Diary of Horatio Nelson Taft, Wednesday, March 26, 1862

Another pleasant day, in the office as usual. After dinner took the boys over to the River Wharfs where the Soldiers are embarking. Saw the “John Brooks” leave with the Mass 10^th Reg^t (Co^l Briggs) leave. Some of the 36^th N York left on the same boat. There was great Cheering when the Boat left. Just before the Boat left a lady made her way through the crowd and stood on the corner of the Wharf looking most anxiously for some one on the boat. Soon she caught the face and waved her hankerchief, and soon began to cry putting linnen to her face and sobbing violently. The Boat moved slowly off and I thought she would fall but as the Boat passed on she turned slowly away wending her way through the crowd alone, steped into an elegant carriage which was waiting and drove off. We got home before dark. Ed Dick[erso]ⁿ was up tonight and staid an hour. Julia stays with Mat[ty] Hartly tonight.

SOURCE: Horatio Nelson Taft, The Diary of Horatio Nelson Taft, 1861-1865. Volume 1, January 1,1861-April 11, 1862, Library of Congress, Manuscript Division, Washington D. C.

Major-General John Sedgwick to Colonel William H. Brown, August 17, 1863

Headquarters 6th Corps,

Warrenton, Virginia, August 17, 1863.

Colonel:

It is with no ordinary pleasure that I seize this occasion to add my testimony to and express my admiration for the ability of the officer, the high attainments of the gentleman, and the soldierly qualities which have marked your career from your entrance into the service, and which you, Colonel, have so often exhibited while serving in my command during the past winter and spring. When you passed from the command of your regiment to that of the brigade of which it formed a part, it was but to win a not insignificant addition to that reputation of which your fellow-officers were so justly proud, and which your friends cannot too warmly cherish.

Of your gallantry and undaunted bravery on the occasion of the storming of the heights of Fredericksburg while at the head of your brigade, and subsequently on the hotly contested field of “Salem Heights,” where you received your agonizing wound, I cannot speak with too much praise. The bravery of the soldier, the skill of the officer, and the courage of the gentleman were so happily blended that your conduct in that day afforded a noble example, the memory of which must long live in the hearts of all your friends and comrades. I am glad to learn that you are doing so well as to be already on crutches, and I trust, Colonel, that the day when you will again take the field in that grade to which your skill and merit so well entitle you is not distant.

No officer in the army will be more ready to welcome you than myself.

I am, sir, very respectfully,

Your obedient servant,

John Sedgwick,

Major-General.

Colonel Brown,

36th New York.

SOURCE: George William Curtis, Correspondence of John Sedgwick, Major-General, Volume 2, p. 142-3