Camp Parole near

                                                                        Annapolis M^d Dec 11^th 1862

 

Hon. Sir,

                        Some four Months ago, two other gentlemen and myself, sent our resignations to the Secretary of War through you, hoping by that means to get out of a very bad position in which we had been placed by the action of the line Officers of our Regt. simply because we were so unlucky as to have been taken prisoners.

 

            Not having heard any thing from that paper, and the two other Officers having procured their Discharge through other sources I am induced to venture to address you with the hope that you can do something to place me in a different position before the Regt.

 

            I am willing and anxious to do the duty of an Officer until the Rebelion is crushed entirely, but it will be very disagreeable for me to go back there after what has been said and done by my juniors / to drive me out of the Regt, yet if nothing better can be done I am willing to do it.

 

            About four weeks ago we saw a notice of our Exchange in the Newspapers, yet we are unable to get an order to join the Army in the field, and every day that I am away makes my case appear the worse in my own Regt.

 

            I was the senior Captain when the Regt. was organized, since which time there has been a Major, Lt. Col., and Colonel appointed from the Regt. over my head, and as there is now a vacancy in the field Officers of the Regt I think that I ought to have it, but so long as I am oblidged to stay away from the Regt. I have no reason to expect it, as the only reason for not promoting before was because I was a prisoner.

Now my being held as “Hostage” in Henrico Co. jail “Richmond” for three months is just as deserving of notice as that of others who were with me there but have been promoted and are now in the field.     

                                    Very Respectfully

                                                                                                Your Ob^nt Servant

Hon Henry Wilson                                                      X         Geo. W. Rockwood

                                                                                                Capt. Co. A. 15^th Mass. Vol.

 

[overleaf]

                                                                                                            Washington D. C

Senator Wilson           Endorsement on letter of                                Jan. 10, 1863

                                    Lt Col Kimball 15 Mass                     Dear Sir:

Mr Bird                       dated Sept 20 1862—                                     I return your

                                    Asking that Capt. G. W.                     note. I have made

                                    Rockwood-a paroled prisoner            inquiries, and there

                                    be restored to his Regt                                    is no record at the

                                    Ref^d to Col W. Hoffman                     Department of any

no Entry                      Com Genl of Prisoners                       such resignations

Bird                 Oct 19 1862                                        having been received

                                                                                                In haste               

                                                                                                Yours truly

                                                                                                            H. Wilson

SOURCES