Lewis M. Clark to Thomas E. Bramlette

Accession Number

KYR-0001-003-0053

Document Genre

Correspondence

Repository

Kentucky Department for Libraries and Archives

Collection

Office of the Governor, Thomas E. Bramlette: Governor's Official Correspondence File, Military Correspondence, 1863-1867

Item Location

BR5-90-1 to BR5-91

Place of Creation

Mount Sterling, Montgomery County, Kentucky

Date of Creation

8 January 1864

Dates Mentioned

1864-01-08

Private and Confidential.
Head Quarters 45th Reg. Ky. Mtd Inf.
Mt Sterling Ky
Jany 8th 1864.
To his Excellency T. J. Bramlette:
Governor,

My motive for addressing a private communication to you, will be understood and appreciated I trust,. ~~when understood~~

Actuated by a sincere desire to promote the public interest, I have succeeded after much labor and expense, in partially organising and perfecting ready for Service, the 45th Regiment Ky. vols. It is not strange therefore I should feel more than an ordinary interest and pride, in its efficiency, and future Success; and as these will depend mainly, if not wholly upon the character of the officers in command, I desire to Say a few things upon that point, and in a way which shall not in the future, complicate either my personal or official relations with them, nor expose me to the charge of acting through selfish and interested motives.

I stated to you frankly on a former occasion, my opinion as to the incompetency, and unfitness of Major Nathan Brown to fill the position he now holds — I presume that, under the circumstances, you were left no other alternative, than to Commission him — The justness of that opinion is fully Confirmed by the affidavit accompanying this, and to which you are respectfully refered, with a request, that for the present any action in his case be defered

I beg leave now to call you attention to the question, Who shall
be Colonel of the 45th Reg:? I have been informed that John Mason Brown holds a commission to that office — Looking to the good of the service, I could not have chosen a more acceptable Commander, nor one who would be more likely than he, to reflect lustre upon our arms: but does not the constitution of Kentucky require that an election shall be held for Colonel, as in the case of a Major. If this be the case, what must follow, when you are informed that Col. Zigler, formerly of the 5th Virginia Cavalry, has followed the Regiment for a long time, and was this day, by a majority of the Regiment, as I have been informed, electsed Colonel.

While I am not disposed to detract from Col. Zigler, anything he can justly claim, I must be permitted to say, that all hope of securing a well disciplined and useful Regiment, is to my mind at an end, should he be commissioned as its Commander. — His courage is indisputable,and his bearing honorable, but he certainly lacks the capacity of a commander, in all the essential elements of success.

I have now given you briefly, my view of the affairs of this Regiment and if it shall contribute in any degree to its future usefulness, my end will be accomplished; and I must be permitted to say in conclusion, that if the election of Col. Zigler shall be ratified by a commission, I will ask that my resignation be accepted, that I may escape the consequences of a failure, which I think must ensue.

Respectfully Your obt. Servant.
L. M. Clark
Lt Col Comd'g
45" Regt. Ky Vols

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