Benjamnin F. Butler, Butler's Book: Autobiography and Personal Reminiscences of Major-General Benjamin Butler

[165] warrants of the governor, which may be drawn from time to time, for such amounts, not exceeding in the aggregate one hundred thousand dollars, as in the judgment of the governor, by and with the consent of the council, may be necessary for the public service: Provided, that no part of this sum shall be expended for services or objects for which there are or may be subsisting appropriations contained in any act or resolve which has been or may be passed at the present session of the General Court; and an account shall be rendered to the next General Court, on or before the 15th day of January next, of the manner in which said fund, or any part thereof, has been disbursed.

This act shall take effect upon its passage.

Although not a member of the legislature, I was present in that secret session, and gave such testimony as I had. That emergency bill was passed on the 5th of February, appropriating a hundred thousand dollars as an emergency fund to put the militia in proper readiness for war.

Colonel Jones went with me to tell the governor that his regiment and my brigade, while in as good condition as any other part of the militia, were in such plight that they could not march out of the State, that the men had only holiday uniforms, and must be furnished with overcoats, knapsacks, haversacks, blankets, and other needed equipments for camping. The governor said: “Put that information in writing.” Whereupon Colonel Jones wrote this able and opportune letter:--

Boston, Feb. 5, 1861.
to his excellency the commander-in-chief:

At our interview this morning, you requested me to put the matter which I wished to communicate in writing. In accordance therewith, I make the following statement as to the condition of my command, and take the liberty to forward the same directly to you, passing over the usual channel of communication for want of time.

The Sixth Regiment consists of eight companies, located as follows, viz.: Four in Lowell, two in Lawrence, one in Acton, and one in Boston, made up mostly of men of families, “who earn their bread by the sweat of their brow,” men who are willing to leave their homes, families, and all that man holds dear, and sacrifice their present and future as a matter of duty.

Four companies of the regiment are insufficiently armed (as to quantity) with a serviceable rifle musket; the other four with the old musket,