February 17, 1862

March 1, 2012

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Page 32:
February
17
The “Gunboat detail” from our
regiment have just marched out
of the grounds en route for Cairo.
They are under charge of Lieut.
Stevens of Co. C.
Brother Charles also went to
Alexandria this morning on the
way to Maine. He will stop in
Washington a few days. Tomorrow
I hope to receive a pass and
join him there. We shall try to
attend the President’s Levee
together if possible.
The “Philadelphia Inquirer”
“of today” brings us vague intelligence
of the capture of Fort Donelson.
It must fall. But there will be
a dreadful loss of life.
We await anxiously further
news relative to western movements.

Page 33:

This forenoon it is raining hard.
I have cutting extracts from
papers to put in my “Patent Scrap
book”. Am going to read a little
this forenoon and write. Many letters
yet remain unanswered and I
must attend to them at once.
I don’t think it could very well
have been helped. Naturally I take
great delight in correspondence. The
fact is I have been so situated
that letter writing during the past
fortnight has been a thing almost
wholly impracticable. Charles’ presence
has taken up my attention continually,
and my quarters and companions
are not such as I would select
if left to my own choice.
Still these are small things
to murmur against comparatively,
and I will strive the harder.