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Feb. 27.—The Governor writes to
Colonel Tompkins, United-States Quartermaster at New York,—
The Rev. A. L. Stone, pastor of the Park-street Church in this city, desires to visit Port Royal for the purpose of gathering information concerning the moral and spiritual condition of the ‘contrabands’ in that quarter.
He is a suitable person to accomplish such a mission.
May I hope that you will do what you can to facilitate Mr. Stone's transit to and from Port Royal?
Feb. 28.—The Governor writes to the
Adjutant-General of
Massachusetts,—
I have just, this afternoon, had time to read your interesting report, and I beg you would do what it reminds me of; namely, send to Captain Davis, at Fortress Monroe, and learn what is the present state of his company.
General McClellan agreed to change it to artillery; but as yet I have received no orders about it.
This letter refers to the report made by the
Adjutant-General of his visit to the front, of which an abstract is given in preceding pages in this chapter.
March 3.—The Governor addressed a letter to
Hon. A. H. Bullock,
Speaker of the House of Representatives, calling his attention to a
general order issued that day by the
Adjutant General of the
State, concerning three rebel flags taken at the
battle of Roanoke Island by the
Massachusetts regiments, and says,—
Such trophies are always prized by the soldier.
They are earnest proofs of his efforts and achievements in the performance of his perilous duties.
I confess that I received these with the utmost sympathy; and I can but pay to the men who won that day my humble but hearty and admiring gratitude.
The Governor then states that the House of Representatives would probably like to pay to our soldiers the honor of having the flags displayed for a time in their hall, and that any direction as would enable this to be done he would gladly concur in. The flags were subsequently presented to the
House, and were displayed there until the end of the session.
March 3.—The Governor writes to Right
Rev. Bishop Fitzpatrick that he had no power ‘to order
private McDonald's ’
