camp Hicks, near Frederick, December 20, 1861.
It was only the immediate pressure of another topic that
crowded out the mention of the arrival of the box of shirts and drawers, &c.,
from Mrs. Ticknor. They were equally distributed among the men needing them
most. They were most gladly welcomed. In size, shape, and substance, they are
all we could desire. The gay-colored handkerchiefs warmed the fancy of the men,
and were eagerly snatched at. The mittens, too, notwithstanding the finger
deformity, were grasped by eager hands. I think it would reward the effort of
our friends if they could have seen the opening of the box, and the scattering
of the clothing to the companies. The eyes of the men chosen for the gifts
glistened, and the eyes of the others fell, as those of children. Indeed, in many
respects, soldiers are like children; and the idea that there is a box
from home with a present in it is, you know, the crowning joy of childhood.
There is a certain flavor to these arrivals, of warmth and comfort, that seems
to dwell with peculiar relish on the mind. They make a day glad and cheerful.
But I must protest against this form of “soldier’s mitten.” Make a good, honest mitten,
in which there shall be no aristocracy or seclusion among the fingers, but
where they may dwell together in unity. When the man is to use his gun he won't
wear a mitten. At other times he wants the old, warm mitten, not this eccentric
innovation. By this criticism I do not wish to discourage the sending of
mittens of this or any other shape. We want those of any shape. I speak only in
the interests of science and truth.
I wish you could have seen the regiment this evening at
parade. We got fresh white gloves for the men to-day; and the steady line, with
its regular and precise movement, the shining brass of the equipments, and
general neatness, was a fine sight. Our old uniforms, after all their service,
look better than most new ones. General Banks was present, and afterwards came
up and admired my tent-house.
My friend Colonel Geary has gone back to Point of Rocks. General
Hamilton is off to Williamsport, and the Board will meet again “some day next
week.”
I enjoyed Colonel Geary's talk very much. He has seen a good
deal of rough life; was a colonel during the Mexican War, then a Californian,
and the last alcalde of San Francisco, then a governor of Kansas. He
speaks of events of which he was himself no small part.
Colonel ——, of the Sixteenth Indiana, is a character, — a
tall, gaunt Western lawyer turned colonel. He has just returned from a visit to
Washington and his home. Speaking of the crowds of officers and soldiers who
throng Pennsylvania Avenue, he said, “I told my friends if we could only get
the Confederates into Pennsylvania Avenue, we could give them an awful
thrashing. I never saw so many officers in my life. We could thrash ’em to
death, sir.”
I was glad to receive news from Howard. Glad, too, to find
him in service and promoted. His success is certain, if he holds on. I shall
write to him not to be discouraged, and not to regret being in Missouri.
Halleck will reorganize, correct, discipline the force; and he will belong to a
grand army, and perhaps share in glorious achievement. . . . .
SOURCE: Elizabeth Amelia Dwight, Editor, Life and
Letters of Wilder Dwight: Lieut.-Col. Second Mass. Inf. Vols., p. 176-8
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