Martin, William James
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"Camp Lamb"
Wilmington
July 21st / 62
Dear Governor
The leave of absence for one year, granted me by the Trustees of
the University, to enable me to take
command of a company raised for that period, is approaching its end.
As is known to you, all the troops have now been converted into troops
"for the war;" and I have been transferred from my Captaincy
in the 28th to the Lieut-Colonelcy of the 11th Reg't.
Under these circumstances it again becomes necessary for me to refer my case to
the Trustees, and I must ask you if you please to lay it before the Executive Committee.
If my services were more needed in the
Army than in
College a year ago, much more it seems
to me are they needed in the
army now, when so many officers have been killed,
& when the enemy are augmenting their force by the addition of 300.000
men.
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But these facts are as well known to the
Trustees as to myself, & to their wisdom I leave the decision,
hoping that they may find it compatible with their views of right to
extend my leave.
I believe you are aware Sir, that personally I would prefer to be at my old post
& engaged in the duties of my profession; and that my desire to
continue "in the service" arises out of the conviction that
the country now needs the aid of every man who can bring an arm to her defence.
Seeing then that I am asking no personal favor, but on the contrary, am going
against what I conceive to be my private interests, & certainly against
my own selfish prefrences, I can with more boldness ask the Trustees to forego for the present their just claims upon my time.
With kindest regards Sir to yourself and my Colleagues of the Faculty
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