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

Every member of Congress, of course, had a great many duties to which he was obliged to attend. The Governor had occasion to write to many of them upon matters connected with the war. When answers were not received to letters upon important questions addressed by him to the departments, he would write to our Senators or to our members of the House of Representatives; but even these were not always attended to as promptly as the Governor wished.

Among the questions of importance in regard to filling our quota was the acceptance of certain recruits, men of the very best character, who had enlisted for three years service in one of our heavy-artillery regiments, but, by a decision of the War Department, could not receive the bounty provided by Congress to men thus enlisting. Many letters were written upon this subject, but without receiving satisfactory answers. The Adjutant-General asked the Governor how we could best settle the question. The Governor answered,—

I have been unable to get satisfactory answers from either the War Department, or from gentlemen in Congress from our State; write therefore to John B. Alley, your member of Congress: from him I have always had an answer whenever I have written him. If he cannot accomplish the purpose, he will at least attend to the business, and return an intelligent answer.

Accordingly, on the 11th of January, the Adjutant-General, at the request of the Governor, wrote the following letter to Mr. Alley:—