Letter from Louis Wagner to C. W. Foster Regarding the 6th Regiment
9/17/1863
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Lieutenant Colonel Louis Wagner, 88th Division of Pennsylvania Volunteers, Commander Camp William Penn, sent this letter to Major C.W. Foster, Assistant-Adjutant General of Volunteers for the Bureau for Colored Troops. It provided an update on the 6th Regiment of the United States Colored Troops. Wagner also requested permission to parade a regiment throughout Philadelphia, and wrote that Mayor Henry admitted that he had mistaken his fears about such a parade.
Transcript
21Feeling that I had done injustice to the men and officers of the 3rd Regt. in not reporting cases similar to the above in that regiment. I have demimonde to bring all such officers to the notice of the Department in the hope that they may be deprived of the commissions
I do not know whether this man has been before the Board of Examiners or not but am satisfied that his letters prove him unfit for any position in the service
I have that honor to be
Very Respectfully
Your obt Servant
Signed Louis Wagner
Lt Col 88th Regt Pa
Comg Camp William Penn
Head Quarters Camp William Penn
Chelten Hill Pa.
Sept 14th 1863
Major CW Foster
Chief of Bureau for Colored Troops
Washington DC
Sir
I take pleasure in reporting the completion of the 6th Regt. of Col’d Troops, also that Eight men from 9th Dist. Pa. have arrived and have been placed in Co A of the new regiment. What will be the number of this regiment?
From information received I am led to suppose that at least one and very probably two companies of this regiment will be filled this week. You will see the necessity of providing officers for the same at once.
Meaning that the 6th Regt may be ordered away not fully officers I append a list of the officers reported for duty
Lieut L Hosfild Quartermaster
1st " Chase York Co A Actg Adjutant
Capt Robert B Beath Co A
1st Lieut George E Heath - D
" " Aaron N Buckman - F
" " James Woodard “ R (updated Sept 13 63)
2nd Lieut Man J Chamberlain "C
" " Willard R Hammond "E
" " Fredrick Meyer "B
" " Eber C Pratt "G
" "F B Johnson "D
Officers have always been assigned to the companies last completed. Co's H & I are commanded by Sergeants detailed by Gen Cadwallader. One of whom, Sergt Harry Card, is an applicant for Remission to
appear before the examining Board (illegible) is an active persuading young officer and I hope he will have an early appointing of appearing before the Board.
I would ask permission to parade this regiment through Philadelphia after it is fully officered and previous to its departure for the seat of war.
Many of the most prominent citizens are anxious for such a parade; the idea of a riot is scouted as Even Mayor Henry admitting that he had mistaken his fears and it is conceded on all sides that the result would be a good one. As this parade would stimulate enlistments and in other ways assist us in our labors I trust the Department will grant the desires permission.
I remain
Very Respectfully
Your Obt servant
signed Louis Wagner
Lt Col Comg Camp
Head Quarters Camp William Penn
Chelten Hills
September. 17th 1863.
Capt. William B. Lane
Sir.
To prevent mistake I here with send a complete list of all officers reported to the 6th Regt. U.S.C Troops with the date of their appointments also the date of their acceptance, and letters of the occupancies to which I have assigned there.
[table]
Letter | Names | Rank | Date of acceptance | Date of acceptance
A. | Robert B Beath | Capt | Aug 26th 1863 | Aug 29th 1863
" | Charles V. York | 1st " Lieut | " 8 " | " 11 "
B. | Fredrick Moyer | 2nd " " | " 18 " | " 22 "
C. | Daniel M Dill | Capt. | Sept. 1st " | Sept.12. "
" | Maro J Chamberlain | 2nd " Lieut | Aug. 1. " | Aug. 10. "
D. | George E. Heath | 1st " | " 8. " | " 22. "
" | John B. Johnson | 2nd " " | Sept 2. " | Sept. 3 "
E | Willard R. Hammond | " " | Aug. 12. " | Aug 21. "
F. | Aaron A. Buckwan | 1st " | " 18. " | " 25. "
" | Daniel K. Healey | 2nd " | " 28 " | Sept. 8. "
G. | Eber. C. Pratt | " " | " 19 " | Aug. 20. "
H. | Nathan H. Edgarton | 1st " | Sept. 10. " | Sept. 14. "
" | Robert. N. Verplanek | 2nd " | " 9. " | " 15. "
I. | Alonzo W. Grow. | " " | Aug. 1. " | " 12. "
K | Jame Woodward | 1st " | " 28. " | " 2. "
This primary source comes from the Records of the Provost Marshal General's Bureau (Civil War).
National Archives Identifier: 81214813
Full Citation: Letter from Louis Wagner to C. W. Foster Regarding the 6th Regiment of United States Colored Troops; 9/17/1863; Letters Sent July 1863 to August 1864; Letters Sent, 7/23/1863 - 6/10/1865; Records of the Provost Marshal General's Bureau (Civil War), Record Group 110; National Archives at Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA. [Online Version, https://www.docsteach.org/documents/document/wagner-foster-6th-regiment, June 20, 2025]Rights: Public Domain, Free of Known Copyright Restrictions. Learn more on our privacy and legal page.
