Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1861-05-03
LETTERS FROM THE 1NFANTRY-No. g..
HEADQUARTERS, 9th Reg. NJ. v. NJ.
Washington, April 81. 1861.

selves as brave as the bravest under all cir
cumstances. Yesterday, Col. Monroe's regi-
ment from Massachusetts arrived, with Gov.
| Sprague and the Rhode Island troops AT the
time of their arrival the well tried Sixth Regi-
meut, under Col Jones, were upon the capitol
park Immediately Col. Jones ordered us in
column, and we went down to the depot at
double quick step. We formed long line in
front of the depot, and very soon the noble
Massachusetts boys appeared, with their band
playing Yankee Doodle, and at the signal from
Col. Jones, every hat was waving, and such
shouts of welcome we never heard. 1t did
our hearts good TO see those wornout and
hungry soldiers from the old Bay State. But
the hearts of the w. L. l. were made doubly
glad, when we saw among them our orderly
sergeant, Thomas Washburn, who was unable
to join us, after repeated efforts. Our orderly
sergeant is no coward. He was accompanied
by our old and well tried privates, Capron and
by VIM. Lincoln, son of our old commander
and friend, Col. VIM S. Lincoln. They look
| ed tired and careworn having Travelled twenty
| five miles on foot, and tasted too long for their
comfort Sergeant Washburn is terribly foot
sore, but the others are on duty and "eager for
the fray"
The list of our non commissioned officers is
now full. Corporals Taylor and Stratton have
been promoted to the rank and pay of ser.
geants, and private Richler, one of our
German volunteers, and the best drilled pri-
vate in our ranks, who went through the Cri-
mean campaign, is promoted to the same rank,
while privates Joel Prouty, Stone, Hobbs, and
-, have been promoted to the rank and
pay of corporals Col Monroe's Regiment is
quartered in the old Representative chamber,
and the New York Seventh Regiment occupy
the new Representative chamber. The latter
| was mustered into the service of the United
| States, yesterday, and were reviewed by Pres
ident Lincoln AS the president left the Cap.
itol Grounds in barouche, he was heartily
cheered by the troops outside. There is no
politics known here. Our officer of the day,
yesterday, the CONNIE nder of one OF the city
regiments, told me he was a Breckenridge
man, but he said he was willing to fight and
die for the Union, and had forgotten that there
were ever any political differences of opinion.
We are all UNION MEN, and | reckon that Old
Abe himself has forgotten that he was ever
the candidate of republican party. The
great danger threatening our country, which
danger calls forth in battle array the bravest
of our men, obliterates all party lines and &C.
ments US all together as one man, ready TO
endure all hardship and all danger, and sacri.
flee our lives, even, Tor the Union and the in
tegrity of our ,,,erious old stars and stripes.
We don't sing anything but national songs,
and the harmonious strains of the 'Star Span
gled Banner" and good old america" may
constantly be heard swelling up from the vari-
Gus company quarters.
There has been great confusion in regard to
our rations, owing to the suddenness of our
arrival here, and the number of troops con-
| stantly coming in to be provided for. We eat
| but twice la day. In the morning we get
| fried pork bread, and coffee without milk.
For supper we have either fried beef or soup,
ar cold water. 1t is tough for those of our
boYs who have eat at their fathers well laid
| tsBies, and had free access to mammals pies
and cakes But it wont hurt them. When
good living, and will never grunlble at COM
mon Yankee fare.
Lieut. Herrick, of the Beverly company,
had his foot accidentally shot through, yester-
day, and it has been amputated above the an
kle. He bears it bravely.
The Worcester Light Infantry are under
great obligations to many friends, who are
constantly looking after our wants. Capt Per-
kins OF Worcester is constantly doing some
thing for US. Miss Barton, a relative of Judge
Barton, and Mrs. Vassall, both of this city,
but natives of Worcester county, are among
us like angels, ministering to our wants, and
bringing us little luxuries and dainties for the
sick. They are descendants of revolutionary
stock, and nobly do they maintain the good
fame of their ancestry.
We generally turn in" for the night at ten
o'clock-and this is the way of tia funny
way of going to bed. We just roll ourselves
in our blankets and tumble upon the floor of
the senate chamber, using our knapsacks for
pillows, and assure you we never slept sound
err upon our beds at home
Some twelve hundred troops from New York
arrived this morning, but we have not yet
seen anything of the Rifle Battalion or the
Emmett Guards. We hope to welcome them
soon. The New York Seventh Regiment is
to occupy Georgetown Heights on Monday,
and we shall soon have the capital well pro.
tected, and able to defy any army marching
against it. We would not object to little
brush now,-the Baltimore fight has rather
added to our patriotism, and planted within us
desire to meet the enemies of our flag. We
expect Brig. Gen. Butler, every hour. He
told the people of Annapolis that they must
guarantee him the troops from all fug-
tive bricks and stray shots, or he would level
the town." Our troops are all anxious to 90
through Baltimore once more. II we should have
privilege Baltimore would thereafter only be
known as former place OF some commercial
Importance. J.w D.
No. o,
HEADQUARTERS SIXTH REGIMENT, NJ. VIM
Washington. ID. c., April %. I |
We had row today about our rations and