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Cabot was commissioned captain, and became the nucleus of the
Fort Warren Battalion.
On the 13th of January, the
Governor writes three letters, in regard to our coast defences,—one to the
President, one to our
Senators and Representatives in Congress, and one to
Secretary Seward,—in which he argued the importance of the subject, and that the
General Government authorize it to be done by the
State, as ‘the
State can do it with more expedition and economy than it can be done otherwise.’
These letters were taken to
Washington by
Colonel Charles Amory, master of ordnance of
Massachusetts.
Jan. 18.—
Colonel Browne, by direction of the
Governor, writes to
Henry N. Hooper, of
Boston, respecting an exchange of prisoners—
Every thing that the Governor can do by prayers, entreaties, arguments, and remonstrances, to induce the Federal Government to do justice to our prisoners by instituting a proper system of regular exchanges, has been done in vain.
The Federal Administration have obstinately refused to institute such a system; and it is only by individual effort that our fellow-citizens can extricate their fathers, brothers, and sons from that Southern captivity.
Jan. 22.—Governor writes to
Hon. Roscoe Conkling,
United-States House of Representatives, and now
United-States Senator:—
I have received, and perused with lively gratification, your speech, delivered on the 6th inst. For its lofty eloquence, and its tribute to the valor and devotedness of our soldiers,—particularly of the men of the Fifteenth and Twentieth Regiments,—I beg to tender you the homage of respectful and hearty gratitude.
Jan. 27.—Governor writes to
Edwin M. Stanton, who was recently appointed
Secretary of War, in place of
Mr. Cameron,—
I have the honor to introduce John M. Forbes, Esq., of Boston, one of the most eminent citizens and business men of Massachusetts.
He takes great interest in the subject of coast defences, of which Mr. Seward wrote me, last October, but which, I believe, is now in the care of your department.
It is very desirable that Massachusetts should act
