I have also received the same satisfactory reports from other sources, and concurring in the foregoing suggestions of Major J. P. Roy, I must respectfully recommend that Major M. R. Delany be, for the present, retained in the service of the United States. I have ordered his muster out to be postponed until a reply is received to this communication.
I have the honor to remain, general,
Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
(Signed) D. E. Sickles,
Major General Commanding.
To Brig. Gen. E. D. Townsend, A. A. G., War Dept.
Headquarters. Department of South Carolina,
Charleston, S. C., January 31, 1866.
Official.
W. L. M. Burger,
Brevet Lt. Col. & A. A. G.
Copy furnished Major M. R. Delany for his information.
This was soon after followed by one demonstrative of the liberality of the major general commanding, showing the great distance he had cast from him his early Tammany Hall political education, recognizing only the true and broad republican principles of our better civilization. It redounds to his credit, and is another evidence of the impartial justice of the great secretary of war in affairs of the government, and appreciation of merit in its officers, regardless of former notions which seemed to underlie the basis of its principles. This order is fully explanatory of the retention of the black major in the service so long.