Camp of Instruction
Benton Barrack
Sept. 19, 1861
Major J. C. Kelton1
Asst. Adt Genl
Sir
The matter of a Company of Sappers and minors raised in Illinois Commanded by Capt. Snyder has been referred to me, with direction to ascertain whether fraud had been practised to prevent the Company from joining Col Bissels Regiment and if so to dispose of them according to the justice of the matter.
The Company was and is divided in Counsils on several questions, but the matters in dispute did not so much refer to their regiment as to the kind of duty they would have to perform. They have been tampered with and to some extent deceived as to their duties by being told Sappers mean one thing Engineers another and Soldiers another. They are generally Mechanics and hope as such to be employed. I have told them as far as the Service would allow they would be so employed but the first thing they have to do is to learn military duty. Upon this injunction they have now settled down to drill and duty. If the regiment called Engineers is to be specially devoted to Mechanical persuits it would be well to attach them to that regiment. If otherwise they could and should remain as the regular Sappers and Minors are, an independent or Separate organization to do mechanical work similar to that done by such corps in the U States Service. They were mustered as Sappers and Minors. The law relating to volunteers authorizes the organization “as in the regular service” and under this clause I can find the only legal authority for carrying out the expectations and promises made to this Company (See Sec 2 Page 21 Statutes 37th Congress) Finding no evidence of fraud towards anybody but finding the company mustered as sappers and minors I report the facts.
Very Respectfully
Your Obt Sert.
Saml. R. Curtis
Camp of Instruction
1. John C. Kelton, U. S. Military Academy, 1851, brvt capt. by May 1861, Capt. Aug. 3, 1861, Col. 9 Missouri Inf. Sept. 19, 1861, Kelton rose in rank after the close of the war to that of brig gen adjt. gen. by 1880.