Commonwealth of Massachusetts.                

Executive Department.                      

Boston, February 20^th 1863 

              

Col Francis J. Parker

Sir,

           I am instructed to enclose you the written copy of Inspection report of the condition of the 32^d Mass Vols.

 

Very respectfully yours

Harrison Ritchie

Lieut Col & ADC.

 

Copy

 

Head Qrs 5^th Army Corps Feby 14. 1863

Brig Genl Griffin

            Comd'g 1^st Div.

                                    General

            (Extract)

            "          2^d Brigade 1^st Division, 5^th Corps.

"          The Inspection report of the 32^d Mass. V. is disgraceful—

"          commanding officer deserves censure if he has been in

"          command of the regiment a month

            x                      x                      x                      x                      x                        x

 

 I am very respectfully

  Your obdt sv't

  (signed) Fred T. Locke

    Asst Adjt Genl.

 

Head Qrs 1^st Div                                                                               

            Feby 14^th 1863                                                          

                        official                                                                    

            (signed)           C B Mervin AAG /

 

"Copy"

Head Quarters 25^th Regt N.Y. Vol

Camp near Falmouth Va

Feby 11^th 1863

Major Wm H. C[?]

            A.A.I.G. 1^st Div. 5^th Corps.

 

Major,

               In pursuance of circular from Div. Hd. Qrs dated Feby 4^th 1863 On the 9^th inst inspected the 32^d Mass. Vols. & respectfully submit the following request. The senior officer present with the Reg was a Captain, who informed me that two companies were on detached duty, and the rest on picket, which will account for the smallness of the number inspected. I found the camp generally dirty, meat, bread, clothes, old shoes &c scattered almost everywhere. The clothes ragged & dirty, cartridge boxes without tins, & a general appearance of neglect on the part of the officers, and want of discipline in the men. The Quarter master was absent with his teams, consequently, I had no opportunity to inspect them.

 

signed  C. A. Johnson

Col 25^th NYV.

 Inspecting officer /

 

Extracts—

 

condition        

Enfield muskets                      "indifferent"    x

appendages                             "deficient"      x

cartridge boxes                        "unserviceable" x

coats & trousers                      "dirty"             x

underclothing                          "dirty"             x

military appearance                 "bad"

Discipline                                 "bad"

system of military instruction      "loose"

officers & men acquainted with

   manual of arms         "indifferently"

   squad drill                                           do

   company drill                                      do

   battalion drill                          "ignorant"

    guard duty                                           do

officers & men generally perform duty          "loosely"

guard instructed                                              "not well"

commanding officers informed relative

to the condition of their command                 "ignorant of"

regimental and company books & records     "generally complete"

morning reports made                                     "regularly"

company officers, quarter masters, commanders

&c accounts for public property                     "regularly"

do provision returns agree morning reports   "they do"

orders                                                              "duly received promptly published"

recitations in Army regulations                      "have not had"

articles of war read                                         "never"

wants of the command reasonably

anticipated                                                      "they are not"

officers                                                            "inefficient"

orders enforced                                               "not well"

 

[endorsement]

 

Lt Col H Ritchie

                        ADC

Feb. 20 1863.

SOURCES