Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1861-04-30
LETTERS FROM THE INFANTRY-No 5.

HEADQUARTERS SMITH REGIMENT, NJ. V, NJ,
Washington, April "A, 1861. }
Dear Spy-Here we still are, and not tap
of drum yet from the New York Seventh
Regiment, or the Massachusetts regiments I'M
der Gen. Butler Our position here is pecu-
liar, but we are in good spirits, and shall not
be driven out from here until we have had
bloody fight Yesterday, all day long, we
were engaged in storing flour on the first floor
of the capitol and probably we have i'll the
building now more than $4,000 bbls. OF that
article Of consumption, and beef and pork III
great quantities. We think we are sure of
our supply of water If we are finally cooped
up here, which We hope, of course, will not be
possible, if the troops come up. Our men are
all in good spirits, and last night our quarters
presented Il most animated appearance. AT
one o'clock the cry was Cup, men, and put on
accouterments," and l tell you the regiment
answered most promptly. In fifteen minutes,
mastering by companies began, and every man
was given ball cartridges TO make his couple
ment up to twenty rounds, and caps to match
Most Of us in the Infantry were ready on the
instant, for generally, since we came into
quarters, all of us sleep with our accouter-
ments on, and every musket in the company
is loaded. After we were supplied with IA
tions for a march, orders came to let us 60 to
quarters, AID we slept soundly till morning
To-day every man has his arms by him, his
cartridge and cap box buckled around him,
~ 49, e do ,,b; oil
panies are perfecting themselves in their drill,
and l think they will give good account OF
themselves Our rations, which at first
were pretty hard, are now better; but as to
sleeping, we still lay ourselves on the bare
marble floors, as usual, or on the carpeted
floor of the senate chamber. That we are
anxious, deeply so, ! frankly admit, but, God
helping us, we shall not die in the ditch with
out some coIpses south of Mason and Dixon'S
line go with us. AS to the militia of the Dis
trict, still have faith in them, but since the
recent occurrences in Virginia and Maryland,
l should not dare to rely on them; so our
great hope is in achievements from the north
A thousand Massachusetts hearts here daily
pray IOr Lnen, anu lOT our WIVES anu HUE
ones at home, as our danger increases. Thank
God we have no cowardly regrets.
The government is doing we believe all it
can. The best mechanics and artizans in the
service OF our regiment, are detailed by the
government for special duty, and they are
now re-aying the track to Annapolis, manning
the engines and repairing them, working the
telegraph &C., all of these things being now
in the hands of the government. We furnish
bakers, carpenters, masons, plumbers, and
the mechanical talent of the regiment has
proved to be most beneficial TO the govern
ment
AS to news from home, we have not word
since last Thursday, so you may guess how
anxious we are to hear. But one New York
paper has reached us since Thursday, and no
mail has left the city since Friday l have
just heard that ouI communications with An
napois are now o.en, and that the troops will
come up TO day. Be il as it may, we are
ready for anything, and will see to it that Old
Massachusetts is not dishonored by our ac-
tons. Oar company send their greetings to
-s-e. fies1d we hH~o loft behind, mingled
with the hope of safe return to them. DO
not forget to ask the Worcester physicians
for small medicine chest, for even in ordinary
cases, its value to us would he priceless.
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