This letter was written by Emeline (Hall) Rockwell, the wife of Charles William Rockwell (1799-1866) of Abington, Connecticut. Emiline wrote the letter to Connecticut Senator James Dixon (1814-1873) requesting that he intercede on behalf of her son Charles Hall Rockwell (b. 1826) in gaining a desired permanent aide’s position on Gen. Slocum’s staff.
TRANSCRIPTION
Hartford [Connecticut]
November 19th 1862
My dear Sir,
Presuming on your long acquaintance with my husband and his brother, Mr. John Arnold Rockwell, I venture to address you this note.
You may not be aware that my eldest son, Charles Hall Rockwell, is serving as quarter master’s clark at the Headquarters of Gen’l Slocum (12th Army Corps). He is very desirous of obtaining a permanent position, and being qualified for the discharge of responsible duties, Gen’l [Henry Warner] Slocum made application to the War Department for his appointment as aide. The Laws of Congress, as you are aware, limit the action of fellow officers in this matter, and under the appointment of a civilian almost impossible. To obviate these difficulties it was desired that my son should obtain a commission as Asst. Quarter Master with the rank of Captain which would enable the General to detail him for special service. With this in view, he was introduced by some influential gentlemen from New York at the war Department and, Mr. Tucker, having read his letters of recommendation, promised to do all in his power to bring the matter before the Secretary.
As some time has elapsed and no action has been taken, my son felt that a word from some responsible and influential member of Congress would have more weight with Mr. [Edwin] Stanton than the many written endorsements of character and qualifications on which his application was based. Learning that I was to visit Hartford, he requested me to ask this favor of you and anything that you may be able to do to aid him in serving his country will be gratefully recognized by Mr. Rockwell, and,
yours respectfully, — E. Rockwell
Hon. James Dixon
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