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would be far more efficient.
He presumed the same state of facts existed elsewhere; but in this little State the evils complained of were more early seen and deeply felt.
So many officers seen in our streets and places of public amusement make our people who have sons and husbands in the field, ask what are these officers doing here?
why are they not with their regiments?
I tell you, general, that the effect is all bad, and the system is all wrong.
On this letter the
Governor indorsed, ‘Read and cordially approved by me.’
The system complained of was afterwards corrected; and, in a degree, the recommendations of the
Adjutant-General were adopted.
We insert a letter which bears upon another class of cases.
Ferdinand Fillmore, of the Eleventh Regiment, was reported a deserter.
He was in
Boston, and had written to his captain for a descriptive list, that he might get his monthly pay, of which he was in great need.
The captain refused to send it, on the ground that the man was a deserter; to which the
Adjutant-General replied,—
The man is no deserter.
He was sent from Fortress Monroe to New York.
You say he was to go to Alexandria; but the poor fellow had to go on the vessel he was ordered to, and he had to go to such port as the vessel took him to, and that was to New York.
He was there in hospital two months. He wanted to join his regiment when he got better; but the officer in command would not let him, but gave him a discharge from the service on surgeon's certificate of disability, which he now has, and I have it before me as I write.
The man is poor, and in feeble health.
The United-States Government owes him two months pay, which he cannot get until he has his descriptive list from you; I pray you to send it on. I am as anxious to return deserters as you can possibly be, and probably exert myself to send them back as much as any one; but this man is not a deserter, and should not be so regarded.
March 3.—To
William D. Northend,
Salem:—
You ask if an inhabitant of Salem goes directly to Virginia, and there enlists, and is mustered into the service of the United States in the Massachusetts Second Regiment, can he be considered a part of the quota of Massachusetts, so that his family can receive the State aid?
I answer, most unequivocally, yes.
