline, when every candidate is seeking personal favor of the men?’
Aug. 14.—The Governor telegraphs to Governor Washburn, of Maine, ‘General Sherman left here, this afternoon, for Concord, N. H., intending to proceed thence to Augusta.
His business is of importance, which justifies your waiting for him there.’
General Sherman came to Boston to confer privately with the Governor, in regard to an expedition contemplated by the Government to the coast of North Carolina. Massachusetts was to furnish three regiments for it; New Hampshire and Maine were also to furnish regiments.
General Sherman had commanded a brigade at the first battle of Bull Run, and had distinguished himself as a commanding officer.
His subsequent career in the war is known and appreciated by all. The Governor entered warmly into the proposed scheme, and promised him the support he required.
Out of this promise grew the subsequent controversy between the Governor and General Butler, to which we shall hereafter refer.
Up to this time, no definite instructions, pointing out the manner of filling vacancies in volunteer regiments after they had left the State, had been received from the War Department.
The act of Congress of July 22 appeared to be clear enough, that the vacancies should be filled by appointments made by the Governors of the States; but the action of the War Department for a time appeared to contravene this mode of action.
The Governor had written to our Senators in Congress in regard to the subject, but had received no satisfactory reply.
Accordingly, on the 16th of August, he wrote to the Adjutant-General of the United States army, at Washington, upon the subject; stating that he was continually embarrassed, from want of information and direction from the military authorities of the
1868. E. P. DUtton and Co. Boston,.
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