Diary of Brigadier-General William F. Bartlett: Saturday, September 3, 1864

I am getting very well, my face is not so thin as when I came here. I am stronger much. I am reading “Harry Lorrequer,” etc. I wonder where everybody is of those I love. Agnes is at home. The rest of the family must have returned from Swampscott. We are all at home. Sallie is in Baltimore, etc. I think Miss Wyeth has hardly ventured to leave 129 this summer. Got word to Arthur to-day.

SOURCE: Francis Winthrop Palfrey, Memoir of William Francis Bartlett, p. 134

Diary of Brigadier-General William F. Bartlett: Friday, September 2, 1864

I have learned to play cribbage, it helps to pass the time. I was not allowed even to send messages by those other officers who went yesterday. If I do not go by the next boat I shall give up.

Try to communicate with Arthur; failed. He will feel awfully about it. He was so glad to think I was going home.

SOURCE: Francis Winthrop Palfrey, Memoir of William Francis Bartlett, p. 134

Diary of Brigadier-General William F. Bartlett: Thursday, September 1, 1864

Off at last. I gave Arthur all that I had, money, etc., gave him a good breakfast with me, took note for J. D., borrowed $20 of Captain Fox, Thirty-fourth Massachusetts, gave Arthur $10, Sedgwick $10, Arthur my watch-chain. He is very well. Twenty other officers go. Go down to boat in ambulances of boards. An order comes from Colonel Ould. I cannot go. It is a bitter, bitter blow after getting so far. I must go back to prison. Ould says General Walker was not sent up. There is some other reason, I think. This is a sad disappointment. My heart sinks at coming back here. I must wait patiently and believe He doeth all things for the best. Poor mother, if she only knew!

SOURCE: Francis Winthrop Palfrey, Memoir of William Francis Bartlett, p. 133-4

Diary of Brigadier-General William F. Bartlett: Wednesday, August 31, 1864

The boat is here. We shall go tomorrow I expect. To-day the steward brought me a note from Arthur, who is up stairs. I sent to Major Turner, asking to let him come down. I had no idea he was here. Everybody is anxious to-night, hoping it may be his turn to-morrow. I shall leave Arthur everything that I can. I trust this is my last night in this horrible place. I want to be in Baltimore by Sunday. Home and Saratoga by week after. A week at Saratoga would do me more good than all the medicine in the world.

SOURCE: Francis Winthrop Palfrey, Memoir of William Francis Bartlett, p. 133

Diary of Brigadier-General William F. Bartlett: Tuesday, August 30, 1864

This morning a letter was put in my hands, directed in father's well-known hand, from mother, dated August 3d. It was a comfort to get it, although of so old a date. She says F. W. P. had written; that I have not received. My horses I trust are sent home ere this. Dr. White promised to send them. George should have known enough to have started for home with all my other things.

SOURCE: Francis Winthrop Palfrey, Memoir of William Francis Bartlett, p. 133

Diary of Brigadier-General William F. Bartlett: Monday, August 29, 1864

Pleasant, comfortable day. Nothing new. Read “Heart of Mid-Lothian.” Played chess, Captain Adams, Fifty-sixth. Sedgwick, Twentieth, is here; not well, looks badly. Very homesick I expect. I hope the flag of truce boat will be here by Wednesday. Still improving in health. I shall be quite well by the time I get home if I keep on, and the boat doesn't come for a month or two!

SOURCE: Francis Winthrop Palfrey, Memoir of William Francis Bartlett, p. 132-3

Brigadier-General William F. Bartlett to Harriet Plummer Bartlett, Sunday, August 28, 1864

Libby Prison (hospital),

Richmond, August 28, 1864.

Dear Mother, — I was sent here from Danville on Friday night. Traveled all night. I arrived here yesterday morning; went to see Colonel Ould. I am “to be sent North by first flag of truce boat,” so I hope I may reach home before this letter does. I am still very feeble and shall not be fit for duty for several months. Nor then for active field duty. I am very well treated here;¹ as Colonel Ould said to me, “Libby is not half so bad as it has been represented.”

Hoping to see you soon,

I am ever your affectionate son,

W. F. Bartlett,

Brigadier General U. S. A.

_______________

¹ He told his mother afterwards that the statement as to good treatment was inserted to meet the contingency of the opening of his letter.

SOURCE: Francis Winthrop Palfrey, Memoir of William Francis Bartlett, p. 132

Diary of Brigadier-General William F. Bartlett: Sunday, August 28, 1864

Quiet, pleasant day. I live comparatively well here, and am quite comfortable. More prisoners come in to-day. Lieutenant-colonel Walker, Hancock's Assistant Adjutant-general, brought in recaptured, taken first at Reams Station; got within thirty yards of our pickets on James, which he swam. Tells me Macy is badly hurt. I dreamt it a week ago. Patten lost a leg. Walker was dressed in rags and filth, but how undisguisable the gentleman is. I was very much taken with him. He knew me, but I had never seen him. Roast mutton for dinner. I am treated with marked consideration just now for some reason or other. The surgeon marked for me good diet.

SOURCE: Francis Winthrop Palfrey, Memoir of William Francis Bartlett, p. 131-2

Diary of Brigadier-General William F. Bartlett: Saturday, August 27, 1864

Of course awake at daylight. Reached Burkesville Junction shortly after, where we lay in the sun all one day, en route to Danville. Reach Richmond at nine. In Richmond at last. Saw Ould. To go North by first flag truce boat!! I wish they knew it at home this night. Meantime I go to “Libby,” and here I am in Libby Prison Hospital, rather comfortably off. Sedgwick, Twentieth, here. I shall sleep to-night after last night's experience. How can I be grateful enough to God for his great mercy.

SOURCE: Francis Winthrop Palfrey, Memoir of William Francis Bartlett, p. 131