Howell Cobb to May 27, 1864, May 21, 1864
Macon, Ga., May 21, 1864.
Hon. JAMES A. SEDDON, Secretary of War, Richmond, Va.:
Sir: I am, in accordance with your directions, preparing with all earnestness the organization of the reserves into regiments. Two of these regiments are now on duty at Anderson. I expect to send a third in a few days. One is on duty here, and by the middle of next week I shall have another organized at this point. By the 1st of next month I hope to have three others organized. I fully concur in the views of the President and yourself that these men should not be kept permanently in the field, but with the demands made upon me for guards, &c., I shall be compelled to keep them all in service. I trust that the condition of the country may soon authorize a different course. A circular from the Conscript Bureau positively forbids any persons between eighteen and forty-five from holding office in the reserves. I beg most earnestly that no such order will be enforced. It is a virtual disbandment of the reserves. If the officers of that age were now taken from the regiments now on duty it would utterly ruin
them. These regiments are employed in an important service, and I do hope, trust, beg, and entreat that the officers be permitted to remain with them. They are inefficient enough, God knows, without this final, fatal blow. The number of men fit for the field is too small to make any difference with the efficiency of the Army, whilst with this corps they are all important. Rest assured the efficiency of our Army will not be weakened by the simple act of justice to our brave privates of allowing them promotion. Donât, I beg you. donât permit this wrong, both to the service and good men.
Very respectfully and truly, yours, &c.,
Major-General.
[Indorsement.]
MAY 27, 1864.
From the time you were charged not merely with the duty of receiving companies of reserves and organizing, but with the duty of organizing the companies also, you were of course exempt from the obligation
of Colonel Jordanâs circular, and was free to exercise your discretion.
Besides, that order went further than my intent, which was misunderstood by Colonel Preston. I did not wish active conscripts or men in
the field between eighteen and forty-five eligible, but I expect many