Camp On Seneca Creek, July 5, 1863.
Yesterday our teamsters brought rumours of the battle of
July 3d and of our immense success, and all day we have been waiting anxiously
for the papers; — at length they have come, with Meade's despatch and Lincoln's
proclamation. I hope, before this, you had news in New York which will be
comforting to your Mother and will make her feel that all is not lost, even for
this year. As it now stands, what has been done makes me only the more anxious
about what is to come, — the decisive battle is yet to be fought. It seems to
me out of the question that after these heavy rains, with bad roads and a river
behind him rapidly rising, Lee should dare to retire without another trial, and
if the newspaper account is true, Meade's line is much longer and weaker to-day
than during the fight of Friday. What croaking this will sound, if your papers
have a glorious victory the morning you get this letter. Never mind, I feel a
little like croaking, — or rather, perhaps, I feel a good deal perverse and not
inclined to rejoice too much when the papers are rejoicing, — you know how
perverse I always am with newspapers. Perhaps, too, I am a little more perverse
than usual because I am vexed at having to remain here when there is so much
going on close by. I almost wish I was back a captain in the Sixth: however, I
have done all I dare to get away, and I must e'en bide my time. You must not be
disappointed; I suppose there will come a time when the Regiment will have a
chance.
SOURCE: Edward Waldo Emerson, Life and Letters of
Charles Russell Lowell, p. 272-3
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