General Hooker and 71st New York Infantry

Item LTR-425

Description

3 page original Civil War soldier's letter written in period ink and war dated. Document has 2 Hooker signatures and also Colonel Potter's.

Headquarters, Hooker’s Division, 3d Army Corps
Camp near James River, VA
July 31, 1862

To His Excellency,
The Governor of New York

Governor:

I have the honor to transmit herewith the recommendation of Lieutenant Colonel Potter, now in command of the 71st Regiment New York Volunteers, of certain members for promotion and appointment in that Regiment, and to invite your early action thereon.

An impression appears to prevail among the officers of this Regiment that of those recommended several have already been confirmed and commissioned but from some irregularity, their commissions have failed to reach them. Of this I have no means of ascertaining, except by direct application to the records of your office, and, if on examination, it should be found to have been the case, I request that I may be officially informed of the fact, with the dates it was designated their commissions should take effect.

Issues have arisen in the government of the Regiments composing Sickle’s Brigade, which render it necessary for these questions of rank to be settled.

In consequence of the irregular action of the War Department on several issues which have appeared since that Brigade was assigned to my command, I have avoided, as far as practicable, any participation in them, between it, yourself, and others, until now, when its efficiency perhaps its existence renders it necessary for me to do so.

Very Respectfully,
Your obedient servant

Joseph Hooker
Brigadier General
Commanding Division


Officers of 71st Regiment N.Y. Volunteers that have never received their Commissions.

Company A
Captain Patrick Nolan (Wounded at Fair Oaks) vice John Toles promoted Major August 10th 1861
John Galvin 1st Sergeant promoted 2d Lieutenant vice Nurd promoted August 10th 1861 and promoted 1st Lieutenant vice Nurd resigned March 7th 1862

Company E
Terrence Murphy (Wounded at Bristoe Station) appointed 2d Lieutenant July 18th 1862 in place of Bedmond promoted and promoted 1st Lieutenant January 2nd 1862 in place of Bedmond resigned
Edward Dougherty (POW at Bristoe Station) 1st Sergeant promoted 2d Lieutenant vice Murphy promoted January 2, 1862

Company I
Captain William H. Elwood (Wounded at Chancellorsville) mustered as 1st Lieutenant June 27th 1861 promoted to rank of Captain from September 21st 1861 vice Howard deceased.
John E. Potter appointed 2d Lieutenant November 10th 1861 to fill vacancy made by Holden promoted. Promoted 1st Lieutenant January 9th 1862 vice Holden resigned.

Staff
Assistant Surgeon George McAllister appointed July 29th 1861

It is desirable that the commissions for the several ranks from which the officers have been promoted be forwarded, as well as the commission for the present rank. It is believed that their commissions have been forwarded once activated but have been lost or suppressed. Will the Brigadier General Commanding Division allow them to be enclosed to him direct?

H. L. Potter (Wounded at Bristoe Station)
Lieutenant Colonel
71st Regiment N.Y. Volunteers

July 31st 1862