[577]
is now somewhere among the rebels.
The other is the one referred to. None of them, excepting the latter, have been at home during their entire period of service.
And now, Governor, I write to ask from you a word of recommendation to the proper authorities for his discharge.
I refer your Excellency to Adjutant-General Schouler and Hon. E. S. Davis, at the State House, to whom I am personally known.
Indorsed on the back of this remarkable letter, in the
Governor's own handwriting, were these words:—
Will the Adjutant-General please report whether, by the rule adopted by the War Office, this man comes within the category of those entitled to discharge under our order No. 28, 1862.
On the 24th of September, the
Adjutant-General made the following report to the
Governor:—
In answer to your Excellency's inquiries, I have the honor to report, that the case of James O. Newhall does not come within the rule adopted by the War Department in regard to General Order No. 28, 1862.
Only recruits who went into old regiments between the 21st of July and 31st of December, 1862, are entitled to be mustered out when the terms of service of their regiments expire.
The statements made by Mr. Newhall I know to be true.
He had five sons in the army, and they have been good soldiers.
I think, therefore, that he presents a strong claim for a favorable consideration of his application.
Perhaps the Secretary of War would order the young man's discharge, if he knew he was one of five brothers who have served faithfully almost from the beginning of the Rebellion.
Pardon me if I add a word in regard to a still more remarkable case than the one presented by Mr. Newhall.
Your Excellency may remember that I had the honor two years ago to speak to you of a widow lady, Mrs. Bixby, in the middle walks of life, who had five sons in the Union army, one of whom was wounded at Antietam, and was sent to a hospital in Baltimore or Washington.
She was very anxious to go and see him, and your Excellency was kind enough to draw your check for forty dollars ($40) to pay her expenses; and she made her journey.
The boy recovered, and joined his regiment again.
About ten days ago, Mrs. Bixby came to my office, and showed me five letters from five different company commanders, and each letter informed the poor woman of the death of one of her sons.
Her last remaining son was recently killed in the fight on the Weldon Railroad. Mrs. Bixby is the best specimen of a true-hearted Union woman I have yet seen.
