Col. George H. Gordon made it clear right from the start that he was patterning his volunteer regiment upon the Regular Army. His second-in-command, Lt. Col. George L. Andrews--like Gordon a West Point graduate--understood and supported Gordon's position. They believed that an effective fighting unit could not be run in the "militia fashion" and retain its discipline. It took the young, green officers of the regiment some time to learn the wisdom of this military philosophy.

Gordon's proposed commissioned officers found great fault with Gordon's selection of Wilder Dwight to be the Major of the 2nd Massachusetts. No doubt there were those among them who felt that THEY would have been a far better choice for this plum position. At any rate, they were quite put out that they had not been consulted in the process and sent Gordon a letter that "respectfully" remonstrated against the appointment on the following grounds:

"...That the regiment, though it had received the written promise of immediate acceptance from the Sec. of War, was stated as a Massachusetts Militia Regiment, the officers to be appointed under the election laws of the state...therefore we think that although we have been and are willing to waive certain rights, which are ours by law, still the appointment of so important an officer as a Major is of too much consequence to us individually not to wish to be consulted in the choice.

The wish and expectations of those who joined this regiment were that we should be led by men of military experience. We had hoped that if no professional soldier could be found to fill the office of Major, that some civilian whose years and established reputation for conduct & judgment would command our confidence might be selected.

We do not wish to be understood as objecting to Mr. Dwight on any other ground than that he is too young and inexperienced for us to be able to entrust our lives and the lives of the men under our command into his hands with that confidence we have a right to feel in our superior officers in time of war."

The letter was signed by Greely Curtis, Samuel Quincy, Charles Loring, Richard Goodwin, William Williams, George Bangs, Charles Morse and James Ellis.

Gordon was in something of a bind. Dwight would not have been his first choice as Major, but the energetic and enthusiastic young lawyer had so attached himself to the success of the raising if the 2nd Massachusetts, that Gordon felt obligated to reward his efforts. On the other hand, this situation provided him with a timely opportunity to teach his new officers a much needed lesson. There could be only ONE commander in the regiment. The Army was not a democracy where decisions were made by popular vote. Everyone, including the officers, needed to be taught to obey and carry out orders, even those they did not agree with.

For his part, Dwight, who was made aware of the letter, wrote one of his own. "I make no claim to any position in the regiment," he told Gordon. "I make no criticism upon the capacity of other gentlemen to positions to which they have been called as I understand by your designation." At that same time, he could not see how any choice but Gordon's could be accepted. Given this, he was willing, at Gordon's request, to "retire from the Reg't," to spare the Colonel any embarrassment.

Gordon's reply to the officers is not recorded, but the results speak for themselves. Wilder Dwight remained as the regiment's Major. If the officers had thought there was safety in numbers they were quickly dissauded of this notion. They grudgingly accepted Gordon's edict, all except Loring, who resigned his position. "There can hardly be that reciprocal cordiality of sentiment necessary for harmonious action," he explained to Gordon, and acknowledged that he had "misunderstood the plan upon which the regiment was to be organized."

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