1862 LETTER COL. HENRY BOWMAN 36th MASS. VOL's. FREDERICKSBURG to MASS. GOVERNOR For Sale

We are offering a letter dated Nov. 22, 1862 (3 weeks before the ill-fated Battle of Fredericksburg) from "Col. Henry Bowman, Headquarters 36th Massachusetts Volunteers, Near Fredericksburg, Va". The letter is to Massachusetts Governor John A. Andrew in Boston. Colonel Bowman is recommending Serg't. S. Alonzo Ranlett, Co. B of Charlestown, Massachusetts for the position of 1st Lieut. in place of T. Sibley Heald who had resigned.
Col. Bowman writes, "Serg't. Ranlett is a good soldier, thoroughly drilled, and in my opinion one of the best sergents in the Regiment. In making this recommendation, I do it with a view of placing him in the position of Adjutant, for which he is well qualified, the Regiment today having an acting Adjutant, that naturally increases my own labors. Although I have the greatest respect for the 1st and 2nd Lieutenants of the Regiments and consider them worthy officers, yet the office of Adjutant is one which must not only combine the several qualities of a soldier, but a good penman and accountant, points which are requisite and indispensable.
I should take pleasure in recommending 2nd Lieut. Wm. H. Hodgkins, lately commissioned by Your Excellency, for promotion, he being the one I originally desired as Adjutant, were it not for the past four weeks he has been an inmate of the Hospital, and the probabilities are that he will soon leave the service. I remain, Your Excellency's Obedient Servant, Henry Bowman, Col."
The letter passed through two hands before reaching the governor, as follows. Written on the back is "Refd. [referred] to Col. Ritchie, J.A.A., Headquarters 3rd Brigade 1st Division 9th Army Corps. Camp near Fredericksburg, Va. Nov. 22, 1862". Beneath this is the approval by Col. Daniel Leasure of Ranlett's appointment - "Believing that the within asked appointment is one in every way fit and proper to be made and that the appointment would be of benefit of the service, it is most cordiallyapprovedand respectfully forwarded [to the governor, we assume]". Signed "Daniel Leasure, Col. Commanding Brigade". **NOTE** - the 36th Regiment Massachusetts Volunteers participated in the Battle of Fredericksburg, which had devasting consequences for the Union troops.