It was small wonder that this verdict was received with something very like consternation. If it could not be reversed, the destruction of the regiment was certain. For years the men had been schooled in the belief that they were in fact, if not in name, essentially a part of the army of the United States; every enlistment had been made on the understanding that in time of peace faithful service was to be rendered to Massachusetts, in time of war, to the United States. The splendid _esprit de corps_ of the command had been carefully built up upon this supposition, and the men had been taught to believe that the hard training to which they were subjected was intended to fit them for something more than mere parade and ceremony, for something beyond possible riot duty—in short, for something no less serious than the defence of their country in the hour of need. All this was at once made known to Governor Wolcott, who instantly appreciated the disastrous effect of the proposed action, and set himself to the task of finding a remedy. By his direction, Colonel Sohier, A.D.C., of his staff, hurried on to Washington, where by personal effort he succeeded in securing a reversal of the decision first made by General Corbin, who not only accepted the regiment as then organized, but even further directed that its term of service should date from April 26th—thus officially recognizing the command as first in the field for the war. The regimental pay-rolls subsequently were made up from this date, and officers and men were paid accordingly. But though Colonel Sohier was successful in his mission so far as concerned saving the regiment for the national service, it was found impossible to secure permission to recruit the command to war strength, for the absurd reason that to do so would exceed the quota of volunteers allotted to Massachusetts. From a purely technical point of view, this decision seems inexplicable. There was crying need, at the time, for garrison artillery, while it was not expected that any serious demands would be made upon the infantry of the army before autumn; why, then, the proportion was not maintained by recruiting the First, and accepting one of the regiments of Massachusetts infantry temporarily on its peace strength, must always remain beyond the comprehension of those unfortunate enough to have had a professional knowledge of the coast-defence conditions prevailing at the opening of the late war. FROM "M.V.M." TO "U.S.V." VII.