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- Aug 27, 2011
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- Central Massachusetts
Massachusetts' Adjutant General William Schouler published A History of Massachusetts in the Civil War, in 1868. In Vol. I, p. 621, we find the following account:
"We find on the files of the Governor several letters from Secretary Seward, in regard to certain men who came to Boston from Belgium and other countries on the continent of Europe, and enlisted in Massachusetts regiments. These men were brought here in steamers by a Boston firm, partly from patriotic motives, and partly for speculative purposes. There were about a thousand altogether. The men, before coming on board the vessels, signed papers pledging themselves to enter into employment, the nature of which was not clearly stated in the papers which they signed; but it was stated by the firm referred to, that the men understood that they were to enlist as soldiers. Upon their arrival in Boston, these men, with a few exceptions, did enter the volunteer service, and were mustered in by the United-States mustering officers. Their passages to this country cost them nothing; but the parties who brought them here were remunerated for their outlay by the State paying them the bounties provided by law, which amounted to three hundred and twenty-five dollars to each man, which made the speculation a profitable one. These men were brought here in the year 1864. After they had enlisted, and were mustered into the service, some of them complained that they had been deceived, and that they had been forced into the army against their will, and had been brought to this country by false representations. It is not our purpose to decide whether these complaints were just or not: it is sufficient to say that they were made, and were brought to the attention of Secretary Seward by the gentlemen representing the governments to which these men belonged, and by him to the attention of Governor Andrew. The correspondence shows very clearly, that no blame could properly be attached to the State Government, or to the United- States officers who had mustered them into the service. It appears that the explanations made by Governor Andrew, and the mercantile firm who had brought the men to this country, were satisfactory, as none of the men were discharged from the service ; and, after a while, the controversy ceased.
"We have always regarded the enlistment of these foreigners as unfortunate, as it reflected in some degree upon the patriotism of the people of Massachusetts, and afforded to the enemies of the Commonwealth an opportunity for disparaging remarks. It was the only transaction during the war, connected with the enlistment of men to fill the quota of the State, which required explanation, and which was of questionable propriety."
I know there were many charges of the U.S. hiring "mercenaries" overseas. I suspect these rumors were the result of such "private enterprise". And, I woner how many more such instances there were in other states.
Cheers!
jno
"We find on the files of the Governor several letters from Secretary Seward, in regard to certain men who came to Boston from Belgium and other countries on the continent of Europe, and enlisted in Massachusetts regiments. These men were brought here in steamers by a Boston firm, partly from patriotic motives, and partly for speculative purposes. There were about a thousand altogether. The men, before coming on board the vessels, signed papers pledging themselves to enter into employment, the nature of which was not clearly stated in the papers which they signed; but it was stated by the firm referred to, that the men understood that they were to enlist as soldiers. Upon their arrival in Boston, these men, with a few exceptions, did enter the volunteer service, and were mustered in by the United-States mustering officers. Their passages to this country cost them nothing; but the parties who brought them here were remunerated for their outlay by the State paying them the bounties provided by law, which amounted to three hundred and twenty-five dollars to each man, which made the speculation a profitable one. These men were brought here in the year 1864. After they had enlisted, and were mustered into the service, some of them complained that they had been deceived, and that they had been forced into the army against their will, and had been brought to this country by false representations. It is not our purpose to decide whether these complaints were just or not: it is sufficient to say that they were made, and were brought to the attention of Secretary Seward by the gentlemen representing the governments to which these men belonged, and by him to the attention of Governor Andrew. The correspondence shows very clearly, that no blame could properly be attached to the State Government, or to the United- States officers who had mustered them into the service. It appears that the explanations made by Governor Andrew, and the mercantile firm who had brought the men to this country, were satisfactory, as none of the men were discharged from the service ; and, after a while, the controversy ceased.
"We have always regarded the enlistment of these foreigners as unfortunate, as it reflected in some degree upon the patriotism of the people of Massachusetts, and afforded to the enemies of the Commonwealth an opportunity for disparaging remarks. It was the only transaction during the war, connected with the enlistment of men to fill the quota of the State, which required explanation, and which was of questionable propriety."
I know there were many charges of the U.S. hiring "mercenaries" overseas. I suspect these rumors were the result of such "private enterprise". And, I woner how many more such instances there were in other states.
Cheers!
jno
Bringing the