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

[405] Potomac, and suggested to him to use a ‘little military eloquence in his first order,’ in which he should especially commend, encourage, and cheer the ‘brave good fellows, who have borne the brunt already, some of them in three campaigns.’ The general orders heretofore issued ‘have looked to the future only, and have reflected more or less merely on the commander.’ A few words of praise and of gratitude, ‘suggesting nothing but hopefulness, thankfulness, and good-will, would be worth a victory.’ He then advised him to go around and speak a few pleasant and kind words to ‘every single regiment,— every one. Tell the boys that all have a country; all will hereafter have a history; and that, a hundred years hence, the children by the firesides will be charmed by the stories their mothers will tell them of the valor and manliness of the humblest private who served well or died bravely.’

This letter concludes as follows:—

I am anti-slavery; but may I say that at first I would not allude to the proclamation. When the Secretary of War shall, by general order, promulgate it, which will be done shortly, let it be read at the head of every regiment; and I would then, by word and deed, make it as efficient and vital as the bayonet; of the soldier, and the voice of the commander. You can immediately and strongly commit every officer to the policy and orders of his Government; and the men will easily see that while their wives give up their husbands, their fathers give up their sons, to the hazards of war, it is only the merest justice that rebel masters should yield up their slaves, and not compel them to be rebels too. You will, I know, general, pardon, and ascribe to my friendly interest and my confidence in your chivalrous character, the apparent freedom of this note and its suggestions.

An officer who had held rank on the staff of Major-General Banks, had been summarily dismissed the service by Mr. Stanton, for what he deemed a breach of military etiquette, which was regarded by Governor Andrew as an act of injustice towards the officer; and he exerted himself with the President and the Secretary of War, at divers times, to have him reinstated. He had great confidence in his ability, and of his soundness in regard to commanding colored troops. When General Ullman, of New York, received the appointment of