Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1862-01-13
MONDAY. JANUARY IL. 1859.
GOV. ANDREW AND GEN. BUTLER,

peen serious disagreement between wv
Andrew aud Gen Butler, relative to certain
troops enlisted by the latter in this state
There has been long correspondence between
them, it is said, but nothing was published
10 explain the nature of the controversy or
give any facts in regard 10 it, the matter was
not understood. Explanations are now begin
ming TO appear, and it will not surprise us to
see the whole correspondence find its way into
print. Enough has come out already to show
us what this controversy means.
1t is now plain that tile difficulty has arisen
from an attempt of Gen. Butler to exercise
authority 10 which he was not entitled. He
has claimed TO be Commander OF the De
par;ment of New England. +" with authority to
enlist men, form regiments, and act in all re-
spects quite independent of the Governors.
Pursuing the exercise of this assumed author
ity, he has come into collision with Gov. An
drew. If he had complied with the orders of
the war department, such a collision would
have been impossible. Before Gen. Butler
was authorized TO raise troops in New Eng
land, the question concerning irregular enlist
ments in this state had been discussed between
Gov, Andrew and the secretary of war, and
the secretary had promised that no more per.
mission should be granted TO make such en-,
listmentS in Massachusetts. Nevertheless Gen.
Butler afterwards, received authority to re.
crut six regiments. Tie official document
reads as follows =
WAR DEPARTMENT, Sept. 10, 1861.
Major General B. L. Butler is hereby au-
thorized 10 raise, organize, arm, uniform, and
equip volunteer force Tor tue war; in the
New England states, not exceeding (6) regi-
mentS ut The maximum standard, Of such arms,
and in such proportions, and in such manner
rs he may Judge eXpedient; and for this pur
pose hIs orders and acquisitions in the quarter.
master, ordnance. and other staff departments
OF the army are to be obeyed ANA answered,
provid The cost of such recruitmentS, arma-
menl and equipment does not exceed, in the
aggregate, HAT OF like troops now OF hereafter
raised, Tor the service OF the United States.
(Signed) SIMON CAMERON,
Secretary of War.
The Boston journal says -
"The substance of this order was telegraph
ed by the president to Governor Andrew who
replied substantially as follows Authorize
the state to raise whatever regiments you wish
additional. We will first fulfill engagements
with Gen. Sherman, ordered by The secretary
OF War-then add Others as last as possible.
VIII help Gen Butler to the utmost A dis
patch from the secretary of war, Sept. 18th,
acknowledged the receipt OF the above, and
said that Massachusetts has done so well in
all that she has promised that she shall not be
disappointed in anything that she desires from
the general government Four days after the
following general order was issued, which, ii
will be seen, revokes the authority heretofore
granted TO any person to raise regiments indie.
= flta at 81
states
WAR DEPARTMENT Adj. Gems
Office, Washington, Sept. 16.
General Order No. rs.
l. AL persons having received authority
from the war department to raise volunteer
regiments, batteries, or companies, in the loyal
states, are, Nth their commands hereby placed
under the orders OF the governors OF those
states, to whom they will Immediately report
the present condition OF their respective organ
izations These troops will he organized, or
recognized, and prepared for service by the
governors Of their respective states, III the manner
they may judge most advantageous to the inter.
ests OF the general government.
BY order L. Thomas, Adj. Gen.
After this order appeared, Gen. Butler could
no longer rightfully claim authority to act in
dependently of the governor in raising and or
ganizng regiments. very little reflection
is sufficient 10 show why the second order was
issued. The act of congress which makes it
lawful to raise volunteer regiments at all, d.
reefs that all snch regiments 81 all be organ
lied, and the company and regimental officers
be commissioned, By the governors Of the seq
eral states; and while that act stands, no
body else can be lawfully authorized TO do
this work, not even the secretary of war, nor
the president himself, AS the law stands,
those officials have no more right to organize
and commission volunteer regiments, than the
governors have TO organize and commission
regiments for the regular army, and of course
no such authority could be conferred on any
military officer, whether commander OF de
partment or not. Nevertheless, Gen. Butler
continued 10 assert his independence OF the
governor, aud soon made arrangements to
raise two regiments in Massachusetts, not only
without the concurrence of the state authori
ties, but with a somewhat defiant independ.
ence of them. The journal gives this account
of what followed -
without entering into the details of the
subsequent correspondence between General
Butler and Gov. Andrew it is sufficient TO say
that every effort was made by the state au-
thorites to induce Gen. Butler TO accept Iegi.
ments regularly recruited under the auspices
OF the Stale. 1t was at one time proposed that
he should furnish a roster OF company officers
and that tie governor would authorize new
regiment To commence recruiting Tor General
Butler, additional TO those then being raised
by the state, to be placed under the command
OF distinguished army officer The state
authorities were ready at any tiuie 10 co Gper-
ate with General Butler in making out
his quota ot regiments from New Eng
land but the general was infleXible in his
purpose to raise and officer his own regi-
menIs in this state. 1t was under these cir
cumstaaces that the eastern and western
Bay State regiments were raised, the officers
OF which have not to this day been commits
stoned by the state authorities, or by the gen.
eral government, Manning's battery, which
also cOmposes part OF the Butler brigade,
was ordered on board the Constitution by Gen.
Butler before it was organized and without
commissioned officers. Ii was not until with
IN a few days that Gov. Andrew, waving his
objections TO one or two OF the officers issued
commissions completing the organization of
the battery. 1t had been regularly recruited
and fitted out under the auspices Of the state
but 10 descriptive rolls were furnished until il
reached its destination, nor was the roster of
the officers sent until after the battery had LETT
Boston harbOr."
BY eonsenting to have his regiments en-.