WASHINGTON, April
26th, 1861
Gen. B. F. BUTLER, ANNAPOLIS, MD.
MY DEAR GENERAL: I have an opportunity to send to you and
embrace it. We are in very good condition, and my boys are pretty well
satisfied. My family, as you are aware, is large, and the responsibilities very
great, and I have been living in hopes you would soon be with us to take off
some of the responsibilities from my shoulders. It has always been my good
fortune to be the recipient of unbounded praise in my military career, and
believe me it has not lessened in quantity for the last fortnight. Col. Monroe
and his regiment arrived last night, also Col. Lawrence and portions of his
command yesterday and today. I think that the 8th are in rather a disorganized
state, and appear to be very much dissatisfied with their Colonel, and there
were many threats that they would not be mustered in under his command. I had
the captains together to try and encourage them to do all that was required of
them, and not disgrace the Old Bay State by backing down. They promised to do
all that I asked of them, and I hope that matters will now go right. However, I
think your presence here would be very acceptable to the Mass. troops. I have
some 20 letters for you awaiting your orders. I took the liberty of opening a
telegram for you, and find that “You are ordered to transfer Company A of
Salem, Captain Devereaux, to the Fifth Regiment, said transfer to be made
before the Regt. is mustered into the service of the U.S.”
I am very much fatigued to-night as well as every night.
In haste.
E. F. JonES, Col. 6th Mass.
SOURCE: Jessie Ames Marshall, Editor, Private and
Official Correspondence of Gen. Benjamin F. Butler During the Period of the
Civil War, Volume 1: April 1860 – June 1862, p. 50
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