Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

Executive Department.

Boston, Nov. 27^th 1861.

 

Hon. F. J. Parker

            My dear Sir, I heartily regret y^r purposely declining the majorship of a battalion at Fort Warren. It was offered by me through Col. Ritchie, because I felt it most important to secure some person of gentlemanly, cultivated and urbane manners, who c^d combine proper reserve and dignity with the humane bearing due always to those in our power; one whose intelligent firm loyalty c^d not be questioned & whose devotion to the public service w^d be a constant / fair example to the men. The duty is a most responsible & important one. Col. Dimick, Commandant of the post has little care over the soldiers or garrison duty. He commands the post; but, their own officers command them. This battalion is very likely to become the nucleus of a regiment hereafter when its major w^d be in the lead for the Colonelcy, or command of the rifle battalion & [?] of the 4^th Inf. Bat. [?] for the 13^th & 24^th regiments.

 

            I do not myself regard the rank / of Major as one for y^r aspiration; but I regard the service one for which I feel like making a claim on y^r patriotism. The office has given us more thought than any Colonelcy of any regiment has hitherto done—so anxious have we been ab^t it. And I now know of no one to whom I w^d wish to offer the position, among those who occur to me, if you decline, save Col. Holmes of the Cadets, whose medical duties w^d I assume forbid his acceptance.

 

            I am far from desire for / to reconsider against yr own convictions, but, I wish you to be fully aware of the importance I attach to the object & the difficulty of filling the place satisfactorily.

                                               

I am, faithfully Yr

Obt Servant &c &c

J A Andrew

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