Hagerstown, Maryland, July 11, 1861.
If any one supposes that an advance under pressure to join
General Patterson's column is fun, let him try it. From Boston, as soon as we
got the train, all went well. At New York, on the whole, everything was warm,
but cheerful. We gave them a show in the Park, and made our speeches. But
best of all was our prompt and orderly embarkation at the wharf, and our start
for Harrisburg and Hagerstown. Luck, however, did not follow us beyond New
York. We spent in the cars, on our way to Hagerstown, nearly thirty-six hours,
— more than twice too long. But, per contra, discipline was maintained,
and every man found himself fed, and in as good shape as possible. Here we are.
Our band filled the town with its music at five o'clock this morning. The
advance train, in which I was, arrived at one o'clock. We are in the midst of
preparation to commence our march upon Martinsburg, where we join General
Patterson. I do not think there will be any fighting immediately, — others
think otherwise; but to-day's rumors show Johnson falling back to Winchester.
Unless he does voluntarily, he must per force. We ford the Potomac, and I am
impatient to feel, with my horses' hoofs, the sacred soil of Virginia. I have
been very well, notwithstanding the intense heat. Saw William in New York, and
he helped me a good deal. You would laugh to see how our pretty things are
getting spoiled with the service.
Our present position and duty cannot be regarded otherwise
than as a high compliment. With other regiments almost on the spot, we are
called to the post most threatened, and we are called from a distance, too. It
shows that, somehow or other, we have got a reputation. Excuse haste and all
incoherency.
I was sorry not to see you more on the Common, but it was
best to cut short the parting. Give warm love to father and all the boys, and
every one else. God bless you all.
SOURCE: Elizabeth Amelia Dwight, Editor, Life and
Letters of Wilder Dwight: Lieut.-Col. Second Mass. Inf. Vols., p. 45-6
No comments:
Post a Comment