Poughkeepsie Eagle Oct. 28, 1863
Headquarters, Purnell Legion, M.Vols.
Fort Delaware, October 24, 1863
Dear Eagle:
All eyes are turned to the front and anything very exciting has transpired
here; yet I will venture an epistle.
The late elections in Pennsylvania and Ohio have wonderfully relieved the
minds of the soldiers, who were anxiously awaiting the news. The seed of
the woman has bruised the heel of the serpent - woefully indeed is the copperhead
wounded.
About 100 of "Andy Curtin men" went to the polls from this fort, to exercise their right of suffrage. I presume this hundred was magnified into many thousands from the army of the Potomac, by the copperheads. But how consistent are they? They originally claimed the whole army as Democratic, yet use every effort to prevent the soldiers from voting.
The election in Maryland comes off next Wednesday, and there is considerable excitement in different parts of the state. Two main tickets, and in several Congressional Districts two candidates, are in the field. They both profess to be Union, but the one endorsed by the Legion and styled "Unconditional" is the only real and true one.
Henry Winter Davis has no known opposition and will probably be elected by a large majority. In fact, I think the greater part of the ticket throughout the state will be triumphant.
The news from the army is meagre, and with us, very old. The removal of Gen. Rosecrans is the subject of much comment in all quarters. He was supposed by all to have been just the man for the place. Probably it is all right, and we will know soon enough. Today the papers are full of rumors about Gen. Meade; but we have become so accustomed to change in the commandership of the Army of the Potomac, that we do not speculate about it.
We have been sending away more prisoners to Point Lookout, and another steamer is outside, awaiting the next batch. There are about 5,000 prisoners of war here at present, and I think most of them will be sent away.
Demolition of the old barracks is already commenced. Our church is progressing rapidly, and will be soon be completed. It will be a pretty piece of architecture when finished.
Yesterday we sent away one of our companies (H), to Annapolis, Md., to relieve a company of the 1st E.S. Md. Regiment. It is to do provost duty at that place.
We have here convict soldiers as well as political and rebel prisoners. These convicts are called Company Q and have a unique dress coat, being very short-waisted, and a still shorter swallow tail. The collar, cuffs and tail are trimmed with buff, the main portion of the coat being dark blue. G. Edwards Lester, the author and orator, who is confined here, has written a lyric dedicated to Company Q.
I hope the Empire State will not prove recreant to the trust reposed her, but will profit by the lessons taught her by the October elections and elect the Union ticket.
Although I am not able to be with you in body, I am with you in spirit.
S.H.B. Jr.