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

William F. Capelle, of Boston, master of ambulance, with the rank of captain, Nov. 2.

Warren L. Brigham, of Westborough, assistant adjutant-general, with the rank of captain, Aug. 11.

Robert R. Corson, of Philadelphia, assistant quartermaster-general, with the rank of lieutenant-colonel, Dec. 9.

Charles L. Bulkley, of Boston, assistant engineer, with the rank of lieutenant-colonel, Dec. 12.

Frank L. Pope, of Great Barrington, assistant engineer, with rank of major, Dec. 12.

Colonel Bulkley and Major Pope were engineers engaged to lay a telegraph-wire to connect the States with the Russian dominions, and received their commissions from the Governor, as an honor due them for undertaking so great and valuable an enterprise.

J. F. B. Marshall, of Weston, paymaster-general, with the rank of colonel, Dec. 28.

Jarvis D. Braman, of Boston, assistant paymaster-general, with the rank of major, Dec. 29.

H. Sidney Everett, of Boston, assistant adjutant-general, with the rank of major, Dec. 30.

The year 1864 was one of the most important of the war. A presidential election had taken place which resulted in the triumphant re-election of Abraham Lincoln, and of a Congress pledged to a vigorous prosecution of the war; General Grant and the Army of the Potomac had fought their way through Virginia to the lines before Petersburg and Richmond; the Mississippi had been opened from its source to its mouth; and Sherman, with his Army of the Tennessee and the Cumberland, was making his triumphant march to the ocean. The Rebellion was in its death-throes. Thus matters stood at the close of the year.