Maj. Memminger, A.A. Genl. Dept.
On May 19th a howitzer of the Appeal Battery was ordered from Gen’l Hebert’s line on the left of the Jackson Road to take position in Gen’l Shoup’s lines. The officer in charge of the gun was killed as he was putting the gun in position & Gen’l Shoup placed the gun in charge of Lieut. Herren of Wade’s Battery. A few days since Lt. Herren gave the detachment belonging to the gun a six days leave of absence. Upon their going back to report to their gun & draw their rations, they were informed by a lieutenant of McNally’s Battery, who had succeeded Lieut. Herren in command of the gun, Lieut. Herren being wounded, that they were relieved & that his men had charge of the gun.
Again, on last Wednesday a 3-in. rifle gun also belonging to the Appeal Battery was ordered to take position on Col. Dockery’s line. I sent the gun over that night. My men succeeded in getting it in position by morning & when the sergeant in charge of the gun reported to Col. Dockery to receive instructions, Col. Dockery ordered him to camp, informed him that some of the men of his brigade would man the gun. I have thus had 2 of my detachments relieved from duty on their own guns & men who had lost their guns in previous battles assigned to them instead. I would therefore, Major, respectfully protest against since unjust treatment of my men. They have fully proven themselves competent to use a gun & have always nobly performed their duty whenever called upon & they as well as the officers feel very sensibly the imputation that such treatment insinuates. Hoping then, Major, that my men will be allowed to take charge of their own guns again, I am
Your very obt. servt.,
R. COTTEN,
Lieut. Comdg. Appeal Battery.