Camp of 32^d Mass Vols

near Potomac Creek Va

February 5^th 1863.      

 

My dear Colonel

                        Your letter of the 31^st reached me last evening, enclosing my resignation disapproved.

 

            Some days ago I prepared the way for trying it here (without the disability dodge) by speaking to Stephenson, Switzer, Mervins, Locke & Mason. I had a strong letter to Mason, who is the Asst Adjt. Gen^l of Gen^l Meade Comd^g the Grand Div. from an old & familiar friend of his & of Gen^l Meades.

 

            The paper was very strongly approved all the way up. Major Stephenson did the disinterested thing & let me write his endorsement. Col. Switzer allowed me to dictate his. Gen^l Griffin's was all that I could have desired & [faded] than I had / a right to expect. Gen^l Sykes gave it his approval & Gen^l Meade finished the business handsomely! So you see I can pull the wires almost as well as some other people, my superiors in rank. It is the more remarkable as no other resignation had been accepted in our Grand Div for ten days, although several had gone up every day, & mine was not approved for incompetency either!

 

            The paper I sent up only stated in general terms "family reasons"—Capt. Martin tried it a week ago & failed. Col. Barnes was then in command at Div Hd Qrs & approved but amused himself by recounting the services of "this officer" & so killed it!

 

            I shall perhaps be here a week longer, looking unofficially after the office business & then we will talk over the army as a thing of the past. Major Stephenson swears & says he never did a disinterested thing in his life that he was not sorry for afterward! In this case I give him the credit for generous action, for he did not want to lose me.

                                                                       

Sincerely Yours

Cha^s K. Cobb.

 

[endorsement]

 

Adj^t Cobb

Feby. 5. 1863

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