Lamoille newsdealer. [volume] (Hyde Park, Vt.) 1860-1877, 1864-12-21
STATE OF VERMONT,
Executive Chamber, MONTPELIER
November 18th, 1862.


Hon. e. NJ STANTON,
| Secretary OF war, Sir -
have the honor respectfully and kinkly to in
wife your attention to the case of Col. r. Il. saw
YER LIST Vt Cavalry-a statement OF Whicn was
submitted to you by Adjt. Gen. Thomas on the
4th of November inst, The TACT IN Col: saw
yer's case, as understand them, are as follows
He recsiyed a commission a. Major of the cav
airy about the middle of May last, and served in
that capacity some six TO ten days, wheH, on the
oath of May, during Gen. Banks retreat ne was
severely injured in the foot. On the 9th OF May
he was granted leave OF absence Oh thirty oays
by special order from Gen. Banks. On the 24th
of June following, by special order from the war
department the leave OF absence vss extended
fifteen DAYS. On the 10th OF June last by special
order from Gen. Banks. Major Sawyer was d.
rected to report to the Governor OF vermont as
recruiting officer for the Vermont Cavalry. He
received this order early in July and accordingly
reported to me July 4th. He WAS beyond doubt
too much disabled al that time tor active held
servce-a fact potent to any one and observed by
myself As we were making strenuous efforts AT
that time 10 recruit with all possible dispatch
the 9th 10Th and lth regiments of Infantry in
answer to the urgent calls of Government. did
not deem il good policy to distract and divide the
attention of our young men by any other recruit
ing in our little state Accordingly Maj or Saw
yer was not authorized to commence recruiting
service at once, but was directed TO walt lurtner
orders from me.
At length on the 9lst of July it was deemed
expedient to allow other recruiting an | Major
Sawyer was commissioned by the Adjt. General
of Vermont to recl nit for the Cavalry. He com
menced at once on this service-works ed dillgent-
ly and successtuly-rep0rted regularly to the
Adiutant General each five days required by
his instructions and recruited in all over 200 men
within a reasonable time. Major Sawyer returned
to his regiment a. soon az was compatible with
the recruiting service which he had undettske1-
but when he returned it as Colonel oil his
regiment In regard to his having ''serVed very
little with his regiment"--I can only say that
am not aware of his having been away from it ev.
err except when detailed to accompany the re-
mains of Col. Holiday home, until he was in
jul ed on the oath of May and returned to Yer
mont on leave and engaged in recruiting men for
the regiment
While the regiment was being raised he recruit
ted company for twas chosen captain there
of and served in the regiment in that capacity
from its organization to the time he was appoint
ed Major. As TO the intimation that the regi
ment would not be benefited by being placed
underits former Major (Sawyerl" have the hon
or to suggest that it would perhaps be more pro-
per to have that proved in the regular appointed
way, than to have it rest on mere assertion In
the statement submitted to you November 4th,
heretofore alluded to, Gen Meigs is reported as
having said in letter to the Adiutant General,
under date of September 9th that 1.-THE two Ma
jOrs--ncluding sawyer-are reported as in YER
mont and the regiment without field officer
the Lieut. Colonel being absent keeping bar sell.
ling liquor-the ColsHel recently resigned-and
and the promotion of officers is destroying the
regiment" Em surprised that so good u man
as General Meiss should state things in that sort
sort of way. | had some little time prior to the
date OF his letter, received official notice that on
the 18th OF Jnly the Lieut. Colonel had resigned
and his resignation was accepted of in point Of
fact. however, he was still in the service. By
pl,en sion ho hear a hop
selling liquor? If in fact he was discharged
the service he must have been acting on his own
authority, probably, for he never had any from
me. As 10 the abuses in promoting officers, |
have to say that very few indeed have been the
promotions until quite recently, and the few
that were made prior TO Sept. 18th were made on
the recommendations of either Colonel Holli-
day or Col rOmpkins. The Cavalry regiment was
raised and organized by Colonel !, b Platt under
a direct commission to him from the then secre-
tary Of war--Hon Cameron. Colonel Holiday
succeeded Colsnel Platt and was warmly RECON-
mended for the appointment by several army Of
icers of high rank. He committed suicide
Colonel Tompkins succeeded Colonel Holiday
and was highly recommend to to the place by
several Government officers, including General
Meigs. He esigned Colonel Sawyer succeed
ed Colonel Tompkins, and has been mustered
out of service. should be greatly pleased to
have the regiment suitably commanded again,
but expect it may be difficult to find the new
man. II Col. Sawyer is not competent, should
not the reasons be shown? II he IL competent,
has he been properly mustered out?
| am, with high regard your obedient SER
want, FKEnRIcK HoLBRooK.
Governor of Vermont.
We intended to have made some COM
ments, but press of other matter pre-
vents.