two more nominations from Massachusetts than she was
entitled to, and they supposed the Senate selected for promotion those
that were considered the best qualified, (or words to that effect,)
carefully concealing the fact that two of the candidates who were on the
Massachusetts list did not represent Massachusetts. One went out in
command of a New York Regiment, and the other, as I am informed, was an
engineer from Pennsylvania, and has since been discharged.

Some time after my return home, I called on Senator Sumner, and inquired
of him why I had been thus treated; what qualifications, if any, I was
lacking, which should cause them to promote junior officers over me? But
he did not give me any reason, but in substance intimated that we must
submit to higher authority whether we liked it or not. Nearly every
question I put to him was answered evasively, and my previous opinion,
that he had used his best efforts to defeat me, were then confirmed. About
the 21st of August I received an appointment as Paymaster of Volunteers,
at the instigation of Senator Wilson, which I respectfully declined, not
feeling quite willing to step from the rank of Brigadier-General to that
of Major. Since that time I have had several interviews with Mr. Wilson,
and he informs me that he has never opposed me directly or indirectly,
evidence to the contrary notwithstanding. If such be the case, _why_ am I
out of the service? Can either of these gentlemen answer?

During a recent visit to Washington, I called upon the President, and
presented him with my letters of recommendation. He informed me that I
needed no recommendation, that my conduct in the field was a sufficient
guarantee of my fitness for the office of Brigadier-General, but that
there were no vacancies at that time. He then indorsed my papers and
referred me to Secretary Stanton, who informed me that no man stood better
in the army than I did; he said that there were no vacancies at that time.
It cannot but be plain to the public that my not being confirmed by the
Senate was the work of the Massachusetts Senators, as one of them informed
me that it was by _his own personal exertions_ that a Massachusetts
General had been confirmed. That I have been treated with neglect and
contempt by them from the beginning is plainly visible, let them say what
they will to the contrary.

And I am not the only officer who has been thus shamefully treated,
hundreds of others have been served in lik