Washington City, October 10, 1862.

HENRY FAIRMAN, Stockholm, Sweden:

SIR: The Secretary of War directs me to acknowledge the receipt of your communication of the 13th of September, representing that there is a great desire existing in Sweden for emigration to this country and enlistment in the Army of the United States, and proposing to assist this inclination on their part, provided the Government will defray the expenses of their passage and make the bounty payable to you immediately on the arrival and enlistment of the emigrants in New York City.

In reply, I am instructed by the Secretary to inform you that the soldiers of our Army are recruited from among our own citizens, and that, while all foreigners are welcomed to our shores, and will be permitted to enlist, if they desire to do so, upon an equal footing with our citizens, the Government does not deem it expedient to procure enlistments in a foreign country, or to furnish transportation with the understanding, express or implied, that the emigrants will enlist on their arrival here (nudge, nudge, wink, wink).

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

P. H. WATSON,
Assistant Secretary of War.