Martinsburg gazette and public advertiser. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1826-1833, 1828-04-03
The Hon. SECRETARY OF WAN.
No ?
Governor Blountto tie Seeretarp of H,ar.

NASHVILLE, Dec. ID, 1873
SIR have the honor TO enclose TO YOU the
copy of letter from Major General I,hn
Cooke. in service, 10 me, dated 9Th Novem.
Der, with its enclosure, just received by mail
1t affords An additional proof of the gallant con.
duct OF our troops
Also, the copy Off letter written by me to
Col. William Carroll, Of the 9Th iast the bet
ter to promote the pubic service. Gen. lack.
son mad Just informed me, that the U S. volun-
teer infaniry, then with him, believing that
their term of service would expire on the 10Th
| instant, expected to be, and insisted on being
discharged on that day and, if elisoharge ed then
or II they left the camp, it would weaken his
force ten or twelve hundred; and that he, the
better TO promote the service had thought il
tdVIsable and necessary 10 send in col, Carroll
Tor an equal number of men TO supply their
places. | was not authorized, by any instruc
tons received from the War Department, or
otherwise, to order the aid required. but
knowing the necessity, if these volunteers
should be discharged, or leave Camp at that
time, tor the Generals having their places sup.
phed, wrote that letter TO col. Carroll, who
has SINCE informed me, that be should in a lew
days assemble and march about seven or eight
! hundred volunteers to the Genera's relief |
trust, sir, that this course, TAX with view
n e.
| the appreciation OF government, AID that those
men viii be received into the service, and that
compensation will be made them Tor their ser
vices. Many highly respectable men among
them have enrolled themselves as privates--a all
are entitled to credit for their patriotism The
commanding officers of companies probably
told their men that they would be paid. Also,
the copy ola letter from me to major general
Jackson, of the 22d inst in answ err 10 his. lust
then received. He informed me that the Uni.
ted States volunteer infantry were on their way.
from his camp, to this place, to be dismissed
or discharged by me. was authorised TO do
! so, or to await the order Of government there.
Il or-as he was not authorised to discharge
them. He thoughti it most advisable. for pub.
lie good, to take that course, as they insisted
that they bad served their tour. He acknowl.
edges that their services have been important:
that he feels lively interest in their welfare.
and hopes, under all circumstances. that il NAV
compors With the views OF government to or.
der their discharge IN manner honorable to
the volunteers. My letter TO you of the 10th
INST and one OF prior date. will make known
to you their ground of expectation for their dis
charge, and although feel great deIicacy in
oHering an opinion TO you. sir, on a subject I
am aware have 10 right to express an opin-
ion on--not being authorised to interfere with
troops IN the service OF the United States. or
with what relates to their term of service or
discharge-yet, my respect for those yolun.
'eers, for their services, and my belief that
they honestly consider themselves entitled 20
an honorable discharge, from their impression
that they have served as long as they were
bound to serve, and belief that such a step
would promote the good of the service. I am
induced respectfully to say, that I hope that
government, who alone have the power, will
order them to be honorably discharged and
compensated Tor their services, which have
been acknowledged as important, not being
myself authorised to discharge them, as you
know. cannot do it. The General, from
sense of his duty as an officer, used his exer-
tons to induce the volunteers to remain in ser.
vice until the will Of the government should be
known as 70 their term of service
General Jackson also informs me, that as the
militia and volunteers who were ordered oue
under hls snd gen. Cookies command, upon
the present campaign. are impressed with a
belief that they should not be required or en-
pected TO serve longer than three menshs from
their entrance into service, many of whom
having served that long. having gone home,
he tears that his forces viii be in q few DAYS,
reduced to very small number, with whom,
however, he proposed to stay az Fort STROLLER,
or Coosa. until reinforced by drafted men from
this state; which draft there is no instructions