Ripon, Sept. 10, '64.
Billy is all right and in excellent spirits, — in spite of
two more bullets since I last wrote, one striking the halter ring, splitting
that and making an ugly cut near the throat, which has not troubled him in
swallowing, however, and is now healed, the other (day before yesterday)
crosswise through the point of the withers, cutting the bridle rein and piercing
the edge of the blanket, the bullet passing quite above all bones and
apparently not troubling Billy in the least, — the wound has already closed and
there is no soreness about the part, — so I call him “all right.” I am rather
ashamed to confess the above, — and so have rather made Billy out to be a hero,
hoping"the glory would make you forget the risk. You will think it much
better Billy should come home at once, but I will try to keep him away from
bullets hereafter and to turn him over to Will without even a healing wound.
As to your question, — I have only seen my name once in the
papers since I left Fall's Church, so I really don't know what I have done or
where I have been. I have no idea of being a brigadier, — for various reasons.
I believe Sheridan is entirely satisfied with what we have
done, — I know Augur was, for he stipulated that I should have a brigade if the
Regiment was taken from him,1
— and yesterday I was placed in command of the Reserve Brigade (the regular
Cavalry, — the Second Massachusetts being transferred to that, in place of the
First New York Dragoons, transferred to Second Brigade); so I am all right for
the campaign, though I wish we could take the offensive, or rather the
initiative, a little more, instead of being obliged to regulate on Early.
I have great confidence in Sheridan. He works at this
business as if he were working for himself, watches everything himself (except
his trains occasionally) and keeps his officers pretty well up to their work.
If the campaign does not succeed, it will not be for want of interest and
energy on his part.
_______________
1 “If the
regiment was taken from him”
(i. e. General
Augur), means from the Department of Washington, which Augur commanded.
SOURCE: Edward Waldo Emerson, Life and Letters of
Charles Russell Lowell, p. 338-40, 461
