September 18, 1861.
I had the pleasantest time, yesterday, that I have had this
long while. General Lander's Brigade, including the Twentieth Regiment,
Massachusetts Volunteers, was on the march from Washington to Poolsville; they
were to pass within about two miles of our camp, so Captain Curtis and I got
permission to go off and see them. It was the first time I had left camp except
for picket or other duty, since I left Camp Andrew; it seemed very much of a
holiday. We met the Twentieth after about three-quarters of an hour's march. I
tell you we were glad to see so many good fellows; at least a dozen of them
were intimate friends; Charley Pierson, the Adjutant, Bill Bartlett, Caspar
Crowninshield, John Putnam, Harry Tremlett, and lots of others. They were all
looking well, dusty and sunburnt. Captain Schmidt seemed very glad to see me;
he was very unchanged. After walking a mile or two with them, we returned to
camp well pleased with our visit. Poolsville, where they are now encamped, is
seven miles from us.
I have just made me a delicious cup of black coffee; it will
keep me awake the rest of the night, I think, as it is now near one. I have
been on court-martial for the last two or three days; Rufus Choate was Judge
Advocate. The way we put cases through would have astonished a police court.
Captain Curtis went on to Washington, to-night, to rectify
an error in the date of pay roll; he will be back some time to-morrow or next
day. General McClellan is going to review General Banks' division Tuesday. It
will be a great sight, if they can find a good place for it; fifteen thousand
troops marching company front. Ellis has been made brigade commissary, a
regular staff appointment. Sedgwick has received an appointment on some staff
with the rank of major. Lieutenant Howard and Tom Robeson have been made signal
officers, and are detached. Copeland has gone on to Banks' staff, and there is
some talk of making Charley Horton or Steve Perkins ordnance officers of this
division, so you see our roster of officers is quite reduced. If anybody is
wanted for any purpose in this division, our regiment is sure to be called on
to supply him; it is complimentary to us, to be sure, but it makes it rather
hard for the rest. You asked me, in a letter some time ago, if I was trying to
get a commission in the regular army. Not a bit of it! I shall try for one some
of these days, likely, but not till I have seen some service. I should not care
for anything less than a captaincy in the regular army, and it will be a good
while before I can expect that. I suppose you notice by my talk that I don't
think we have a short war before us; the more I think of it, the more I think
it will be a long one. I saw a list of Tom Stevenson's officers, the other day.
There are several very good companies, Bob Clark's, Bob Steve's and some others.
Captain Robert Williams, General Banks' Assistant
Adjutant-General, has got a furlough from the regular army, and is going to
take command of the cavalry regiment now raising in Massachusetts; rather
singular that he, a Virginian, should be the Colonel of a regiment raised to
fight his own State. He is a very fine officer, and I should think would be
much liked; his present rank is that of captain.
You will hardly believe it when I tell you that the men of
our regiment look better now as regards their rifles, accoutrements and dress,
than they did at Camp Andrew. At dress parades and inspections, we insist on
every man having his shoes and belts shining bright with blacking, also on
every button and bit of brass about their firelock being polished, and, if on
drawing the rammer from the barrel, there is enough rust or dirt on it to soil
a white glove, the man who owns it is obliged to clean it (the rifle),
immediately after parade, to the satisfaction of his officer. Their clothes are
considerably worn, but the general effect is far better than ever before. We
have earned the name of the “stuck up” Massachusetts Regiment, which amuses us
considerably. Others think we cannot get along well with our men, as they never
see them sitting around in our tents smoking and joking with us and enjoying
themselves generally, as they are allowed to do in some regiments. We let them
think so.
SOURCE: Charles Fessenden Morse, Letters Written
During the Civil War, 1861-1865, p. 22-4
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