USA > Massachusetts > History of Massachusetts in the Civil War > Part 22
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issued ; it aroused the latent energies of the people; young men, who had not before thought of volunteering, offered thein- selves as recruits, eager to press forward to fill the gaps which disaster and death had made in our ranks : and so it was all through the war. He always had a kind word for the soldiers
: and their families, and he felt every word he spoke. It was no lip-service ; it was no honeyed phrase; it was no politician's flattery. It was earnest talk, kind talk. Every one felt it, and were wiser men and truer patriots because of it.
This is not the time, nor this the place, to speak his eulogy. No one but Pericles could fitly pronounce the honors of the Athenian dead ; and no one less gifted than the great orator of Greece can speak the eulogy of him whom we have lost.
It was fitting that the heart of Massachusetts should sigh when John A. Andrew died. It was fitting that his remains should be borne to the grave by those who knew him best, and loved him most, - the funeral cortege, as it wound its solemn way from the church in Arlington Street around the Common, past the State House, over the broad avenue leading from the city ; the march of the Cadets, with reversed arms, keeping step to the funeral dirge ; that the sidewalks should be crowded with well-dressed men and women, who bowed their heads, or raised their hats, as the coffin moved before them to its resting-place in Mount Auburn.
He was a private citizen when he died ; he held no office ; he had no honors to bestow : but his was a name beloved and cher- ished in all loyal hearts, and his was a death that moved them to the inmost core. He died when his manhood was in its prime; when the fruits of his wisdom and knowledge were ripening, and the future was holding out, with favoring hand, the highest honors of the republic ; but-
" He has gone on the mountain, He is lost to the forest, Like a summer-dried fountain, When our need was the sorest."
We pass from the contemplation of the character and merits of the dead to the consideration of his services while living.
We have already stated, that Francis B. Crowninshield, of
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Boston, was appointed, in April, to proceed to England to pur- chase arms. Mr. Crowninshield discharged the important trust confided to him with great fidelity, and to the satisfaction of the Governor. It may be interesting to learn, from so intelligent a party, the state of feeling in England towards this country in the beginning of the war.
Mr. Crowninshield arrived in London on Sunday morning, the sixth day of May. He found, on his arrival, that there were a very few rifles for sale in England. The "Persia," the steamer in which he was a passenger, had taken out many orders to purchase. He found an agent there from South Carolina, to purchase arms for that State. New York had also sent out an agent in the same ship with him ; but he did not know the fact until after his arrival in England. There were also several pri- vate speculators in the ship for the purchase of arms. Many telegrams were sent from Queenstown to England, on the arrival of the " Persia " at that port. The London Times, the morning on which Mr. Crowninshield arrived in that city, contained the announcement that agents had come over to purchase rifles, which caused great excitement in the trade.
On arriving at Liverpool, Mr. McFarland, who had been em- ployed to go with Mr. Crowninshield, was despatched to Birming- ham, and directed to act promptly in the purchase of arms, if he found any there suitable for our purpose. John B. Goodman, the chairman of the gun trade in Birmingham, had the control of about twenty-five thousand Enfield rifles, of excellent quality, which could be delivered in a very short time. The current price for these arms was sixty shillings sterling each ; a party stood ready to give one hundred shillings each for the lot to go South. The preference of purchase was given to Mr. Crowninshield, and he purchased two thousand of them at that price. One thousand of them were to be sent in the " Persia," on her return voyage. In London, he purchased two thousand eight hundred, at seventy shillings each ; he also purchased two hundred from the London Armory, at sixty-five shillings each.
The New-York agent purchased about the same number, and contracted for about fifteen thousand more ; he also contracted for five thousand second-hand rifles, used in the Crimea. The
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first lot of guns were ready to be sent over; but the " Persia " would not take them, which delayed their arrival here.
In a letter to the Governor, Mr. Crowninshield says, "I have not ventured to approach the British Government about guns, at the strong recommendation of Mr. Baring ; but one of the gun trade, who has the means to do so, has promised to sound them about buying some from them on his own account. I have but little hope of success. Colonel Fremont, who is here, assured me that he was confident I could do nothing in France, but has written for information, which he will give me. The Government seems inclined to favor the South, so far as the question of cotton is concerned, - I think no further. I have a credit of one hundred thousand dollars from Ohio, with author- ity to buy to that extent. It does not seem to me, under the emergency, that we ought to haggle too much about the price : to save ten thousand dollars might be to lose every thing."
Before Mr. Crowninshield's return, he had bought and con- tracted for Massachusetts, and forwarded part of them home, 19,380 Enfield rifles, and 10,000 sets of equipments, with which several of our regiments were provided, and rendered much ser- vice in the war.
Among the gentlemen who were very active in procuring arms and equipments in the States, and indefatigable and untir- ing in their exertions to serve the Commonwealth and the cause, was Lucius B. Marsh, whose services were rendered gratuitous- ly. In recognition of them, the following order was passed by the Executive Council : -
Ordered, That the thanks of the executive branch of the Govern- ment of Massachusetts be tendered to Lucius B. Marsh, for his very valuable services to the State in the procurement of arms and military equipments. These services were rendered as a patriotic duty to the country, and wholly without compensation, and entitle him to the grati- tude of the State, and to that of every loyal citizen ; and it is further ordered, that the generous act of Mr. Marsh be recorded upon the books. of the Council, and that a copy of the record be transmitted to him.
Mr. Marsh was chiefly instrumental, in the succeeding year, in raising and organizing the Forty-seventh Regiment, - nine months' troops, - of which he was commissioned colonel. The
THE ACT OF CONGRESS CONCERNING VOLUNTEERS. 221
regiment was sent to the Department of the Gulf, and served out the time of its enlistment in the defences at New Or- leans.
On the twenty-second day of July, 1861, Congress, in extra session, passed an act authorizing the President to accept the services of five hundred thousand volunteers; in which it was provided, that " the President shall, from time to time, issue his proclamation, stating the number desired, and the States from which they are to be furnished, having reference in any such requisition to the number then in service from the several States, and to the exigencies of the service at the time, and equalizing, as far as practicable, the number furnished by the several States, according to the federal population." This act also provided, that the volunteer regiments and companies should be recruited and organized, and the officers commissioned, by the Governors of the several States. Under this authority given by Congress, requisitions continued to be made upon Massachu- setts, as upon other States, during the year 1861, and regiments were organized, formed, and sent to the front, in the order stated in the preceding chapter. It was the desire of the Governor to have the regiments commanded by the best educated and most experienced officers he could find. In the selection of company officers, the same care was taken. Political influences to obtain appointments had no effect upon him'; as he frequently declared, that the lives of the soldiers, their health and discipline, de- pended in a great degree upon the officers who commanded them, and that mere political opinions, and the mere political services of applicants for commissions, properly had no connec- tion with these matters. It was his desire to have as many of the three months' men enlist in the three years' regiments as possible ; and, as an encouragement to this end, he telegraphed, on the twenty-second day of June, to Colonel Ritchie, who was then in Washington, " Wouldn't it be expedient for the Mas- sachusetts militia-men now in the service to be discharged, who will enlist in our new volunteer regiments? Many of the Eighth Regiment, I am told, would enlist, if this opportunity were given."
He also telegraphed to the Secretary of War, asking that
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Lieutenant Palfrey, of the regular army, stationed at Fortress Monroe, and Lieutenant Paine, of the regular army, stationed at Fort Schuyler, New York, both of whom were Massa- chusetts men, might be furloughed to accept colonelcies in Massachusetts volunteer regiments. He also telegraphed to Senator Sumner, requesting him to urge Joseph Hooker, after- wards major-general of volunteers, then in Washington without a command, to accept the commission of colonel in one of our regiments. Neither of these requests were granted.
June 24. - Lieutenant William P. Lee, assistant quarter- master-general, was directed to accompany the steamers " Can- bridge " and " Pembroke," to Fortress Monroe, as the agent of the Commonwealth, with authority to sell, charter, or make any disposition of the "Pembroke " as he should think best.
On the same day, the Governor wrote a long letter to General Butler, at Fortress Monroe, concerning the Massachusetts troops at that post, under his command ; it having been represented to him by Colonel Ritchie, of his staff, who had made a tour of inspection, that the men were suffering for the want of canteens, shoes, and other necessary articles. The letter fills eight pages, and expresses with great freedom the Governor's profound re- gret that no requisitions had been made, either upon the General Government or upon the State, for articles necessary to the comfort and health of the troops. 'He informs General Butler that he has that day forwarded eight hundred canteens to supply the Massachusetts troops at Fortress Monroe, although no requisition had been made for them by any one, nor proper information received that they were in need of them. He had also been informed by Colonel Ritchie that the men were in want of shoes ; but no intimation of the kind had reached him from the officers at Fortress Monroc. It would have been absurd to " have launched out canteens, shoes, or any other arti- cles, upon mere unauthorized rumors of need for them." At the same time, "no properly authenticated requisitions have ever reached me which have not been promptly and amply answered." " In the complicated and unprecedented relation in which this State stands to the Federal Government with regard to sup- plies," he thought "application for every thing should in the first
CONDITION OF OUR SOLDIERS AT FORTRESS MONROE. 223
place be made to the United States." The men were mustered into the United-States service, and were United-States soldiers. When the men were forwarded upon the requisition of the Presi- dent, the Governor represented that they were deficient in cer- tain necessary equipments : the answer was, "No matter for any deficiencies : only hurry on the men, and any and all defi- ciencies will be supplied here."
He considered, therefore, that the Federal Government had pledged itself to see our troops properly supplied. He had also received a despatch from General Butler, dated May 20, which said, "The Massachusetts troops are now supplied with all pro- visions and clothing necessary for their term of service." How- ever, in view of their present wants, the Governor asked him to impress upon the officers, "that if their men need any neces- sary equipments or provisions whatever, and fail to obtain them from the United States, the State will furnish them."
Colonel Ritchie had also informed the Governor, that there were, at Fortress Monroe, several hundred pairs of thin trou- sers, which had been condemned as unfit for service, and had not been issued to the soldiers. These were part of a lot of thin clothing sent forward in April, and which were designed to be used during the warm weather. The Governor hoped Gen- eral Butler would issue them to the troops, as they would serve them during the brief remainder of their term. "Let them," he says, " get what comfort out of them they can. If the United States will not accept the pecuniary responsibility for the cost, then this Commonwealth must defray it. The question who shall pay for them afterwards, is of secondary importance, if our troops need clothes." The Governor also represented that no report had reached him, from any source, of the disposition of the Massachusetts stores sent to our troops at Fortress Mon- roe, and particularly of the cargo sent by the bark " Aura." He hoped, as a Massachusetts man, having a common interest in the comfort and reputation of Massachusetts soldiers, the Gen- eral would interest himself in these matters.
On the eighth day of July, the Governor telegraphed to Colonel Dalton, at Washington, that he might sell the steamer "Cambridge " for $80,000, exclusive of her armament.
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July 16. - He wrote a long letter to General Butler, protest- ing against his taking " from the three months' regiments under his command, when about to leave for home, on the expiration of their time of service, the Springfield rifled muskets, which they carried with them, and giving them poor smooth-bores in exchange. The muskets belonged to Massachusetts, and were wanted to arm our three-years' volunteers." The rifled muskets were retained, however, and the men came home with the smooth-bores.
On the same day, he wrote to the Secretary of the Navy in regard to Southern privateers capturing our commerce on the seas, and of the anxiety felt in the mercantile community about them. He urges that stronger measures be taken to seal up the Southern ports, and again offers him the privilege of buying the steamers " Cambridge " and " Pembroke."
The Governor was unable to visit the camp at Taunton, and witness the departure of the Seventh Regiment from the State. He wrote an excuse to Colonel Couch, in which he expressed warmly and sincerely his regrets that business required his pres- ence at the capital. "I am reluctant," he says, " to permit any regiment to depart from Massachusetts without a chance to bid it God-speed, that I was even inclined to delay you for a day or two in order to secure such an opportunity ; but, on reflection, it seemed to me unwise to postpone for a mere sentiment your call to active duty. We shall watch your career, and rejoice in your successes with no less eager interest than that with which we followed those regiments which preceded you, and those which are to tread in your footsteps. And to you, per- sonally, I wish to express my thanks for your quiet, con- siderate, and judicious conduct ; and I beg you never to hesitate to call upon Massachusetts, whenever you need, for sympathy and aid."
About the beginning of June, an agent of the loyal people in the city of Wheeling, Va., came to Boston, and represented that they were greatly in need of two thousand muskets, which they could not obtain from the Government, nor from any of the other States. Governor Andrew, aware of the importance of Wheeling as a military point, agreed at once to furnish
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DISTINGUISHED OFFICERS OFFERED COMMISSIONS.
them, and, on the 19th day of July, telegraphed to Hon. John S. Carlisle, of Wheeling, that they had been forwarded, con- signed to Thomas Hemlock, collector of the customs at that place.
July 25. - The Governor telegraphed to Colonel Dalton, at Washington, to find out whether a " company of sharpshooters, for one year or the war, would be accepted, - to be raised in four divisions of twenty-five men each, with four lieutenants and four sergeants. They should have twenty-five dollars a month. Their rifles will cost one hundred dollars each : will the Government pay for them ?"
July 27. - The Governor telegraphed to Colonel Dalton, " See Frederick W. Lander, who is reported to be with McClellan ; offer him the command of the Seventeenth Regi- ment, encamped at Lynnfield. Definite and final answer imme- diately desired."
July 30. - The Governor telegraphed to General Wilson, United States Senate, "I will give Governor S. an Essex regi- ment, if you are sure of your man. If you say that you are sure, telegraph reply and send him on immediately." This had reference to Governor Stevens, who was a Senator in Congress from Oregon, a man of Massachusetts birth, and an expe- rienced officer. The doubt expressed by Governor Andrew in the despatch arose from the fact that Governor Stevens had sup- ported John C. Breckenridge in the presidential election. From some cause unknown to the writer, Governor Stevens was not commissioned at this time. He was afterwards commissioned colonel of the Seventy-ninth Regiment, New-York Volunteers, and was killed in the second battle of Bull Run.
Aug. 1. - The Governor writes to General Ripley, chief of Ordnance Bureau, that the Massachusetts regiments, armed with the Enfield rifles, want an additional supply of ammunition ; and he wishes to know whether; the Government " does not in- tend to supply suitable ammunition ; if not, what arrangements it is desirable for Massachusetts to make ?"
Aug. 2. - The Governor telegraphs to Senator Wilson, at Washington, "Has any provision been made for half-pay to
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MASSACHUSETTS IN THE REBELLION.
soldiers' families ? Such an arrangement would prevent much suffering this winter."
Aug. 3. - The Governor telegraphs to Senators Sumner and Wilson, "Can it be intended by Congress, that volunteers in the field shall fill vacancies by election ? Where is to be the source of discipline, when every candidate is seeking personal favor of the men?"
Aug. 14. - The Governor telegraphs to Governor Wash- burn, of Maine, "General Sherman left here, this afternoon, for Concord, N.H., intending to proceed thence to Augusta. His business is of importance, which justifies your waiting for him there."
General Sherman came to Boston to confer privately with the Governor, in regard to an expedition contemplated by the Government to the coast of North Carolina. Massachusetts was to furnish three regiments for it; New Hampshire and Maine were also to furnish regiments. General Sherman had commanded a brigade at the first battle of Bull Run, and had distinguished himself as a commanding officer. His subsequent career in the war is known and appreciated by all. The Gov- ernor entered warmly into the proposed scheme, and promised him the support he required. Out of this promise grew the subsequent controversy between the Governor and General But- ler, to which we shall hereafter refer.
Up to this time, no definite instructions, pointing out the man- ner of filling vacancies in volunteer regiments after they had left the State, had been received from the War Department. The act of Congress of July 22 appeared to be clear enough, that the vacancies should be filled by appointments made by the Governors of the States ; but the action of the War Depart- ment for a time appeared to contravene this mode of action. The Governor had written to our Senators in Congress in re- gard to the subject, but had received no satisfactory reply. Accordingly, on the 16th of August, he wrote to the Adjutant- General of the United States army, at Washington, upon the subject ; stating that he was continually embarrassed, from want of information and direction from the military authorities of the
FILLING VACANCIES, ADDRESS OF THE GOVERNOR. 227
United States upon this important point. He therefore re- quested minute information. He says, -
" As I understand it, at present, I can appoint to no vacancy which is not officially certified to me by the United States Adjutant-General, from headquarters, at Washington. But in no single instance has any such vacancy been so certified to me ; and yet I am aware that many such vacancies exist, and I am continually entreated by Massachusetts commanders to make appointments to fill them. Within the past week, I have received notices from Major-General Butler, from Fort Monroe ; from Colonels Couch, Cowdin, and Cass, and Lieutenant-Colonel Blais- dell, at Washington ; and from Colonel Gordon and Major-General Banks, at Harper's Ferry, - of vacancies existing among the officers of their respective commands, and I am anxious to fill them, if I have the power to do so : for delay in filling them is prejudicial in various ways, which I need not mention."
The letter had the desired effect ; and from that time, when a vacancy occurred, the Governor was immediately notified of the fact by the Adjutant-General of the United States, and an ap- pointment made to fill it.
Aug. 17. - The Governor telegraphs to the Secretary of War, "I have unofficial information, that General Fremont is wanting muskets and equipments in Missouri. Massachusetts can and will send him from five to ten thousand, if the Govern- ment says so, and will take them at cost price."
On the 20th of August, the Governor published a short and stirring address to "the citizen-soldiers of Massachusetts," call- ing upon them to fill up the regiments recruiting in the several camps in the State, and to fill the ranks of those in the front which had suffered loss at the battle of Bull Run, a few weeks before. The address elosed in these words : " Citizen-soldiers of Massachusetts ! Duty, honor, the elearest sentiments of patri- otic love and devotion, call for your hearts and unconquerable arms." :
Aug. 30. - The Governor sent General Reed, Quartermaster- General, and Colonel Browne, his private secretary, to Wash- ington, with instructions to arrange for the settlement of Massachusetts claims against the Government for money and stores furnished by the State. Among the results of this mis-
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sion was the payment in cash, by the Government, of seven hundred and seventy-five thousand dollars. An elaborate and carefully matured system was also devised for the adoption and payment, by the Federal Government, of future contracts for military stores. These gentlemen were furnished with letters by the Governor to the President and members of the Cabi- net.
Aug. 31. - Governor telegraphs Colonel Frank E. Howe, New York, "Find George S. Greene, late of the United-States Engineer Corps, and see if he will take command of a Massa- chusetts regiment." On the same day, the Governor wrote a letter to the Secretary of War, in regard to the high prices paid for provisions by the Government here, and concerning dis- honest practices in the purchase of shoes ; and, at his request, Senator Wilson, who was at the State House, sent the following telegram to the Secretary : "Pay especial attention to a letter you will receive from Governor Andrew and the Commissary- General of Massachusetts (Colonel Brigham), relative to the cost of rations here to the United-States troops. The Govern- ment is paying much more than the State does for the same article. It is reported here, on good authority, that army shoes condemned by inspectors in New York are sold again to con- tractors, who are permitted to fill their contracts with them. A competent inspector should be appointed here, to see that com- demned shoes are not sold again."
Sept. 2. - Governor wrote to Governor Curtin, of Pennsyl- vania, -
" I have read, with great interest and pleasure, the copy of your com- munication of the 21st ult. to the President of the United States, which you were kind enough to send me, and in which you have so thoroughly exposed the evils resulting from the interference of the War Department with the regular, legal mode of organizing regiments of volunteers.
" In common with Pennsylvania, Massachusetts has suffered much loss of enthusiasm, and great inconvenience, from those irregularities of which you so justly complain : but I trust we may congratulate our- selves, that this source of trouble is to be dried up at the fountain-head ; as I have received the most positive assurance from the Secretary of War, that, in future, no outside interference with the regularly consti-
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tuted authorities of the State will be permitted, and that persons hold- ing commissions from the War Department, authorizing them to raise regiments of volunteers, will be required to report to, and take orders from, the executive departments of the States.
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