Military letters, March 1862

TitleMilitary letters, March 1862
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CollectionsThomas Benton Brooks Papers

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TranscriptionAnticipating a misunderstanding of this sort, when in Washington I took the pains to ascertain from the War Dept [Department] what claims this Regt [Regiment] had to the position and pay of Engineers, and I was officially but verbally informed that they had been mustered as Engineers by order of the President of the United States and were to be paid as such.  To reverse this decission [decision] at this late day would produce consequences highly injurious to the activity, efficiency and contentment of this most indispensible branch of this command.  I must therefore direct, until otherwise ordered by high authority that this Regiment receive the pay and emoluments of Engineers.  (Signed) T.W. Sherman; Brig [Brigadier] Genl [General] Comdg [Commanding]; HeadQuarters Vol. [Volunteer] Engineers; Hilton Head March 6, 1862; General; Lieut [Lieutenant] Col [Colonel] Hall showed me a letter from you to Maj [Major] Erritt relative to the pay of our men.  He then saw Maj. [Major] Erritt and as I learn just as the Maj [Major] was going to Lt. [Lieutenant] [Helenes?] he promised on his return to pay as Infantry up to the 1st of March deducting $4.00 from last pay the men receiving under protest.  This did not suit me and as the General had promised they should be paid as Engineers so soon as there was money to do it.  I called on the A.A.A.G. and asked if there had been any changes in the orders, and was informed that none had taken place, the last relative to this case being the endorsement upon my Letter whereby the PayMaster are to pay as Engineers.

TopicsUnited States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865
South Carolina--History
Armed Forces

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