Poughkeepsie Eagle May 9, 1862
We had the pleasure of shaking hands with our friend Lieut. Stephen H. Bogardus of Company H, Purnell Legion, which was encamped when he left on Druid Hill Park, about eight miles from the city of Baltimore. He is here on a short furlough, which he says was not very easy to obtain about this time, although his sister lay dangerously sick at the time he obtained off. We are glad to say she is now better. The lieutenant is looking hearty and rugged as his best friends could wish.
Poughkeepsie Eagle May 24, 1862
Camp Van Buren, Baltimore,
Tuesday, May 20th, 1862
Dear Eagle:
We are now in the midst of summer, and the season of flowers. Epicures may envy us, for since the destruction of the Merrimac and the capture of Norfolk the market is blessed with strawberries and green peas. Our encampment is located in a beautiful place. It was originally laid out to sell to the city of Baltimore for a Cemetery, but was not purchased. Consequently no trouble was taken to keep it in repair, but still enough of its former lovliness to make it a delightful resort for picnics and dining parties. Separated by a fine stream of water are several small villages, whose livelihood is in the manufactories that line the banks of the aforementioned stream. The girls of these villages are the magnet that attracts many of our boys to their residences, spite of vigilant guard or a guardhouse with its concomitants. It is an old proverb that "Love laughs at locksmiths", and so does he at the regulations of the U.S. army.
We, that is 6th regiment, furnish a guard for the two National Hospitals in this city. It came my turn to be officer of the guard at those places last Wednesday. I was very much gratified to see everything look so clean and nice. While I was there several committees from various states called to see about their wounded of their respective states. They unanimously agreed with me in the opinion that they had never seen establishments of the kind kept in such good order. The patients seemed quite comfortable too. The ladies of Baltimore are constantly sending in delicacies.
While I was there a detachment of wounded rebels were sent there from jail. They were captured at Pittsburgh and Williamsport. A more wretched, squalid looking set of men I never laid eyes upon. You might search Five Points through most minutely and you could not find any to surpass these samples of the boasted "chivalry of the South." They belonged to the 24th and 28th Virginia, 14th Louisiana, and 5th North Carolina regiments. If there was any difference the Virginia regiments were the worst looking as well as the most impudent and loud-mouthed in execration of the detested Yankees. I suppose they were F.F.V.’s of course. The uniform for the officers (for we had two lieutenants in the apartment) and men seemed to be the same course homespun which our paupers would refuse to wear, plentifully decked with patches. The contrast between their demeanor and that of our federal soldiers was marked. While our troops bore with fortitude their pangs, scarcely allowing a groan to pass them; secesh made the night hideous with their cries and lamentations. Could it have been the difference in constitutions or was the conscience at work ? Some of them said they were forced into the service, while others boasted their treasonous sentiments in the face of death. One thing speaks volumes: Every one that dies, ere their eyes close in death has taken the oath of allegiance. They were born under the government and seem unwilling to die under any other, although they have been fighting against it and have received a death wound in the struggle.
S.H.B. Jr.