[538]
Readville, by several communications from town authorities, and one from the Mayor of Roxbury, alleging that the troops there were suffering severely from the cold, which at that time was unusual, from want of proper clothing, and in other ways.
It did not seem to the Governor to be fit or proper that several thousand men should suffer for one single day in a Massachusetts camp within ten miles of the State House, if by any efforts of his it could be prevented.
He accordingly ordered the above-named to report to him for duty early on Sunday morning, and with them he devoted the entire day to a personal and minute examination of the complaints that had been made of the condition of the men and of the camp.
Prompt measures were taken to disabuse the minds of those persons who had been misinformed, and arrangements were made for the immediate relief of whatever inconvenience was found to exist, by the supply of certain articles not allowed by the United-States army regulations.
The result proved that this Sunday was a much more proper day than any day of the week following would have been for instituting inquiries affecting the comfort, and possibly the lives, of Massachusetts soldiers.
I would respectfully ask the insertion of this letter in your paper, confident that no other explanation can be needed, at least by the friends of the soldiers in “Camp Meigs.”
On the 30th of January, the
Governor wrote to the
President of the
United States,—
I desire permission earnestly to recommend to you that Brigadier-General George L. Andrews, commanding the Corps d'afrique in Louisiana, be promoted to the rank of major-general.
The command is so extensive and important, and General Andrews has been so identified with the undertaking of organizing colored troops in the Department of the Gulf, that it seems to me every way most desirable and important that he should have the rank and staff that would best enable him successfully to carry on the work.
He is a most accomplished and scientific soldier, who has done credit to every rank in which he has hitherto served, and would, I have no doubt, do honor to the appointment to a higher grade; in fact, General Andrews has for a long time been performing the duties of a major-general, having a large and difficult division.
I think it of great importance to the undertaking of raising colored troops, that General Andrews, who has thus far conducted it, should not be superseded by the accidental presence of an officer of superior rank.
