William Schouler, A history of Massachusetts in the Civil War: Volume 1

[169] of the 15th of May cast no ray of hope that more regiments would be accepted from Massachusetts: on the contrary, ‘it was important to reduce rather than to enlarge this number.’ The Governor, nevertheless, continued to urge upon the President and the Secretary the acceptance of more regiments.

Among the men who sympathized with the Governor in his desire to have more troops accepted was General Hiram Walbridge, of New York. He was earnest to have the war carried on with vigor. At the request of Governor Andrew, General Walbridge brought the subject to the attention of the President. His efforts were successful. He wrote to the Governor from Washington, June 17th,—

I am gratified to enclose you herewith a copy of a letter addressed to me by the Secretary of War, with the sanction of the President, in response to my application in favor of taking additional forces, authorizing me to notify you that ten additional regiments will be called from the loyal and patriotic State of Massachusetts, in accordance with the terms stated in your letter to me of the 12th inst.

This permission to send forward ten more regiments gave great satisfaction, and relieved the Governor from much anxiety and care, with which, at this particular period, he was sorely pressed.

Immediate orders were issued to organize and send forward the regiments. The correspondence of the Executive Department reveals some of the embarrassing questions which pressed upon it at this time. On the 8th of May, Senator Wilson who was in Washington, wrote to the Governor, that ‘the condition of the uniforms and equipments of the Massachusetts three months troops was bad, as compared with those of other States.’ On the receipt of this letter, the Governor wrote to the Senator a long and able reply. The letter is dated May 10th; and in it he said, ‘he has sent and is sending forward large supplies both of provisions and of clothing; but as he is not gifted by the Lord with omniscience, and as in no single instance has he received any report from any of the regiments in and about Washington of what they need, he is sorry he is unable to satisfy everybody, and still more sorry that Massachusetts troops should be permitted to suffer. Although a month ’