[December 4, 1861.]
His Excellency the President: — The State of Iowa has
now in the field and in camp, waiting arms and equipments, fourteen regiments
of infantry and four of cavalry. I feel that I can justly say, and am proud to
say, that so far as they have been tried either on the battlefield or in the
scarcely less arduous duties of camp life in Missouri, they have shown
themselves to be at least equal to any other troops in the service. For some
reason this State has not been very highly favored in the distribution of
Brigadier-Generalships. Brig.-Gen. Curtis was appointed during the summer, and
was the only Brigadier-General from this State, until the quite recent
appointment of Brig.-Gen. McKean, and these two are all yet appointed from this
State. Were this a matter involving the mere proportion of officers, I think I
would not be disposed to press it upon your attention. But it involves more.
Our regiments are scattered among brigades heretofore in all cases commanded by
Brigadiers from other States, and composed mainly of troops from the State
whence the Brigadier in command comes. Under these circumstances, it is but
natural that our troops should fear their commanding officer would feel partial
to the troops from his own State, and perhaps but natural that officers should
feel that partiality. I have learned satisfactorily that the opinion prevails
extensively among the troops from this State, that they have been unfairly
dealt by in having had assigned to them the most laborious and the least
desirable duty in Missouri, and that in the report of the battle of Belmont,
gross injustice has been done them, and I am sorry to be compelled to say, that
in my judgment this opinion is not wholly without foundation. This seems to me
to be an unfortunate state of affairs, and one that should not be suffered to
continue, if it can be readily avoided. I therefore very respectfully propose
that you appoint from this State a number of Brigadier-Generals, sufficient to
take command of our troops, and that our troops be brigaded and placed under
the command of these officers.
It seems to me that a spirit of State pride will in this way
be called into action that will tell well in the service, and at the same time
all cause of complaint will be removed. I take great pleasure in submitting to
your consideration for the positions indicated, Col. G. M. Dodge of the Fourth
Iowa Infantry, Col. Nicholas Perczel of the Tenth Iowa Infantry, Col. M. M.
Crocker of the Thirteenth Iowa Infantry, and Col. W. L. Elliott of the Second
Iowa Cavalry, from among whom I hope you will be able to select the number to
which our State will be entitled, in case our troops shall be brigaded and
placed under our own officers.
Trusting this matter may receive your early and favorable
attention, I have the honor to be
Very respectfully
your obedient servant
SAMUEL J. KIRKWOOD.
SOURCES: Henry Warren Lathrop, The Life and
Times of Samuel J. Kirkwood, Iowa's War Governor, p. 177-8
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