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General Dix, commanding the Department of the East, as follows:—
I propose to station one of the companies of heavy artillery, which I am raising here for coast defence, at the city of Salem; and it may be a convenience for them to have official authority to occupy the pile of old bricks there, which is called Fort Pickering, and of which the only tenant at present is a superannuated ordnance-sergeant, who sells beer and lets fishing-rods.
At this time there had been nothing done by the
Government to place old
Fort Pickering in a defensible position.
It is on what is called
Winter Island, and commands the harbor of
Salem.
It had no guns, and was precisely in the position named by the
Governor.
He asked of
General Dix authority to station the companies then being raised for coast defence, as the latter might think best.
Shortly afterwards, a fortification of earthworks was erected at this place, and guns placed therein; and one company was stationed there, and remained until the end of the war.
On the 11th of August, the
Governor wrote to
Governor Tod, of
Ohio,—
I have had the honor to receive from you a copy of the warrant for the commitment of John Morgan, and the principal officers of his command, to the Ohio Penitentiary; and I beg to express to you my congratulations on the energy and success with which the pursuit of them was conducted, and their capture effected.
This letter has reference to the defeat and capture of the wellknown rebel chief, who entered
Ohio with his command, and made a raid upon the peaceable inhabitants of that State.
On the 11th of August, the
Governor wrote,—
The Adjutant-General will please examine and report to me whether it is not practicable to commence recruiting immediately, with a prospect of success, a regiment of veteran volunteers, having its headquarters at Worcester, and with Captains Wolcott and Harlow, lately of the Twenty-first Regiment, as lieutenant-colonel and major respectively.
The within letter of the Hon. Dwight Foster (Attorney-General of the State) is herewith sent for your examination.
Please return it to my files.
I wish to start such a regiment earlier than Mr. Foster's opinion seems to indicate.
