20th Maine Infantry & 5th US Artillery - Medal of Honor

Item LTR-455

Description

2 page original Civil War letter written by Maine Representative to Congress to Secretary of War concerning West Point Cadet Adelbert Ames. Letter is written in period ink and war dated.

Rockland (Maine)

April 25th 1861

Honorable Simon Cameron
Secretary of War

Sir,

We are raising a Regiment in Knox County in this state.

Owing to the fact that the military organization in Maine, has been in a very imperfect condition for several years, we are to some considerable extent deficient in men who are well qualified to perform all the duties of the highest commissioned officers.

What we need is a man well qualified to drill and discipline this Regiment.

We have at West Point a cadet, who is of the new graduating class. Adelbert Ames, a native of Rockland.

At the solicitation of many citizen, including gentlemen, who it is expected will be officers in the Regiment, I write to desire that if you deem it consistent, Mr. Ames may immediately have permission to return to this city to aid in preparing this Regiment for service.

I am very respectfully your obedient servant,

Samuel C. Fessendern M. C.