Des Moines, Ia., Feb. 17, 1862.
Gen. H. W. Halleck, St. Louis, Mo.:
Sir: — I have received from Gen. Schuyler Hamilton
Special Order No. 30, issued by him on the 10th inst., disgracing the 2d
regiment Iowa Volunteer Infantry, by causing them to march to the point of
embarkation at St. Louis with flag furled and without music.
I have felt constrained to return said order to Gen.
Hamilton, for the reason that it seemed to me harsh and cruel to punish an
entire regiment for an act of which but very few could have been guilty, and
for which, as far as has been shown, all may have been innocent, and that I
could not, under such circumstances, by receiving said order, admit the justice
of the punishment.
I trust I will not be considered as intrusive in calling
this matter to your attention, and earnestly requesting that if possible the
stigma may be removed from the regiment. Very respectfully your obedient
servant,
Samuel J. Kirkwood
SOURCE: State Historical Society of Iowa, Iowa
Historical Record, Volumes 1-3, Volume 2, No. 3, July 1886, p. 324
No comments:
Post a Comment