Commonwealth of Massachusetts.                

Executive Department.                      

Boston, March 11^th 1863    

               

Col Francis J. Parker

Colonel,

               I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter with the enclosures which I return herewith. His Excellency desires me to say that in forwarding to you a copy of the inspection report of the 32^d Regiment he did not in any manner imply that you were responsible for the actual condition of the Regiment, but wished you to know what was said of it, that the unfavorable state of things shown as existing might be accounted for.

 

            The information contained in the within papers is very important in the light it throws upon this matter. The very unfavorable result of the inspection appears to have been in a great degree owing to the unfortunate moment selected by the inspecting officer: but it appears to be admitted that there was too much substantial ground for his observations on many points. The Governor hopes that this lesson may so raise the pride of / officers and men as to give no further grounds for such a report at any future time. If this should not be the case the Governor could only request that a board might be ordered to examine the officers of the Regiment, with a view to the discharge of such as by their incompetency were found responsible for the state of the Regiment

 

I have the honor to be

very respectfully your most obedient

Harrison Ritchie

Lieut Col., Senior A.D.C.

 

[endorsement]

 

L^t Col Ritchie

            A.D.C.

March 11, 1863

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