Correspondence to the Governor and Adjutant General of Ohio,
June 28, 1861-March 8, 1862.
June 28, [1861]
Crafts J. Wright, Cincinnati, Hamilton County, Ohio. To the Adjutant General of Ohio. Letter stating that he was glad the position of Adjutant General had been given to the addressee [C.P. Buckingham]; and regarding an appointment.
2 pp. [Series 147-27: 165]
September 14, 1861
George L. Hartsuff, Assistant Adjutant General, Headquarters, Army of Occupation, Western Virginia, Camp Scott, Virginia. To ? True copy of Special Order No. 93; stating that 1st Lieutenant B. Benkler, 24th Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry had resigned his commission for important reasons of a private and domestic nature, that the resignation was accepted, and that Benkler was honorably discharged from the service. By order of General [William S.] Rosecrans. Bears a note stating that $528.85 was paid by Erie Locke, Paymaster, U.S. Army.
1 p. [Series 147-27: 140]
October 3, 1861
J[oseph] W. Burke, Major Commanding, 10th Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, Headquarters, Montgomery Regiment, Adjutant's Department, Camp Bell. To Brigadier General H[enry] W. Benham, U.S.A., Commanding 1st Brigade. Letter enclosing a communication from Captain [William M.] Ward which he begged leave to submit for Benham's consideration; stating that their Quartermaster, Lieutenant Conrad Frederick, had been absent from the regiment for a period of nearly six weeks, overstaying his leave by nearly three weeks; requesting that a Quartermaster be appointed and Frederick removed from the service; submitting the name of Nicholas Lacy for appointment as Quartermaster of the regiment; and recommending the appointments of Nicholas Knox as 2nd Lieutenant in Company C, Charles F. Nickel as 2nd Lieutenant in Company B, and Luke Murdock as 2nd Lieutenant in Company I. Bears a note from George L. Hartsuff, Assistant Adjutant General, approving and forwarding the recommendations by order of General [William S.] Rosecrans.
2 pp. [Series 147-27: 149]
October 4, 1861
A.W. Doan, Captain, Company B, 12th Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, Camp Sewell, Virginia. To the Governor of Ohio. Letter stating that a vacancy having occurred in the 1st Lieutenancy of Company B, 12th Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry by the resignation of William H. Hivling, he recommended the appointment of William H. Glotfelter as 1st Lieutenant, and that a vacancy having occurred in the 2nd Lieutenancy of Company B, 12th Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry by the death of 2nd Lieutenant William H. Miller, he recommended the appointment of Andrew C. Miller as 2nd Lieutenant. Bears the endorsement of J.D. Hines, Major Commanding, and the approvals of J[acob] D. Cox, Brigadier General, Kanawha Brigade, and W[illiam] S. Rosecrans, Brigadier General and Department Commander.
2 pp. [Series 147-27: 151]
October 12, 1861
George S. Rose, Assistant Adjutant General, Headquarters, 1st Brigade, Army of Occupation, Western Virginia, Huttonville. To Governor William Dennison. Letter stating that 2nd Lieutenant William C. Heddleson, Company I, and Captain George Arnold, Company H, 24th Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry had tendered their resignations and the same had been forwarded to the General commanding the department.
1 p. [Series 147-27: 155]
December 9, 1861
John C. Kelton, Assistant Adjutant General, Headquarters, Department of the Missouri, St. Louis, Missouri. To Lieutenant Colonel John A. Turley. Special Orders No. 46, stating that the resignation of Lieutenant Colonel John A. Turley, 81st Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry was accepted to take effect on December 9, 1861. By order of Major General [Henry] Halleck. Bears a note dated December 10, 1861, from I.P. Andrews, Department of the Paymaster General, U.S. Army, St. Louis, Missouri; declining payment to Turley as a Lieutenant Colonel; and referring Turley to Washington for a decision in his case.
2 pp. [Series 147-27: 85]
[December 19?, 1861]
Edward Hayes, Captain, Company C, 29th Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, et. al. To the Governor of Ohio. Letter signed by four officers of the 29th Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry and five county officials of Ashtabula County, Ohio; stating that at an election for company officers in Company I, 29th Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry held at Camp Giddings on December 19, 1861, Martin G. Owen was elected 2nd Lieutenant of said company, that the roll of said election had not been open to inspection by the parties interested in said election, that there was an attempt being made to have another man, who received only four votes, appointed, that Owen received 56 out of about 65 votes, that a large majority of the men of said company were in favor of Owen for said office, that their preference should be respected if the man chosen was qualified to fill the place, that Owen was a man of good character, that Owen was intelligent and well educated, that Owen understood the drill well, and that they regarded Owen as highly qualified and fitted for the command to which he had been elected; asking the Governor to appoint Owen as 2nd Lieutenant in accordance with said election; and stating that they believed the company ought to elect the officers under whom they were to serve, that in this instance, they believed the company had chosen most wisely, and that Owen would be an honor to the service in the capacity of 2nd Lieutenant.
2 pp. [Series 147-27: 120]
December 19, 1861
Thomas F. O'Shea, 1st Sergeant, et.al., Company E, [10th Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry], Camp Jefforso. To Colonel W[illiam] H. Lytle. Letter signed by fifty-two noncommissioned officers and soldiers of Company E, 10th Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry; stating that they had heard with feelings of surprise and indignation that Lieutenant [Charles C.] Cramsey of Company I was to be appointed their Captain with [Stephen J.] McGroarty their Vice Captain, and that they were taking this method of making known to Lytle the general dissatisfaction which pervaded the company in consequence of said appointment; requesting that Lytle recommend Lieutenant J[ames] M. Fitzgerald to fill the aforesaid vacancy, he having the esteem and confidence of the whole company; and stating that they believed Fitzgerald to be a most efficient and worthy officer and eminently capable of fulfilling the duties of said office.
2 pp. [Series 147-27: 101]
December 26, 1861
William H. Lytle, Colonel, 10th Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, Cincinnati, Hamilton County, Ohio. To Adjutant General C.P. Buckingham. Letter stating that the commission should have issued to Charles F. Nickel instead of Sickel, that the mistake would no doubt be corrected, that he was forwarding a protest from Company E against the appointment of Lieutenant [Charles C.] Cramsey as Captain of that company, that Cramsey was a first rate man, but perhaps under all the circumstances, it might be better to promote 1st Lieutenant [James M.] Fitzgerald, that he had written to the companies that these protests would hereafter be prohibited and that this paper was forwarded out of regard for the gallant bearing of the color guard at Carnifex [Ferry], that he trusted the other appointments recommended by him would be made at an early period, and that he would be rejoining his command on January 2, and would like to take the commissions with him; recommending that Sergeant Major Nicholas Knox be promoted to the Captaincy of Company H; and stating that he was very desirous to weed out inefficient officers, that Kelly, O'Connor, Knox, and Murdock were all active, energetic men who had earned promotion on the march, in camp, and in battle, that from motives of delicacy, he had not yet suggested the name of anyone to take the place of Lieutenant Colonel [Herman J.] Korff who was dismissed from the service for alleged absence without leave by order of General [Don Carlos] Buell, that Korff was making an effort to be reinstated, that should Korff not be successful, he begged leave to recommend the appointment of a very meritorious officer, Major [Joseph W.] Burke, to be Lieutenant Colonel, that he wished to be distinctly understood as not advising the appointment of Burke at present, and that Korff had demanded he hear a court of inquiry and it was only right that Korff should have a hearing.
3 pp. [Series 147-27: 102]
January 5, 1862
Mrs. S.G. Brown, Norwalk, Huron County, Ohio. To [B.F.] Hawkes. Letter stating that she was in trouble, that she had often spoken with Hawkes and read him the letters she received from her son in Missouri, that her son left the army in October 1861, and had since been trying to get home, that her son was married on December 11, 1861, that she sent him money to get home, that her son arrived on New Year's Eve, that the next morning, the good citizens of Norwalk made a hue and cry and had her son arrested as a spy and marched to Camp McClellan, that some said her son was a spy and others that he was still in the army and out on secession business, that others said he was one of the prisoners taken at Camp Jackson the previous Spring and among the number who were released on parole of honor and then went to fighting again, that some said her son had shot General [Nathaniel] Lyon, that the stories grew as they flew, that at Camp McClellan, General Lee would not give her son up on a habeas corpus, that her son was sent to Columbus and thrown into Camp Chase, that her son's wife was almost crazy and maintained that if her husband was given a chance, he could prove himself clear of all charges, that she had often told Hawkes how much her son tried to get away and that General [Sterling] Price would not let him off, that finally, her son gave up his commission and resigned, and that the evening her son came home, he said that he would join the Union Army if he could go as a musician; asking Hawkes to intercede for her son; stating that her son's wife said there were lots of Union men in Brunswick, [Missouri] who would speak for him, and that her son's wife said that General [Henry] Halleck promised his protection to all who laid down their arms; asking what kind of a writing her son needed if they could not succeed in getting him out of Camp Chase; and stating that her son was for the Union and Constitution, that it was so hard to think of her son being kept prisoner, that if her son was treated well, she thought he might enlist on the Union side, and that in all his letters, her son had assured her that he never was or would be a secessionist. Together with a letter dated January 17, 1862, from Captain B.F. Hawkes, Assistant Adjutant General to Brigadier General B[enjamin] F. Kelley, Headquarters, Cumberland, Maryland, to Governor David Tod; stating that Mrs. Brown, the mother of the prisoner Patterson referred to, was a truthful woman, that her son escaped from service as soon as he could manage to do so, and that he was confident her son did so to take advantage of the proclamation of General [Henry] Halleck; and recommending that her son have a hearing.
4 pp. [Series 147-27: 179]
January 8, 1862
James Barnett, Colonel, 1st Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Light Artillery, Headquarters, Camp Dennison, Hamilton County, Ohio. To Adjutant General C.P. Buckingham. Letter stating that Buckingham's letter of January 6, relating to the discharge of Jacob Simons, a Private in Company I, was received, and that the muster rolls of that company had been forwarded to Washington; and providing the list of names requested.
1 p. [Series 147-27: 132]
January 9, 1862
W.V. Crow, Cleveland, Cuyahoga County, Ohio. To Governor David Tod. Letter introducing the bearer, Dr. C.D. Griswold of Cleveland; and stating that with his pen when health permitted, Griswold took a very lively interest in the union of parties the previous summer and in the sanitary commission for the army, that Griswold was among the first to correspond with the department to establish a thorough inspection of the hospitals, that Griswold now held a commission and thought he might need a little of Tod's assistance in being transferred from Virginia to Kentucky, that Griswold wanted to be attached to an Ohio regiment, that Griswold, like Tod, was among the first to throw off party trammels and partisan feelings for the salvation of the Government, and that Tod's aid to Griswold would be duly appreciated by the Union men.
1 p. [Series 147-27: 167]
January 13, 1862
John B. Myers, Captain, 13th Independent Battery, Ohio Volunteer Light Artillery, Camp Dennison, Hamilton County, Ohio. To Adjutant General C.P. Buckingham. Letter enclosing the muster roll of a part of his men; stating that by a vote of their company, they decided that John R. Brown should be 1st Lieutenant and that Edward B. Lowe should be 2nd Lieutenant; requesting that Buckingham forward the commissions of Brown and Lowe; stating that he could not find any blank requisitions to draw their company books; and requesting that they be sent along with all the blanks and other papers necessary for their company.
1 p. [Series 147-27: 134]
January 15, 1862
James Cantwell, Colonel, and James S. Robinson, Major, 82nd Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, Headquarters, Camp Simon Kenton, Hardin County, Ohio. To Governor David Tod. Letter stating that having been associated with Captain Henry B. Banning of the 4th Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry for six months and being familiar with Banning's qualities as a man, a soldier, and an officer both in camp and in the field, they took great pleasure in recommending him for the position of field officer in one of the Ohio regiments, that Banning was with them in the battles at Romney, Virginia and manifested great coolness and courage under fire, and that Banning's industry and energy as a man, his knowledge of military drill and discipline, and his cool judgement and bravery in time of danger admirably adapted him to the position sought.
1 p. [Series 147-27: 59]
January 16, 1862
N[icholas] L. Anderson, Lieutenant Colonel, 6th Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, Headquarters, Camp Wickliffe, Kentucky. To Governor David Tod. Letter stating that among those men who had eminently distinguished themselves in the 6th Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry during seven months' service, there was none more worthy of honorable mention and meritorious promotion than Henry C. Choate, a Corporal in Company I, that to his creditable conduct as a soldier in camp, Choate had already added a well deserved reputation as a brave, cool, and determined man in battle, and that he was sure General [Joseph J.] Reynolds and Colonel [Nathan] Kimball of the 14th Indiana (under whom Choate once served as scout) would cheerfully give Choate a most glowing eulogy; and recommending Choate as one well calculated to do honor to Ohio and service to the country as a Lieutenant in some regiment now in service.
1 p. [Series 147-27: 58]
January 16, 1862
Nellie McMahon, Perrysburg, Wood County, Ohio. To Governor David Tod. Letter stating that she hoped Tod would pay some attention to the desolate women of Wood County, that a letter was received from a woman who had a husband at war and seven children at home to be supported by the "pitiable" sum of $13 per month, that when the pay for sundry letters was taken from this amount, there was not much left to live on, that said woman lived in the district and had applied for money twice, that the first time, said woman received an order of $4.00 which she had to trade out at a store at 50% on the dollar, that an aged widow in the district had to burn shavings for three or four weeks during the coldest part of the winter and when the shop was closed, she had to start and travel seven miles on foot through the snow and cold to a sister's house for protection, that when the widow applied for her money, she was told by a neighbor that it was like living on the town, that when the volunteers left, they thought this proposition to be an honorable income to their families, that this widow had a son in the army who had been there five months and had received no pay as yet, that Wood County was rich and there was no need to let the families of volunteers suffer, that the taxes were collected whether the families of the volunteers received it or not, that the men elected to high offices did not know the privations the families endured or if they did, they let it slip their notice, that if Tod received a list of the privations that some of the families of Wood County endured, it would be a burning shame to the history of the war, that the commissioners and court house "clique" had their favorites and they received their payments whether they needed them or not, that she had been wronged by them, that they levied a tax of $65 on her land and sold it for that, that her tax would not have been over $12, that all this they did because she told one of them that partiality was shown in distributing the military funds, that she had four sons in the army and three of them were her only support, that of course she had a claim to their funds, that if Tod could send her an order on the county or state so that she could raise the money to go to them, it would be a great favor, that three of her sons were in the battle at Fort Donelson, that she had not received the money they had sent her and she could hardly get along, that if she could get the military funds due to her, she would go to her sons and take care of them if it was necessary, that it was an honorable debt due to her and she wished she could have it, and that there were six men, three trustees and three commissioners, to be paid from that "miserable" mill or half mill on the dollar when one honest man could do the business alone.
4 pp. [Series 147-27: 194]
January 17, 1862
Taxpayer, Goshen, Clermont County, Ohio. To the Honorable E[dwin] M. Stanton, Secretary of War. Letter complaining about paying off the 48th Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry which had been in the process of organizing for months and was not yet completed; and stating that while the 48th Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry was organizing, regiment after regiment had been formed and left camp, that some of these regiments had already seen battle, and that Colonel Taylor's cavalry regiment had been full for five or six weeks and was well equipped save for a few carbines, but had not been ordered forward. Bears a note dated February 21, 1862, from George D. Ruggles, Assistant Adjutant General, Washington, referring the letter to the Adjutant General of Ohio.
3 pp. [Series 147-27: 73]
January 20, 1862
R[obert] G. Pennington, Quartermaster, 55th Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, Norwalk, Huron County, Ohio. To E.S. Flint, Superintendent. Letter stating that they could be ordered soon to Camp Dennison and might choose to take Flint's railroad, that if so, he wanted to know what figures Flint could offer him, that they would have at least 980 men, 9 horses, and freight besides (say 400 pounds), and that he also wanted a figure to Columbus should they go there in the route from Norwalk. Bears a note from Flint to Patterson, stating that he could show the letter to Captain Myers if he thought best, and that the regiment had gone to Romney, Virginia. Also bears a note dated February 3, 1862, from C.P. Buckingham, Adjutant General of Ohio; referring the letter to the Adjutant General of the Army, with the suggestion that dishonesty was not the best qualification for a Quartermaster.
2 pp. [Series 147-27: 50]
January 23, 1862
Granville Moody, Colonel, 74th Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, Camp Lowe, Xenia, Greene County, Ohio. To Adjutant General C.P. Buckingham. Letter recommending Vincent Mitchel as a proper person to receive a Lieutenant's commission for recruiting purposes in Hamilton County and Lawrence County, Ohio.
1 p. [Series 147-27: 9]
January 24, 1862
M[oses] B. Walker, Colonel, 31st Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, Somerset, [Kentucky]. To Governor David Tod. Letter stating that one of his Captains, Samuel R. Mott, an old and experienced soldier and one whom he would greatly regret losing from his regiment, had been recommended to Tod for promotion; adding his endorsement of Mott's fitness and qualification to the recommendation; and stating that Mott fought for the independence of Texas in 1836 and 1837, was through the war with Mexico, and was a Captain in the three months' service, that there was a question as to the Lieutenant Colonelcy of his regiment, that Lieutenant Colonel [Frederick C.] Jones was appointed to succeed Lieutenant Colonel [Cyrus W.] Grant who had been transferred, that Jones had since been commissioned as Lieutenant Colonel of the 24th Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, but General [Don Carlos] Buell would probably retain Jones in the 31st Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, that if so, this would leave the Lieutenant Colonelcy of the 24th Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry vacant, and that to this post, he would recommend Mott.
1 p. [Series 147-27: 127]
January 27, 1862
C.W.B. Allison, et. al., Bellefontaine, Logan County, Ohio. To the Governor of Ohio. Letter signed by seventeen individuals; stating that A[mos] J. Sterling of Union County, Ohio was Captain of Company F, 31st Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry now in Kentucky, that Sterling was a man of courage, intelligence, and good moral character, and that they believed Sterling to be a competent officer and worthy of promotion to the office of Major or Lieutenant Colonel; and recommending Sterling for promotion as soon as a vacancy furnished an opportunity.
1 p. [Series 147-27: 129]
[January 27?, 1862]
A[lbert] G. Rohrer, et. al., Company B, 35th Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry. To Governor David Tod. Letter signed by sixty-two non-commissioned officers and Privates in Company B, 35th Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry; petitioning Tod not to appoint Henry E. Van Derveer to the 1st Lieutenancy in Company B, 35th Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry in place of Ransford Smith, who had been appointed Brigade Commissary in Colonel McCook's brigade; and stating that Van Derveer had been connected with their company since its organization and they were fully persuaded that he was incompetent to fill the position of 1st Lieutenant, that Van Derveer had thus far been inattentive to his duty in the company and thereby lost the confidence of the members of the company, that they desired to have men of efficiency placed over them in whom they could have confidence, and that Van Derveer was now away from his company, in Ohio, seeking said appointment through the influence of his friends.
2 pp. [Series 147-27: 130]
January 28, 1862
W.W. Chandler, General Freight Agent, Cleveland, Pittsburgh & Wheeling Railroad, General Freight Office, Cleveland, Cuyahoga County, Ohio. To Whom It May Concern. Letter stating that he had been intimately acquainted with the bearer, Lieutenant Gustave Fahrion, during the last four years, that for most of that time, Fahrion had been in the employ of the Cleveland & Pittsburgh Railroad Company as clerk in the freight office at Cleveland, that he knew Fahrion to be a capable, honest, faithful, and worthy young man possessed of sufficient energy, courage, and "go-a-head ative-ness" to enable him to win in any cause which he espoused provided he had half a chance, that Fahrion left the service of the railroad company for the purpose of serving his adopted country, that having obtained a position which he fairly won (but which, owing to some little technicality or other trivial cause, he was not for the time being permitted to occupy), Fahrion left his former post with the best wishes of all those with whom he had heretofore been associated, that Fahrion was a true soldier and entered his country's service from the most patriotic and laudable motives, that Fahrion had paid much attention to military matters, and that if Fahrion should fail to acquit himself creditably in any position he might be called to occupy, he would disappoint the expectations of all his friends.
2 pp. [Series 147-27: 28]
January 29, 1862
W.H. Robb, et. al. To the Governor of Ohio. Letter signed by twenty members of the Ohio Senate and House of Representatives; stating that A[mos] J. Sterling of Union County, Ohio was Captain of Company F, 31st Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry now in Kentucky; recommending Sterling as a man of courage and good moral character; and stating that they believed Sterling to be a competent officer and worthy of promotion to the office of Major or Lieutenant Colonel.
1 p. [Series 147-27: 128]
January 30, 1862
W[illiam] B. Hazen, Colonel, 41st Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, Headquarters, Camp Wickliffe, Kentucky. To Captain James B. Fry, Chief of Staff, Headquarters, Department of the Ohio, Louisville, Kentucky. Letter stating that the present method of filling vacancies occurring in volunteer regiments was by arbitrary appointment of Governors of States furnishing the regiments, that this absolute and unconditional power was liable to great abuse, greatly to the prejudice of the claims of meritorious men and to the service, that all volunteer regiments in service were originally organized upon the elective system of officers, that many noncommissioned officers were as effective in recruiting companies as the officers, that all could not be elected and the noncommissioned officer went in the ranks with the full assurance, if he proved a good soldier, of promotion if either of the other officers went out, that the hope of promotion was a great stimulus to the soldier in the volunteer service, that in his own regiment, he organized classes of noncommissioned officers as candidates for promotion, that they had recited daily for three months, and many of them would do credit to a first section of cadets, that they were thoroughly instructed, even better than many of the commissioned officers, that they had been promised promotion, were entitled to it, were highly deserving of it, and had been educated expressly to fill vacancies that might occur, that the Governor of Ohio had seen fit to appoint a Mr. James to one of these vacancies, that James was a person entirely ignorant of the duties of a soldier and resided three hundred miles from where the regiment was raised, that James had not the shadow of a claim upon the regiment or any person in it, that James knew less of his duties than any Corporal in the regiment, that another appointment had been made and although from the regiment, the person had not been recommended, should not have been promoted at that time, and was so promoted from personal motives of some person near the Executive, that these appointments had a depressing and demoralizing effect upon the enlisted men of the regiment and upon the service, and that he could not witness their repetition without protesting against them with all his power; and asking if an arrangement could be made by the Department of War with the Governors of States to ensure their cooperation with the proper military authorities in filling vacancies that might occur among the commissioned officers of volunteer regiments.
2 pp. [Series 147-27: 15]
January 31, 1862
Darius Cadwell, et. al., Jefferson, Ashtabula County, Ohio. To Governor David Tod. Letter signed by eleven individuals; stating that they were informed that 1st Lieutenant [Leveret] Grover of Company A, 29th Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry had resigned and that a vacancy existed in consequence; requesting the appointment of William S. Crowell of Jefferson to fill the vacancy; and stating that Crowell was now 2nd Lieutenant in Company A and was senior 2nd Lieutenant of the regiment, that they had known Crowell from his boyhood and his honesty, integrity, and gentlemanly bearing had made him respected and loved by the community, that Crowell had been a Private in the gallant 19th Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry (three months' service), that Crowell was in the battle of Rich Mountain where his comrades awarded him much praise for his gallantry, and that Tod could be assured that Crowell would fill the position in a manner creditable to himself and beneficial to the service.
1 p. [Series 147-27: 125]
January 31, 1862
Edward Daly, Lieutenant, 50th Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, Dayton, Montgomery County, Ohio. To the Adjutant General of Ohio. Letter stating that he had received the Adjutant General's letter of January 30, informing him that in consequence of his not reporting since January 20 and his time having expired for recruiting a company, that his appointment had been revoked, that he had reported to the Adjutant General in person on January 22 or 23, that since that time, he had reported to the Adjutant General in writing to which he could take a solemn oath if required, that as to his time for enlisting, the Adjutant General knew that it ran fifty days from December 24, 1861, that in his last report, he had ten recruits, that he now had 13 recruits, and that he hoped the Adjutant General would find his statements correct.
2 pp. [Series 147-27: 7]
January 31, 1862
W[illiam] Nelson, Brigadier General, 4th Division, Headquarters, Camp Wickliffe, Kentucky. To Captain [James B.] Fry, Assistant Adjutant General. Letter forwarding a letter from Colonel [William B.] Hazen concerning arbitrary appointments of officers to his regiment; stating that he was also sending to Fry personally, Lieutenant Colonel [John T.] Wilder to explain a parallel case in his regiment, the 17th Indiana, that he deemed the cases of these two regiments of much importance and invited attention to them, that the worthless officers of the 17th Indiana, who resigned under charges, were endeavoring to have the commissions of those good officers, who had been recommended to succeed them, withheld, that the marked improvement in discipline and efficiency of the 17th Indiana was an evidence of the elevation of tone of officers of that regiment consequent in the getting rid of the worthless characters alluded to, and that Wilder was a painstaking, worthy officer, and imbued with an esprit de corps not usual among volunteer officers; and recommending Wilder to the favorable notice of the General commanding. Bears a note dated February 5, 1862, from D[on] C[arlos] Buell, Brigadier General Commanding, Department of the Ohio, Headquarters, Louisville, Kentucky; forwarding Nelson's letter and Hazen's letter to the Adjutant General of the Army; and stating that Hazen's recommendation that promotions and appointments be made from the meritorious men in the regiments where the vacancies occurred was concurred in. Also bears a note dated February 19, 1862, from George D. Ruggles, Assistant Adjutant General, Washington, referring Nelson's letter and Hazen's letter to the Governor of Ohio.
3 pp. [Series 147-27: 14]
January 31, 1862
Opinions and recommendations of a military board assembled at Camp Wickliffe, Kentucky for the examination of officers as to their qualifications, etc. Comments are included regarding Captain Charles Mueller, 1st Lieutenant John A. Diehl, 1st Lieutenant Charles Donnelly, 2nd Lieutenant Charles E. Mitchener, and 2nd Lieutenant Samuel Stephens, 51st Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry. Bears a note dated February 11, 1862, from James B. Fry, Assistant Adjutant General and Chief of Staff, Headquarters, Department of the Ohio, Louisville, Kentucky, stating that the document was a true copy, and forwarding it to the Governor of Ohio for his information. Copied and forwarded by command of General [Don Carlos] Buell.
3 pp. [Series 147-27: 66]
January 31, 1862
David Tod, State of Ohio, Executive Department, Columbus, Franklin County, Ohio. To E[dwin] M. Stanton, Secretary of War. Letter calling Stanton's attention to the ruling of Adjutant General [Lorenzo] Thomas in the case referred to in the enclosed communication; and stating that if sustained, the ruling would involve them in much trouble and confusion. Bears a note dated February 17, 1862, from L[orenzo] Thomas, Adjutant General, Adjutant General's Office, Washington, D.C.; stating that the decision in this case was made from the muster-in rolls, that if Dr. Tappan was mustered in, even illegally, he should have been mustered out before his successor could be appointed and mustered in, and that no muster of an officer should be made unless he held the commission of his Governor.
2 pp. [Series 147-27: 181]