[
537]
company of sharpshooters which were in his command.
On the 22d of January, the
Governor wrote to
General Hancock, informing him that no efforts on his part should be wanting to fill up the regiments as he requested.
He also said,—
I should gladly welcome you to this State, if you should be able to come here on the recruiting business on which you are engaged, and be glad to have you address the people here in behalf of your corps.
But public interest, and the stream of recruits, can be better turned towards the Second Corps by the return here of some of the regiments which belong to it, than by any individual effort.
If, at the time the Nineteenth shall return, you shall be able to come for a day to Boston, and assist in making a public appeal to fill it up, your presence would be of great assistance.
General Hancock was prevented by his public duties from visiting
Boston; but every effort was made, and with a fair degree of success, to fill up the Massachusetts Regiments in the Second Corps.
On the 25th of January, the
Governor telegraphed to
General Burnside at New York,—
I have fixed Feb. 3 for reviewing the troops at Readville.
You must not disappoint us. The whole Legislature have voted to attend.
The review spoken of in this despatch took place on the day named.
General Burnside was present, and reviewed the men. The Governor and staff, the Legislature, and an
immense crowd of people, were present to witness it. The day was unpleasant, and the mud was ankle-deep; but the review went on. The condition of the troops, and their soldierly appearance, elicited the praise of all, and specially of the distinguished reviewing officer.
On the 26th of January,
Major Ware,
assistant military secretary, addressed the following letter to the editor of the Christian Watchman and Reflector, by request of the
Governor:—
I beg leave to inclose the following article from a late number of your paper, and very respectfully to ask your attention to the facts.
On Saturday (the day before the Sunday above-mentioned), the attention of His Excellency the Governor was called to the camp at
