The letter John Aten sent to President Lincoln evoked a reaction, as you would expect. The copy of the sheet placed in his dossier is very difficult to read and is in 3 sections. The left hand section appears to be a summary of his main points. The other two are an official response within the government.
As much as
can be read will be shown here.
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Apy?—10—1064 ???-94 D.C. 3d Brigade 2nd Div. 14th A.C. North Chicamaga Tenn Dec 24, 1863 John Aten Priv Co. “G” 85th Ills. Infy Complains of the short rations and scanty clothing issued to his Regt; also asks a furlough for 30 days to feed up a little states in a postscript that since writing this letter his mess composed of two [??] have drawn rations of rice & beans and after a division was made there remained the pitiful amount of one half pint to 10 men—also states that he will compelled to either starve or “quit the business—which [he] is unwilling to do. [Regimental Command?] |
Adjutant General’s Office ????? Respectfully submitted to the Secretary of War, with recom- mendation that Col.Starmon be brought to trial before a General Court Martial for writing the within disrespectful letter to the War Dept., in which he uses the following expressions:— “It is extraordinary that the Dept. should under such circumstances notice the paper, and its simplicity in so doing is only equaled by the reckless presum-tion of your correspondent. It is a remarkable development for the President of the United States and [scores?] of people, good and bad to seriously entertain a complaint of this character, and for the Dept. gravely to refer it to a Major General for investigation and report. Great indeed is the American soldier and beneficent truly is that government which listen to such appeals. Regrets the (over) |
Dept. did not treat the [complaint?][of] Priv. Aten as a -------- threw it aside ----- S ??? B[uck?] Asst. Adj. General Reed Cack Adjt Names and positions too difficult to read. Three in all. |