The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1864-08-05
Expiration of the Term of Enlistmeuts.
HEAD QUARTERS Srn ME. Vols, J
In the field near Petersburg, Va,
July 10Th, 1864. J


To The Editor of the Union d Journal:
Knowing that you are friend OF tho SOL
der. and want him to have oil that belongs
to him. | thought that would take the I'D
erty of writing few lines to you and stating
the case rs il stands with me, as well Us sew
eral Others in the regiment.
In 1862 there was a call made by the "oV-
ernor of the State for recruits to NIL up tue
old regiments, and he made the statement
that all recruits who enlisted Tor old regi-
ments should have the benefit OF the time
that the old regiment had been in the ser
vice, and that thoy should be discharged when
the regiment was, in September, 1904. Ihls
promise has not been fulfilled with the re-
cruits in other regiments, and thinking we
might be served in the same manner, has In
duced me to address few lines to you on the
subject. Now oil we want, and what we
ask for, is, that justice be done towards u.s.
And, beside, there were recruiting olhcers
sent into the camp of the nine months men
in Portland and Augusta, with these orders
-"TeH the men that they shall De discharged
tchen the regiment IS, If they triH enhsf for
an old regiment"
And now, Judging from what has been
done with recruits Of other regiments, think
that the men who made us the promise THAT
the recruits of 1862 should be discharged
when the regiments were) should make their
word good-especially the Governor OF the
State iu 1862.
If YOU will be so kind as to give this n
place in YOUR paper, you will greatly obligc
many members Of the 9Th Maine Vols.
Most respectfully yours.
We haze received within few months n
number Of letters like the above, to none OF
which, however, have we given attention,
since they were anonymously written. But
on the receipt Of this letter We wrote note
to Gov. 3ny, a reply to which will DO found
below:
EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT, AUGUSTA,
August l, 1864.
j. f.. BUTLER, EsQ.-Ded Sr:-Yours
of the 25th ult, came duly to hand. l have
often been Intercepted in relation to the
matter which is the subject Of your letter,
but on the receipt of that addressed Gov.
Washburn and Maj. j. w. I. Gardiner, U.
s., superintendent of recruiting in this State.
They both deny that any assurance was Civ
en- by their authority. Gov. Washburn
AYERS that he uniformly stated that he did
not know what course would be taken about
it. Maj. Gardiner says he always informed
parties asking him, that men enlisting for
three years, or during the war, would be held
for that time if the war so long lasted.
Probably recruiting officers made the state
ment in order to enlist men but without the
least authority from any one having the pow
er to say so.
Herewith send you copies of letters re-
ceiyed from Ex-Gov. Washburn and Ma. Gar
diner which you can make such use OF as you
please. For myself not being connected with
the Government at the time, have no know
ledge except such MS got from those sources,
the records being silent, except that the men
enlisted for three years, or during the war.
If the purpose had been to discharge all when
the original term Of the regiment expired it
would have been very natural that the en-
listment papers should have so stated the con-
tract. Very respectfully.
Your obedient servant,
SAMUEL CoNY.