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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