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

The captain did not get what he asked for.

As a contrast to the foregoing case, a petition was presented to the Legislature by Mr. Seth T. Maxwell, of Charlemont, for payment of expenses incurred by him in trying to raise a company of sharpshooters in the western part of the State, which was also referred to the Adjutant-General by the Committee on Military Claims, who reported, substantially, that on representations made in November, 1861, by Mr. Maxwell, of Charlemont, and Mr. Winn, of Greenfield, then acting as assistant Attorney-General of the State, authority was given by the Governor, Dec. 4, to Mr. Maxwell, F. M. Thompson, of Greenfield, and Alvin P. Nelson, of Colerain, to raise a company of sharpshooters in the western counties of the Commonwealth for three years service. It was stated in the authority given, that ‘the company, if recruited to ninety-eight enlisted men on or before Dec. 20, will be accepted, and pay and rations will then commence.’ The company was not raised in the time named, and Mr. Maxwell asked for an extension, which was granted. It was the intention of the Governor to attach this company either to the Tenth or Twenty-seventh regiments (they being western counties' regiments), as the First Company of Sharpshooters had been attached to the Fifteenth, and the Second Company to the Twenty-second Regiment. On the fourth day of January, 1862, Mr. Maxwell wrote to the Adjutant-General that he had enlisted fifty-seven men, that he did not get along with the rapidity he expected, and, as he would take only those men who were good shots, he had greater difficulties to overcome than persons engaged in ordinary recruiting. He expected, however, ‘to have a full company before long.’ In the mean while, application had been made to the War Department to have this company attached to the Tenth Regiment, as Colonel Briggs was very anxious to have it; but, after a long delay, permission was refused. In the middle of February, 1862, the Adjutant-General went to Washington on business, and made a personal request to have this company accepted. ‘The Adjutant-General of the Army told me to put my proposition in writing, which I did. I received no answer to it until the twenty-sixth day of February, after I had returned ’