The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1861-08-16


rent and torn by shot and shell that it is not
suitable for use and it was surrendered to
me by the Colonel, to be brought back to
the State to be deposited in suitable place
in the Capitol as memorial of the patriot.
ism and valor of the sons of Minnesota at
this period Of her history. l forwarded the
same by express to the Governor, aud was
requested by the Colonel, to signify his desire
to be furnished by the State with another
similar banner at an early day.
All of which is respectfully submitted by your
obedent servant JOHN B SANBORN,
Adjutant General.
LETTER OF CHAPLAIN E. D. NELL.
CAMP NEAR WASHINGTON, D. C.
DEAR SIR :-Cheerfully l accede to your
request, and give you my impressions in re.
lation to the condition OF the clothing until
OF late worn by the soldiers of the First
Minnesota Regiment.
have no idea that there has been any
suffering among the regiment for the want
of proper clothing with a few exceptions
the men have appeared tidy, and mot tat
tered and all forlorn " in the dress of blue
pants and red shirts.
This week they have received the blue
uniform of the United States, which will
be warmer, perhaps, but not as comfortable
for the month of August as the simple red
shirt. From the first, in tldiness and gen.
eral appearance, they have appeared well in
the clothing which they obtained in Mime
sofa, and compared favoraby with the
harlequin Zouaves and Others in fantastic
attire.
Yours Truly, E. D. NELL.
Hon. JOHN B. SANBoRN, Adjutant General State
of Minnesota.
OFFICIAL REPORT FROM THE QUARTERMAsTER
OF THE FIRST REGIMENT.
WASHINGTON, D. c., July 81, 1861.
Colonel John B. Sanborn, Adjutant General
of The State of Minnesota:
In reply to the inquiries made by you
this day, l have the honor to submit the
following plain facts in regard to the histo.
ry OF the Minnesota First Regiment of vol
unteers, under the command of Colonel
Willis A. German. l do this the more
cheerlully from the fact that within the past
few days several newspaper statements have
come to my knowledge rejecting quite Sc
verely upon the officers of the gallant First,
the State, and the General Government,
and because 1 deem it due that you should
know the truth, the whole truth, and moth
ing but the truth.
FIRsT-IN REGARD TO THE CLOTHING OF
THE REGIMENT.
And in this connection allow me to saw.
that shall speak of nothing except what
know of my own knowledge, paying no at.
tention to the rumors of camp which are
as numerous as gossips in country village.
Our regiment arrived IN Washington, as
near as can remember, on or about the
18th day of June last. A few days after,
wards some one came to the Captains tents
of company d, Captain Putnam, and said
the Colonel desired at once that list of
the wants OF the regiment might be made
out, as be had seen the Department, and
whatever the regiment needed to put it upon
complete war footing, would be furnished
by Government. Immediately Lieutenant
Smith, of company d, and myself, made in
qulries In our company made out COM
plete list of the articles needed-clothing,
camp equipage, ordnance and stoves, and
handed the list to the Colonel. The same
was done, l presume, by the officers of the
otter companies, with the ordinary DELAY
INCIDENT to obtaining sucn list. On
the 4th of July, Quartermaster DOWN.,
having worked himself sick, the regiment
being then stationed near Alexandria. in
Virginia, special order was issued ap.
pointing myself Acting Quartermaster pro
tenn. Immediately entered upon ,Ae dis
charUo If NM AutioC opd ,ooo ~,
day and the day after, came to Washington
and at the request of the Colonel went to
the office of Quartermaster General Megs.
and made inquiries about the clothing of
the Minnesota Regiment. The General
said there was requisition there, made by
the Colonel upon the 29th of June The
Colonel had furnished me with the original
manuscript copy, and 1 asked to see the
copy the General had, that might compare
the two together. He sent for the same
and found them to exactly correspond
During the conversation, the General re-.
marked, "We have attempted three times
to clothe your regiment" Once. throuob
Governor Ramsey. in New York, when the
clothing failed to pass inspection. A sec.
ond time be had ordered it to be shipped to
the Regiment at Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
from the clothing depot 10 Philadelphia'
When learning that the regiment had made
but short stay there-half day-and
was coming to Washington, be telegrapbed
to Philadelphia that il they had not already
forwarded it, to send it to Washington. thai
the regiment might obtain it here. The
clothing lad come to Washington, being
consigned to Capt. Geo. Gibson, U. s. Aoe
Military Storekeeper, when the clothing
the boxes not be specially marked for our
regiment, and the Captain having At tho