[
639]
should arrive by which he could with honor advocate and work for the re-establishment of the
Union, he would take advantage of it. A number of gentlemen distinguished in political life, and who had been always true to the
Union cause, believed it would be wise and also expedient to have
Mr. Stephens released from confinement, and return to
Georgia, to exercise his personal influence to bring about a kind and loyal feeling to the
Government in the
South.
It is just, however, to say, that this confidence reposed in
Mr. Stephens had its origin in a belief of the truthfulness and manly honor of the gentleman, and not in any words which he had expressed, or act which he had committed, showing that he was unfaithful to his own section of country, or that, in going with his State into the
Rebellion, he had consciously committed a crime.
On the 4th of October, the
Governor transmitted to
Francis George Shaw, father of the late
Colonel Shaw, of the Fifty-fourth Regiment, Massachusetts Volunteers, a copy of the following letter, which he had received from
Brigadier-General W. F. Bennett—
I have the honor to inform you that I have in my possession a volcanic repeating rifle and a gold watch, which is supposed to be the property of the late Colonel Shaw, Fifty-fourth Regiment, Massachusetts Volunteers.
They were taken from a man who has been boasting that he took them from the Colonel's dead body.
The man is now in jail, in charge of the military authorities.
Will you notify the family of the late Colonel, and ask information on the subject?
It would appear from the following letter, dated Oct. 18, addressed to
Mr. Shaw, that the articles named were the property of his son—
Your letter to His Excellency was received this morning, and I send you herewith a copy of General Bennett's letter, from which you will learn his name and address.
We have already said a word in regard to the services, in the war, of
Lieutenant-Colonel Theodore Lyman, who had been commissioned assistant adjutant-general by
Governor Andrew, that he might serve as a volunteer officer on the staff of
General Meade.
We find on the
Governor's files a copy of
