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Head Quarters 20th Maine Vols In the field July 21st 1863

His Excellency Abner Coburn Governor of Maine Dear Governor

I embrace a rare opportunity -- namely a days halt within a few miles of our baggage -- to write you in reference to the affairs of our Regt in which I am well aware you feel the deepest interest.

In the first place, allow me to thank you for the honor you have done me in entrusting to my care this noble Regiment. I trust I shall be always worthy of the confidence you have thus placed in me. I consider it an officer's first duty to look after the welfare of his men. To this he is bound no less by the responsibility which the arbitrary nature of his power imposes, than by the regard he should have to the interests of the service in which he is engaged. My experience in several trying campaigns has taught me that the way to ensure the efficiency of the army is to keep the men in