April 28th,
Annapolis Headquarters, Department of Annapolis
DEAR SARAH: I am ordered by the War Department to take
command of this department of Maryland. A high honor never yet conferred upon a
Militia Genl. who had seen no service. We have won.
I have a very excellent house here, well furnished, a good
corps of servants, and am keeping house. Shall be here some months. Harriet1
has come. I have sent for Blanche. She will be with me tonight and wait your
coming. You had better come on yourself. I shall detain Harriet a day or two as
housekeeper. Shut up the house and come on. Bring Gilman.2 You can send the
children over to Dracut or to the salt water with Lote.3 Bring
nothing but your table service of silver. The horses had better be turned out
to pasture except Charly for the farm. Burley4 had better move in to
kitchen. Bring summer clothes as weather is warm. Love to all in great haste.
If you do not like this do not execute it. I am so in the habit of giving
orders lately that I write in a peremptory style. All our people are well and
have behaved gloriously. (You may put this last in the newspapers — it will
relieve all men’s minds.)
Yours
respectfully,
B. F. BUTLER.
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1 Harriet Hildreth Heard, sister of Mrs. Butler.
2 Gilman Jones, family coachman.
3 Laura Wright Hildreth, sister of Mrs. Butler.
4 Burley, the gardener.
SOURCE: Jessie Ames Marshall, Editor, Private and
Official Correspondence of Gen. Benjamin F. Butler During the Period of the
Civil War, Volume 1: April 1860 – June 1862, p. 52-3
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