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

A convention of delegates, representing the discontented towns, was held in Boston, in June; at which there were speeches made, and resolutions passed, reflecting upon the State authorities, and especially upon the Adjutant-General, who, in the April preceding, had addressed a letter to the Governor, calling his attention ‘to the way in which men enlisted by the several town authorities to fill their quotas are credited by orders from Washington, which is creating much dissatisfaction, and is doing great injustice.’ In this letter the Adjutant-General pointed out the very evils which the convention complained of, and contained suggestions which, adopted by the authorities at Washington, would have prevented their continuance. Of this letter, and of the efforts made by the Governor and the Adjutant-General to have credits given correctly, the members of the June convention had never inquired into, and were totally ignorant of. If they had been acquainted with these facts, they would probably have passed resolutions of a different character. It was the intention of the Adjutant-General to have taken no notice of the proceedings of the convention, or of the discussions in the newspapers, or of a ‘circular signed by Richard L. Pease and others,’ dated Edgartown, June 13. But at the request of the Governor, he wrote the following letter:—