Poughkeepsie Eagle Feb. 6, 1863
Headquarters, Purnell Legion,
Frederick City, Jan. 31, 1863
I have waited, like Micawber, for "something to turn up." But still everything moves along in the old track. What a dearth of news, and a war in progress that engages the attention of the whole world! This city, which contains about 8,000 inhabitants, was the great hospital for the wounded of Antietam. The United States Hotel, and the principal churches and public buildings, were turned into hospitals. For the last two weeks the Government has been emptying everything but two Government Hospital Camps and one barrack. When we first came here the streets, on a pleasant afternoon, were filled with convalescent wounded soldiers. The bandaged head, the empty sleeve, and the stump of a leg, told a tale louder than words could speak. Those who spoke flippantly of patriotism as a mere word, should have seen some of those that I have met. I have seen men now in this army, who are hardly able to carry a gun or bestride a horse. ‘Tis easy to talk about dying for one’s country when sitting at your fireside, but to do it is an entirely different thing. You may say, ‘tis very easy for you to talk thus, who are situated so pleasantly. We are, in truth, very well fixed for the first time in many a long day, and on that account can appreciate it the better. We live well, don’t have anything of consequence to do, and are getting lazy, even for a soldier.
The force here, and in the neighborhood, consists of the 3d Delaware, Rush’s Lancers and our Regt. At the city, and the 14th New Jersey at Monocacy Junction. We now belong to the 8th Corps, and are under Gen. Schenk. There is a large sprinkling of negroes in the population, and it’s majority are or were slaves, their looks denote that their masters were practically in favor of amalgamation. Some of these negroes have become very insolent of late, and only last week one of them came very near his death from a sentinel he had insulted.
We had a visit from the Paymaster this week - a person who is always welcome. We have been favored, having been paid up to New Years. To make him come often, we gave him an oyster supper.
Some two weeks ago I made a visit to Baltimore, and while there went to see the 150th. They have improved a great deal in drill and discipline under Lieut. Colonel Bartlett. They bid fair to rival the best regiment in service, and excel a great many.
About the only excitement we have is occasionally a raid from rebel cavalry that is in the neighborhood of Loudon County, Virginia. Several attempts have been made to break up this organization, which rejoices in the nomenclature of White’s Independent Cavalry; but they have only partially succeeded. The great advantages a body of men like this have, is their knowledge of the country, and their easy disbanding, to meet again at short notice. Several of them, including officers, have been captured at Harper’s Ferry lately, since which they have been less daring. The boys would like a little excitement of that kind, to keep their blood from stagnating in the veins.
Last week a number of rebels were sent away from the hospital to Baltimore, having been paroled. They had been wounded and captured at South Mountain and Antietam. They came ragged and dirty - but they left here in new uniforms, furnished by their friends and sympathizers in the city. I have myself seen finely dressed ladies with their arms full of clothing for the wounded rebels. This may be all right, but I can’t see it. The rebels would not allow the Union people of the south to treat our men thus.
Yours,
S.H.B.