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of your neighbors, so that you can recruit a given number of men, then by giving evidence of your energy and capacity thus far, if you are found fit in other respects, on examination, I will recommend you for a commission to command the number of men you shall raise.
This is believed to be a course much better calculated to find officers than to hunt for them by the uncertain light of petitions and recommendations.
General Butler desires to make good his word to these young gentlemen.
‘His
Excellency’ will perceive the impossibility of at once furnishing a roster under such circumstances, as requested, for ‘His
Excellency's’ perusal.
‘His
Excellency's’ attention is called to the fact that no reply has been received to
General Butler's request, as to a squadron of mounted men.
General Butler is informed, by the returns of those who have recruited for him, that he has already a number of men equal to two regiments in such progress that they can be organized, being the most prompt recruitment ever done in this State,—these besides the Twenty-sixth and Twenty-eighth Regiments, assigned to him by
general order.
General Butler trusts that ‘His
Excellency’ will not, without the utmost necessity for it, throw any obstacles in the way of his recruitment, as
General Butler is most anxious to get his division organized, so as to start upon an expedition already planned, in the service of his country.
General Butler hopes that these views will meet ‘His
Excellency's’ concurrence and co-operation.
Most respectfully ‘His
Excellency's’ obedient servant,
The Governor being absent from
Boston, the receipt of the letter was acknowledged by
Colonel Browne on the 14th, and was by him forwarded to the
Governor.
It does not appear that the
Governor took any immediate official notice of this letter.
We pass over much that was written, but which were but eddies in the tide of this correspondence, to bring it to a fair and intelligent close.
We will only state the fact, that, on the 11th of November, we received a letter from
Colonel Ritchie, senior aid, directing the
Adjutant-General to issue
Order No. 570, which was, in substance, that
General Butler, having sent