A fantastic Civil War letter from the the 14th New Hampshire Volunteers talking about experiences and Washington DC.
Fourteenth N.H. Volunteers
Camp at Minerville, Washington
May 2nd 1863.
Friend Charles;
Having a few spare moments this morning, I take my pen in hand and answer your very welcome letter which I received from you a long time ago. I have neglected answering till this late date as we have been so busy for a couple weeks past that I have not had time. We are now camped near Washington in sight of the city and the capital, on a large oak grove. This is the finest camp ground that this regiment ever was in. The streets are hard as floor, well swept and clean, the stockades are whitewashed and in fact this is a very neat and pretty camp. The boys all take pains to keep themselves neat and clean, they black their boots, put on a shining polish to them, keep their clothes well
brushed, so that they look clean and
neat; this regiment I am ashamed to be
by my body, or anywhere. It is a little
over 6 months since we left Washington
and all of that time we have been doing
picket duty on the river, out in the wilder-
ness where we could see nothing but woods
and hills, and it seemed to me as though
we were out of the civilized world; but we
are now again in Washington, our nation’s
capital, the centre of business, and it seems
like being in the civilized world again.
For over 6 months we did not hear a single
car whistle, but here we hear the cars all
the time, and every little while a whistle. This
brings to our minds old war scenes, more
vividly than anything. We are not in
sight of them, there being a little hill between
us and the railroad. Night before last I and
2 others got a pass and went down to the city
and there I saw the first train of cars that I
have seen for over 6 months. It looked like New Hampshire, I tell you. We went round
outside of the capital, saw all there was to be
seen, and all I can say about it here is, that
it is a splendid piece of work. Three weeks
ago tomorrow we had orders to prepare to
march the next day, our destination supposed
to be to Ky. A week from the day we expect-
ed to march, we were ordered to report to Wash-
ington, which place we arrived after 2 hard
days march, it raining all of the first day,
and nothing through mud up to our ankles.
What they will do with us now is more than I
can tell, or any other boy. But a good many
of them pretend to know all about it; some
of them say we are going to do provost duty
in Washington; some say we are going to the
front; some say we are going down on the coast;
some say we are going back to Poolsville again;
but I say we are going where we are ordered to
go. We are having some very pleasant weather
here now. Yesterday was a very warm day
and today it is going to be as warm. Probably
there is no doubt but that Gen. Hooker is fight ing the rebels to-day. The news from that
portion of the army has been suppressed;
not a thing has been heard from it that
could be put in the papers for the past 2 days.
I feel very much concerned to know what suc-
cess Genl. having, or few days will tell. How
is your health, and the rest of your folks
this spring! My health is quite good; so is
Dennis’ and Shannon’s. How are all the S.
folks! Who is going to teach our school this
summer! &c &c &c going? Has many of
the boys in Shenly “skedaddled” & got out
of the draft? How do the S. folks feel about
the war! Do they it will ever end? etc. My
time is getting to be pretty short; I must
draw this letter to a close. Give my best re-
spects to all enquiring friends, write again
soon, and remember me as your friend.
Rhinard Healey.