34th Massachusetts Infantry - Wounded & Captured by VMI Cadets at New Market

Item LTR-209

Description

4 page original Civil War soldier's letter, war dated.

Worcester
November 1, 1864

Captain A. Potter

Sir,

Your note of the 26th related to covering a memorial of various officers of the regiment under date the 23rd Sept addressed to General Sullivan was reviewed by me this morning while I was engaged in talking with Lieutenant M. E. Walker who was just about to leave for you. I gave him a message to you. In substance which I had previously written and which I will now report. I have been surprised at not seeing your name gazetted to the majority made vacant by the death of Major Pratt supposing of course that Colonel Wells would not delay his recommendations. As soon as I was apprised of the orders so was the Colonel. I wrote you asking for a copy of the roster with such statements and recommendations as you would desire to make as acting commandant. I have received no reply and this letter in which you join leads me to suppose it may not have reached you. I have had as a general acquaintance with the regiment and its affairs since I was separate from it. But there may have been instances when promotion has been earned out of the regular lines by gallantry in the field of which I know nothing of course. I am not an expert to know who of the noncommissioned are most worthy.

I shall forward the letter you have addressed to the Adjutant General not considering that I have a right to detain it. But you will give me the opportunity and the privilege of commenting upon it. No one feels now or has from the first felt more proud of the 34th than myself and I may say without impropriety that no one has tried harder than myself to make it what it has proudly come to be. It is of course idle for the superior to expect that his acts shall always meet the approval of his inferiors in ranks but I have the consciousness of having always endeavored to study and promote the best interests of the Regiment. I have no doubt it has been with the case with my associates whether of the Field and Line. There have been rules of promotion which I should never of myself laid down; but having been laid down by him who alone had the right and who also alone had the responsibility I have not felt myself at liberty in the qualified command. I have had to disavow with them. In order I may say with perfect truth that in every act done by me as Commanding Officer of the Regiment I have tried to do what its actual responsible commissioned head desired and in every instance but one I believe I succeeded in meeting his views. In that one stance even discretion was give to me and I followed the rule he himself laid down though I have been led to believe since that he would have preferred a departure at that time.

Now at this time and in reference to this letter, desirous of meeting the views of the Officers yet of course acting upon my own responsibility and anxious for the welfare of the regiment, I am at a loss to determine the precise significance to be given to some expressions in your letter on memorial. There are but five officers of the line. Then the additions have been made present for duty. It could not have been misinterpreted. They respectfully submit that they have deserved any promotion that may fall to the regiment. Who are they? They respectfully submit that those who have fought the battle and helped to make the reputation of the regiment have some claim to its rewards. I had, I am willing to confess, hope that the regiment had some reputation before their late battles. I have been willing to concede to Fox and Chauncey and Lovell and Ammidon and R. W. Walker and Willard and Cobb and perhaps others a share in creating this reputation. Are those of them whose even push to have as victims included among of these “They” who are to share the rewards to be distributed? It was in part through their agency that the regiment acquired the ability to earn a reputation. For it was through their devotion to duty (with others) that it has been enabled to stand while others faltered. And are Pratt and Neale to be shut out from “reason?” Think of this I pray you. Each man has rendered service as he has been ordered to do and each is to be considered in the promotions to be made. I am not committed to any particular course. I have no particular friends to reward. I certainly have no enemy to punish. As I trust all our friends and I desire to do just that which shall be right. Not political for I detest the word and I as others have suffered by the torturous course of any who follows its principles, as a line of duty when is Bacon to be let we ask. Is he one who has fought in the battles of the regiment? I ask all of these questions in sober earnestness. Upon the answer I will defend in a measure my conduct. While I will not do what I think is wrong, I will not submit to wrongs being done if I can help it I am inclined to believe from the worth of action on the part of the Government that Colonel Wells made no recommendation in the case of Dibble. Take pleasure in recommending you to the grade of Majority and in Pratt Miller and your commission will probably render you at an early date. This I think is the best course to take. But I want a roster of the officers with dates of commission and muster. I also want a copy of the order of Wells under date of October or November 1862 assigning rank. There are two of them. Let me have a copy of each as I can not act promptly nor understandingly. These matters of promotion especially among the noncommissioned officers are matters of great delicacy and should be carefully considered that no injustice be done to those especially deserving. How is it with Tremball? He has not said a word to me but a friend of his almost a stranger to me spoke to me about him today! Think those things over by yourself and let me know your conclusions in the previous. If I don’t follow your suggestion in all I hope in any interest of deviation to be able to give you a reason for my conduct which should be satisfactory. But except in your own case, I can do nothing until I hear from you! Judd came here yesterday to see the Surgeon in charge of Dale Hospital. Not seeing him afterwards (although I expected him to tea with me and to stop the night) I don’t know how he fared. Who fills the vacancy occasion by Nate Walker’s promotion? Nate is not mustered out and no one can be mustered in his place. Are there any other ones like him? You see the difficulties which open up in these matters and you will see them all for your consideration. You see how my hand trembles. I am obliged to write on my lap yet I can move my arm a little and am now improving. I hope you will be able to decipher this. It is intended for your eyes alone. Please pen to me also with a certified statement of the aggregate of the regiment and generally anything material for me to have. How many have you in the field? Kerricult poor fellow has got to undergo another operation. He must have been worse wounded than was at first supposed. I should think to be in so bad a condition now. Remember this in confidential.

From your friend and with respect,

William Lincoln