Worcester daily spy., 1861-05-11
LETTER FROM THE INFANTRY No. Il.
HEADQUARTERS SIXTH REGIMENT NJ. V NJ, !
Co. q, Worcester Light Infantry,
WAsuINGToN, ID. c., May 4, 1861 J

LEIIEh ANI mimi 0tO' IA
HEADQUARTERS SIXTH REGIMENT N. v NJ,
Co. q, Worcester Light Infantry,
WASHINGTON, ID. c., May 4, 1861.
Dear .Spy:--I have little to say, but presume
rs Won and your readers are anXiously alive to
anything relating to the welfare of the Wor-
cester boys now in the service of the country,
will send you few lines. In the first place,
we are generally well-only one OF our num-
Der is now unwell, Sergeant Brown, who is
laboring under the effects OF a bad cold,
trouble affecting most of us. The Senate
Chamber is a bad place to hve an, and il we
should stay here many days longer, all OF US
would suffer in health. We have been in
commotion for several hours, on account of
rumors that we were TO be ordered OIL We
packed our knapsacks and are ready to move.
Col. Jones has just come from the war depart
ment and ordered the regiment to be ready to
march early tomorrow Sunday morning
Our boys will be ready, and wherever we
march, shall go without fatering in defense
of the stars and stripes. That Baltimore fight
has obliterated from our minds all idea OF a
compI omise Of national difficulties until tile
rebellion is entirely crushed out, and every
rebel has thrown down his arms.
Our gallant commander, Gen. Butler, visit
ed the regiment yesterday, and was most en-
Enthusiastically received by the Sixth lie adj
dressed us in patriotic and eloquent words,
and declared it to be our duty as sons of New
England to fight under the stars and stripes
~ .Ioi ka
learn that complaints have gone home that
the Sixth were in starving condition, &c.
No "bold soldier boy enlisted in defence OF
his country would circulate such report 1t
is false. 1t is true that the quartermaster's
department of the general government has
been very much "out of joint" in consequence
of the resignation of experienced men, who
resigned to join the rebels, and that the same
department in our regiment has suffered in
conse quence. 1t is true that adequate pro-
vision had not been made for the $4,000
troops who have been concentrated within
twenty days in Washington, and from the pc
cuiar circumstances of the case, with COM
mnnications cut off, the thing was an utter
L
our regiment did not have all they could eat
but as general hing we have been amply
provided for. Of course the variety has not
been such as our boys would get at home,
and this no one could expect, Under the cir
cumstances, l think we have been made as
comfortable, and have had as much to eat as
could be reasonably expected We enlisted
for war~-~and not for feast.
| One of our privates has been promoted pri'
vate Church Howe is appointed quartermas-
ter's sergeant, ranking as serg ant, and OF
course having place with the colonePs staff
He is Just the man for the place, and under his
| short administration the commissary depart
ment has improved. Sergeant Howe is well
| known in Worcester as formerly clerk at the
Bay State House Massachusetts men are
| apt to think the government is moving slow
If such men were here, and knew just what
was dong, and could see the condition of some
of the regiments as they arrive, their opinions
would change Under the circumstances, the
great wonder is, that preparations have pro
gressed as rapidly as they have. Men o.
Massachusetts, just Keep cool, and Tem1mtrf
that the old war horse, Gen. Scott, is at the
head of the army
1t encourages us 10 hear such lively reports
from home. Keep moving in the country's
cause. The towns will soon have an opportu-
nifty to emulate the cities in furnishing patriot
ic men TO fight un er our glorious old flag.
Let them be ready.
| The regiment are in the best of spirits. un.
der marching orders. 1t is probable we shall
go at once into camp. We receive the Spy
almost daily, and it is heartily welcomed and
thoroughly read. j. w d.