Wednesday, November 12, 2014

Captain Charles Russell Lowell to Anna Jackson Lowell, September 9, 1861

Camp Near Bladensburg, Sept. 9, '61.

You see I am at Washington first, after all. I was ordered from Rochester, August 31st, the order stating that my company was ready to organize and march at once. The first train from Rochester was September 2d, and on reaching Pittsburg I found that my company had gone forward under a lieutenant — that the camp at Pittsburg was broken up, and a new camp formed at Bladensburg. I went on with Lieutenant-Colonel Emory, overtook the company at Baltimore — took command of the detachment (230, and 44 horses) and brought them into camp Wednesday at midnight, in a pouring rain, without tents or great coats. Fortunately it was very warm, and nobody has suffered. We got our tents on Friday afternoon.

We have about 650 men now in camp, and 44 horses — besides team horses. Only two companies have arms. The horses are assigned to my Company; this makes the labour greater at first, but pleases the men.

SOURCE: Edward Waldo Emerson, Life and Letters of Charles Russell Lowell, p. 218-9

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