Description:

Massachusetts - A pre-civil war manuscript from the 2nd Brigade, 5th division detailing the elections of field officers. Wonderful piece of Massachusetts based militia history. In accordance with a Massachusetts law passed on January 22, 1776 Section 23 claiming that each Brigadier General of the colony should provide two field forces. The men were often selected from two separate regiments. This manuscript with over 110 pp details the elections of the field officers as well as military officials tried for indiscretions. The items date from 1833 to 1840 with varying headquarters based in New Bedford, Wareham, Fall River, Boston and Pawtucket. Some of the excerpts read: "October 18, 1833 "The committee on Military Affairs, to whom was referred an application for authority to raise a volunteer Company of riflemen in New Bedford, report - that said application is signed by forty five individuals representing that they are mechanics and citizens of New Bedford that there is no independent Company of Infantry or riflemen in that town and that in the present state of the military companies in that place, the service would be greatly benefited by the organization of a company of Riflemen. This representation having been accompanied with a communication from James D. Thompson who is Brigadier General of the second brigade, fifth division, which although not in the form of an official certificate my nevertheless be considered as an approval of the object of the petitioners, and his Excellency the commander in Chief having been lately advised to disband the company of Cavalry in Norton, the committee recommend that authority be granted for raising said company of riflemen by voluntary enlistment to be annex'd to the Fourth Regiment second Brigade , fifth division and to be recruited within the limits of said Regiment, provided that said company shall not be organized until forty five persons shall be enrolled for that purpose . . . " "August 7, 1834 reads, "The Brigadier General, very much regrets that a return should have been received by him under the sanction of the name of so able an officer as Col. Stone so very imperfect and incorrect as that received from the 4th Regiment in June last; and cannot but hope it never passed his inspection, notwithstanding his name is attached thereto - The charges are first that as much of the artillery as is returned as al, is incorporated with the infantry, which is not the place for it, a special return having been provided and sent for that purpose. Second, all the return that is made of the artillery is simply the, men composing the company and their knapsacks nothing is said of their arms and equipments, their guns . . . brag ropes - Bricoles - Harnesses and the only way the Brig Major could make his return was from yours of last year . . . Thus sir I have endeavored to lay before you the imperfections in the return rec'd from your regiment; and when you recollect the importance attached to these returns, you will undoubtedly see the necessity of having them entirely correct and that you will be vigilant, to see that such another return may never . . . from any officer under our command. By order of the Brig. Gen'l 2'd Brig. And 5th Division. J.H. Collins Brig. Major." "January 26, 1836 General Orders: At a general court martial held at Dedham on the 6th Inst. Of which Brig, Gen'l . . . Oldham of the first Brigade and fifth divisions is President was tried Major John P. Jones commander of a Battalion of Light Infantry in he second Brigade first Div. Of the militia on a complaint exhibited against him for Breach of Duty by Brigadier Gen'l Amos H. Boyd of the same Brigade. The court having considered the charge and the several specifications under it, is of the opinion and decides that the said Maj. John P. Jones is guilty of the first specification except the words "being instigated by motives of hatred and ill will towards the several individuals so elected" and also he words "with malice" that the said Major John P. Jones is guilty of the second specifications except that words being actuated by motives of malice and ill will against the said Mowny, Blake and Hawes also the word malicious and also the words, "the said rifle company has been during the time aforesaid without any commissioned officers." . . . And the court sentenced the said Maj. John P. Jones to be removed from office and do adjudge him to be disqualified for and incapable of holding any military office under this commonwealth for ten years and the court do further sentence the said Maj. John P. Jones to pay a fine of one hundred dollars." "Headquarters of Boston, July 9, 1839 General Orders, A resonance against the election held in New Bedford on the 30th of March for the choice of Field officers in the 2nd Reg't and 2 Brig. And 5 division, having been received with a statement from the Major General , confirming the representation contained therein, the commander in chief after a careful examination of the circumstances, considers the election to have been so irregularly conducted as to make it necessary to set the proceedings aside, which is accordingly done, and a new election ordered . . ." Some of the many names you will see inside are George A. Bourne, Lieutenant Charles White, Capt. E.G. Perkins and many more. Perfect for archival research. The front cover of the book is separated. This book is ex Guthman Americana collection.

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