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Regiment: 11th Michigan Cavalry
Battles Mentioned: Abingdon, Virginia
Historical Figures: Austin Blair, Stephen G. Burbridge
Rooms Military Commission,
Private & Confidential
Show to no one
Lexington Ky. Dec 26, 1864.
Major
I have been waiting the course of events
since my return from Michigan hoping to
have something of importance to communicate
but find that I may wait long before I
learn any thing to a certainty. I can therefore
give you nothing but rumors and you can
take them for what they are worth and act
accordingly. Col Brown, Doct Woodman
and myself arrived here on the 19
th ult at
noon. Orders had previously issued from
Head Quarters, directing the 11
th to rendezvous
immediately at Crab Orchard, and the diferent
detachments were then concentrating at that
place. On the morning of the 20
th ult at six
o’clock Col B. & Dr. W started for Crab Orchard
when they met the whole Regt and started
with Gen’l Burbridge & under his command
for Cumberland Gap, Col Brown, Commanding
1
st Brigade 1
st Div. Dept of Ky. The Brigade
consisting of the 11
th Mich, 12
th Ohio, 30
th, 11
th & 12
th
Ky, and our Batery, Major Smith commanding
11
th Mich. I had letters from the Regiment from
time to time till they left the vicinity of the
gap and since then through the papers learn that
the whole command had gone into Virginia
to the Salt Springs, and the last definite accounts
win that they had captured Abbington and
goin on the RR towards Lynchburg taking
Wytheville on the route. Burning RR Bridges &
distroying the track to prevent reinforcements
being sent to Salt ville and wen to attack
that place immediately, this is the last I
have heard of their movements to the date
of last dispatches, next I hear from there
who profess to be posted that Maj. Smith
has been appointed Sr. Col. and Capt Buck
Major of the 11
th and that the appointments
have been forwarded to Mich for Commissions
and I rather think it is so. If such is the
case there is a
nigger in the fence somewhere
for Col B, knows that no greater curse could
be inflicted on the 11
th than to make Smith
Sr Col and he has so repeatedly expressed
that opinion that it does not seem possible
that he has recommended his promotion
for Every Commissioned Officer without our
single
[ ? ] in the regiment, an opposed
to his ever being promoted, his political
principles, his views of Slavery (often wishing
that he could be permitted to hold Slaves in Mich)
his Idea that the strong should govern the weak
and that property should own labor and
other views as abhorent and distasteful to
the few men of Mich. All seemed to forbid
that he should ever rise any higher in rank
his
[ ? ] that men were mere machines
to be controled and groomed by men of superior
intellect and that Soldiers and officers had
no rights that their superiors in rank were
[ ? ] to respect, and which he carried out
when we were at Louisa saying that when he
[ ? ] an order if he knew it was wrong it should
be obeyed if it sent the regt to the devil his
contemptuous treatment of the respectful request
signed by every line officer (except two) to modify
an order issued by him, has so inbittered the
officers against him that it does not seem
possible to me that the Col. Knowing all these
things should ever think of recommending him
for promotion. If it has been done, the same
argument must have prevailed that prevented
his first appointment in the regiment, and
I do not believe Gov. Blair, or Gov Crapo
would commission him as St Col of the Regt
if they knew the feelings of the officers and
Soldiers of the 11
th as well as you and I do
and if the officers have an opportunity of doing
so they will earnestly protest against it
If Capt Buck is appointed Major as reported
I think no one will find any fault, for he is
well liked by all so far as I know and is
competent to fill the position and his principles
are orthodox, besides as the protege of Col Mason
the plan would be willingly awarded him as
a man of respect to the memory of that officer
But you and every other officer knows that
Col Mason had a perfect contempt for Smith
both on account of his known principles, as well
as for his entire lack of every principle that
should adorn and govern a gentleman and
an officer. The majors
[ ? ] of being an un
married man so long persisted in, and siding and
flirting with the young ladies until they learned
that he had a wife and child, and found themselves
the objects of ridicule to them of their neighbors
who had also learned the facts, did not tend
to rain the officers of the 11
th in the estimation
of the people at Louisa and is yet spoken of
them as an insult to their best families with
whom he thus asociated, and was a matter
that disgusted Col Mason & every other right
thinking Officer in the Reg another thing
his habit of drinking (if reports are correct, for
I never saw him drunk but once) should be a
bar to his promotion which should never
be overlooked, I could go on and enumerate
reasons and all good and true reasons why
that man should not be promoted, and yet
if reports are true he is recommended (if not
already appointed) for the Sr Col, y, of the 11
th
Mich Cav, The thing is disgusting and
nausating and I will not pursue the subject
further, to you who know all and more than
what I have written to be true, and if you
can solve the motive power which brings about
such a result, do so for “Gods sake” and tell
me what it is. I leave the subject for your
consideration
When the Regiment left here I was detached
and ordered to act as Judge Advocate of the
Military Commission for this Department and
have been acting in that Capacity to the present
time. how long the Commission will sit I
do not know we are trying Spies, guerrillas
&c, it has kept me very busy drawing
charges & specifications and trying cases, but
there is a lull during the Holy days, there
passed I expect to go to work again. When
do you expect to return to the regiment I hope
before long. Write me immediately what
you think of matters & things, and oblige
Your Friend
W H Miles, Sr & QM
Major H L Wise
11th Mich Cav
11
th Mich Cav
J.A. Mil Com
Detroit Mich
