Page 46: FebruaryWashington’s 22,, Birthday
Camp Franklin, Va. At 11 O’k A.M. today
there was a regimental formation
and certain exercise prescribed
by Genl orders No.16 from Headquarters.
I, being Adjutant pro tem, had
to read the extracts from Washington’s
Farewell Address. It was an
exceedingly pleasant task. At
the same time probably similar
exercises were going on at the
head of hundreds of regiments
throughout the country. All
is rejoicing everywhere- except
at the White House. There our
chief Magistrate sorrow stricken
at the untimely death of
his little son can only
in part feel the happiness
which thrills the land.
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But what must be the
feeling throughout the South?
This was to be the day of
their Presidential inauguration.
Jefferson Davis! What can be
the feelings of this Arch Traitor?
who has so long and so fatally
resisted the government and
Constitution of our fathers?
but who, thank God, is soon to
reap the just, the merited reward
of a traitor. What a day is
this for patriot loyal Americans!
What a day for vile and
ungrateful rebels! This day at the capitol
will be presented to congress
the flags that have been recently
captured in the South west
by our gallant troops.
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Guns are booming all
around us and every little
while cheers go up from
neighboring camps. Hail to
the Stars Stripes! All honor
to the brave Illinoisians!
This day will ever be remem-
bered in the annals of
American history. The “Baltimore Clipper”
brings us still further
good news. The rebels are
evacuating Manassas. In
Richmond there is a league
of Unionists, many thousands
in number, and they are
looking anxiously for our
advance on that city which
they think can be easily
captured. They are ready to
take up arms for the Stars
Page 49:
and Stripes. Johnston is ready
to give up Nashville if private
property suffers no injury. Price
defeated. Things look well.
Our cause is more than
triumphant. The 22nd Feb’y 1862, is a
gala-day!!!
