Butterfield to McDowell War Dated ALS

Item LTR-153

Description

War dated 3 page ALS written by General Butterfield to General McDowell:

Head Quarters, Army of the Potomac
Jan 30, 1863

Maj. Genl Mc Dowell,

My Dear Genl.
Impressed with the responsibilities which come with the duties lately imposed upon me, I hesitate not to seek from you any advice or assistance that you can give that will aid me in a thorough performance of my duties.
While I know that your own matters engage so much of your attention, I hope that if you find a spare moment in which to make a suggestion to me, that you will do so.
I have but one desire, which is to contribute by every means in my power to the success of the army & our cause. I am not possessed with the conceit that I know everything & can learn nothing. Your valuable experience & education as a soldier, your knowledge of the defects in our organization & system, can but prove valuable to me. While it may not be in my power to carry out all the ideas which may be suggested, it certainly will be vastly to my advantage to have the benefit of your council & advice.
I feel that not only the kindly relations which have always existed between us, but your true patriotism & devotion to the country, will lead you to cheerfully comply with my request.
I must confess that you have had much to complain of, much to dampen your enthusiasm & ardor for our success, but I believe you are too generous to allow it to stand in the way of any good service that you can do.
Please consider this letter as strictly “entrée nous”
My kindest regards to Mrs. Mc Dowell & any other young lady who will rank as the most talented, beautiful & agreeable in the list of your acquaintances. I will take the chances of its going to the right one.

Very sincerely
Yrs, O.C.

Dan Butterfield