Gloucester, July 14/63

 

Col. Francis J. Parker,

Dear Sir,

                   I sincerely thank you for your frank expression of sentiment in regard to my qualifications for the position I have made some effort to obtain.

 

A Heavy Artillery Company is now in process of recruiting in Gloucester, by authority of His Excellency, and I felt as if I should like to have a Lieutenancy in the same. It is designed to be a permanent defence for the Harbor. A Junior 1^st or a Senior 2^d Lieutenancy, is as high as my modesty would allow me to aspire. The commissions, however, / have already been issued, and the requisite number of men nearly or quite complete.

 

You will perhaps excuse my presumption in this matter, when I inform you, that the majority of the Officers commissioned in this Company, know as much about military duty as they do about the Hebrew language, and have never made any attempt to inform themselves, as their attention has been absorbed in other pursuits. They would tell you the same as I do, that they are not acquainted with even the alphabet of the duties which pertain to their office.

 

I again thank you Sir, for your kind advice, as I deem it a friendly act in any one to assure me of my incompetency, as I should be extremely sorry to impose myself upon the / Government, as I greatly fear too many have already done, who have undertaken to serve in such stations.

 

With sentiments of high regard,

I have the honor to remain,

            Your Very Obt. Servt.

                        Octavius A. Merrill

 

[endorsement]

 

O. A. Merrill

July 14^th 1863

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