3rd Rhode Island Heavy Artillery - Brevet Brigadier General - NEW

Item LTR-12073

Description

Original Civil War letter. 4 pages written in period ink.


Headquarters Battery C
3^rd Rhode Island Volunteer Artillery
Morris Island, South Carolina
September 24^th 1863
 
Dear Colonel,
 
Yours of the 15th came duly to hand by the Arago. I thank you kindly for the advice, which I only wished had reached me before I was compelled to answer the governor's proposition without hearing from you. I knew you thought well of me, and I have tried to merit your esteem and confidence; but there were so many officers senior to me that I thought my chance for further promotion distant. I have already written you my reasons for accepting the position offered, and trust that all may yet be satisfactorily arranged.
 
I shall be mustered out, if I can, so as to get home for a few days. Then the whole matter can be settled. But I assure you, I do not want to leave the 3rd. My battery never was in better condition. I have got 27 new horses, all sound and young. I have a good man in command, and I am independent as I could wish to be.
 
I know I never shall be as pleasantly situated, and should leave the battery reluctantly to take a majority in the 3rd. But feelings must be suppressed, and the wisest course pursued. And was there any prospect of active service on the mainland? I would not give up my company, but I see none now. I have been compelled to perform a duty at once humiliating and imperative. I yesterday preferred charges against Lieutenant Morrow for drunkenness on duty, while in command of a section on picket duty. He has tendered his resignation, which I respectfully forwarded. It came back from Terry for my recommendation. I endorsed it. Respectfully recommended for the good of the service. I could not approve his honorable discharge and thought I might appear to crowd him too hard, did I insist on a court-martial? As it is, he may be court-martialed, as I have not heard from the resignation, and Gilmore is severe in such cases. Did I do more than my duty? No doubt of his guilt, as I brought him to Camp Beastly drunk. I regret that my company furnishes the first case, and hope you will not consider it a fault of mine, for I have ever discouraged drinking, and no one ever saw me drunk or under the influence of liquor while here.
 
I have talked tomorrow and let him pass when my judgment told me better. I could not have been more lenient with my own brother. My duty was plain, and I did it, and hope you approve the course. It may save some good officers and be of great benefit to the regiment in the end.
 
General Gilmore has received his appointment as a major general. I fired a salute of 13 guns for him yesterday on the beach, while there were thousands to congratulate him by cheers. Regulars have played out. I don't associate with them now. They are beneath my notice. What have they done in the campaign thus far? Nothing but growl at the manner in which matters are conducted by D-D volunteers.
 
Yet Sumter gave up the ghost and Wagner yielded, reluctantly to the volunteer. I am proud of the volunteers and glad I am one. I used to think regulars something wonderful, but have got all over that.
 
We have given them a blow here that staggers them. Even Henry, who talked of you at first as our amiable colonel, praises you to the skies. Lieutenant Colonel, he is a D-D hypocrite. Don't trust him as far as you would a thief.
 
I ask no odds of him. He is not brigadier general, and if he says to do what he says to others, I will break his jaw. It makes me so mad to see Rossum and Gardiner follow him like a curse, not daring to speak unless Henry says so and a man that will go back on his regiment and has not the moral force to rescind an insult to it, come from whom it may, but never fear, for that I will hold my own.
 
They have no Seymour D-D him to help them in their infernal design upon us poor volunteers. Irwin has joined Hamilton's battery. I'm sorry for it. Myrick and Brainerd have had a row, and Brainerd has gone to Buford to take charge of the hospital, number two. That battery is going to H-L fast, but let them quarrel, hoping they may come out, like the Kilkenny cats in the end. There is to be a grand review today. Brayton's Battery has the right of the light artillery. Captain Joe Comstock is still at the head awaiting transportation.
 
You speak in your letter as though the third was intolerable now. I can't believe you mean any such thing. Cursed, we are by as miserable a lot of field officers, excepting yourself and Ames, as ever sap the life of any regiment. But still, we have talent among us sufficient to fill credibly any position. Our officers are far in advance of any and have been here. Take them as a class. You have no idea of the class of officers that came with those troops from Virginia.
 
The 3rd stands well and are treated as artillery companies should be. They have done well. I am proud of them.
 
You can make a better regiment than stands out of the 3rd Rhode Island. Mark out your course, and there are enough of us to support you. Only a few croakers to deal with. Never fear about our getting into Charleston before you come back. Don't you think me rather precocious in asking what I did? But I can't help it, for I am left out now.
 
I shall never command a regimen, I fear, and it is hard jumping from major to colonel over a lieutenant colonel. But we will talk this over. I hope before anything definite is done, I can keep my own counsel. Have so far, and promise you, I will in future.
 
Please excuse the emphatic remarks.
 
Yours truly, 
 
C.R. Brayton