Sunday, 24th May, 6.30
P. M.
I have probably quoted twenty times that motto of one of the
Fathers, — “In necessariis, unitas;
in non-necessariis, libertas; in omnibus, caritas” — “In
essentials, unity; — in non-essentials, freedom; in all things, love.” I like
it, — it is more for opinions than for actions or habits, but it is good to
bear in mind in society and in affairs, and I think that, written over every
young fireside and read by the light of real love, it would smooth many
differences.
Sometime this summer at your open window, you should read
the “Seven Lamps of Architecture,” — they are lamps to live by as well as to
build by.
About the Regiment, — did I tell you I had a regimental
drill on Friday P. M. and another at 7½ this morning, really very successful? I
should wish you here to see one, only to the outsider there is little visible
but a cloud of dust. The men are getting on so well in squadron drill that
to-morrow I shall commence with the “individual drill” for the morning,
squadron drill three afternoons, and regimental drill two afternoons and Sunday
morning. The training of the horse, and the teaching of the trooper to ride,
you see, which ought to come first, come last in our method of raising cavalry
regiments, — we must do the best we can, however. That expression brings me to
my visit to Stanton. He commenced by asking after the regiment, and why I had not
been to see him, — told me that he expected a great deal from it; that he would
do anything and everything I wanted to make it an “Ironsides” regiment (I do
not know what that means, but I told him I would do all I could to make it a
good regiment). He said he knew it (sic), and added that he was away
from Washington when that affair in Boston occurred, or he should have written
me a personal letter of thanks.1 I spoke of bringing up my companies
from Gloucester Point, — he said it should be done, that I should drill them
here, should have all my requisitions filled by preference, and when I said I
was ready, he would send the regiment where it should meet the enemy, and would
give it the post of honour (I quote his exact words, — it remains to be seen whether
he will be able to act up to them, — of course I told him that was all I
wanted). When I got up to go, I happened to mention the Fifty-Fourth, and
stopped a few minutes to tell him what a success it had been. He seemed very
much pleased, and said he did not know why Governor Andrew preferred Port Royal
to Newberne; but if the Governor thought that was the best field for them, he
wanted to give them the best chance, and had ordered them there accordingly. I
tell you of this visit for your benefit, so far as it relates to Rob; for my
benefit, so far as it relates to me.
1 Edwin M. Stanton,
the vigorous and patriotic Secretary of War, had probably met Lowell, when he
came, sent by General McClellan, to present to the President the sheaf of Rebel
battle-flags captured at Antietam. He had heard from Governor Andrew and Mr. Forbes
of Lowell's prompt quelling of the mutiny of the bounty-jumpers in Boston, as
well as of the daring and intelligence shown in the conduct of his squadron of
United States Cavalry in the Peninsula
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SOURCE: Edward Waldo Emerson, Life and Letters of
Charles Russell Lowell, p. 244-6
