We are in for the
fight at last and we will carry it thro' like men. One week ago to-day appeared
the President's proclamation calling on the states for troops. To-day
Washington is cared for, Fort Monroe garrisoned, and the route to Washington
held open. Never in my whole life have I seen anything approaching in the
slightest degree to the excitement and the enthusiasm of the past week.
Everything excepting the war is forgotten, business is suspended, the streets
are filled with people, drilling is seen on all sides and at all times. Our
Massachusetts troops were poured into Boston within 12 to 24 hours after the
command was issued from here, and were the first to go on and the first to shed
blood. May the devil catch those Baltimorean rioters, the cowards! On the 19th
April, the anniversary of the Lexington fight, our first men were shot in
Baltimore.
But you should have
seen the troops, Jimmy: real, clean-cut, intelligent Yankees, the same men who
fought in '76, a thousand times better than any soldiers living. They left
their wives and children in some cases without a farewell, and marched thro'
to Washington. We've been told of our degeneracy for years and years: I
tell you, Jim, no more heartfelt enthusiasm or devotion was to be found in '76
than now. Everyone is longing to go. One man walked 100 miles to join a
volunteer company raised and gone between Wednesday and Sunday. Two thousand
Irish volunteers have been raised in Boston, besides many companies of
Americans and Germans and French. One hundred Germans put their names down as
volunteers in a half-hour at a small meeting which was held Friday. Money is
forthcoming, everyone is making clothes for the troops. Yesterday sailed
from N.Y. 5000 troops (1200 from here, commanded by one of my classmates); they
say 500,000 people were present to see them march down Broadway and sail. That
famous N.Y. 7th regiment is holding the R.R. to Washington from Annapolis. A
regiment of 800 N.Y. firemen has been raised in two or three days, and will go
as skirmishers to-morrow or to-day. The Ohio troops are in Washington, and the
Westerners are coming on perfectly wild. Every slave-state has refused
troops; we do not want them. The Southern army is, they say, well-drilled: we
may lose at first, but they will be wiped out from the face of the earth in the
end. We want arms sadly; those villains have stolen everything that they could
find in our armories and arsenals. And for us — George will, I hope and trust,
finish his house at Lenox before moving . . . father is of course too old. I
have been laid up all winter with a sprained foot, which is still weak, but I
'll go if I can march possibly. I've committed myself to a regiment of
volunteers to be raised and drilled in our harbor before going. It is the best
way, if they are not wanted immediately, for then a disciplined body of active
troops will be opposed to the enemy, instead of raw recruits. Jim Savage will
go in this regiment as an officer. This foot has been a great nuisance to me
for months, and now may prevent my going, for a lame man will not be accepted.
And now, Jim, you must decide for yourself whether you'll return just yet or
not; you might wait a few months to advantage. There will be little business in
any way for beginners until the war is over, I suppose: the first quota is gone
and the second will be off also before you can reach here. Then will come much
drilling and preparation for the future: the war will, I fancy, be very severe,
but of short duration. You might get all possible information as to the muskets
and rifles with sword-bayonets to be got in each country, Germany, France and
England; we must import from Europe to meet our immediate wants. Send this
letter to Johnny with my love: I 've not time to write him to-day and he'll
want to know of these things. Father is very well indeed and drills hard, with
a view to teaching others — as also Frank. Father gets dreadfully excited;
indeed so does everyone. My best love to you, Jimmy.
Yrs.
H.
SOURCE: Life and
letters of Henry Lee Higginson, p. 142-3
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