DEAR SIR: I hear very bad reports about your Regiment, and it gives
me great trouble, as an old friend of yours. I understand that you
are very much wanting in order, discipline, and dignity, and that the
men and officers pay but little attention to rules and orders, and
the Regiment is more like a mob than a camp, and unless you are more
rigid and strict in enforcing military discipline and order, you will
make a failure. I hope and trust that you will change your course, or
you will, I fear, disgrace your name and State.
Yours truly,
OAKES AMES.
As I was blamed considerably at the time for giving my men so long a
march, I will in justice to myself say, that I halted twice on the route
from Cambridge to the Common, and had them wear their overcoats for the
reasons that the knapsacks were so narrow and small that the coats could
not be properly packed, and that some of the uniforms, though worn only
about six weeks, were so ragged that they were not decent to march through
the streets in. On my arrival at the depot, I was met by a joint Committee
of the City Council, headed by his Honor Mayor Wightman, who presented me
with a beautiful national color, which, together with the one used by the
old First Regiment, was all that I had when I left the city. After taking
leave of the many friends who had gathered at the depot to witness our
departure, I stepped upon the platform, not without some emotion, and
turned my back upon dear old Boston. As I entered the cars I found the
Assistant Quartermaster-General of Massachusetts, who was exercising
considerable authority, and on questioning him as to the cause of it, was
told he had been sent there by Gov. Andrew to superintend the Regiment
until it should be turned over to the proper authorities in Jersey City. I
informed him that I was Colonel of that Regiment, and that Gov. Andrew had
nothing to do with me or my command. On arriving at Jersey City, I was met
by a large assemblage of citizens, many of them former residents of
Massachusetts, headed by Mr. Warren, who gave us a hearty welcome as the
first three years' Regiment, and informed me that a collation had been
prepared and was in waiting for us, which was readily and gratefully
partaken of. I arrived in Baltimore on the afternoon of the 17th, and was
received by a detachment of Nims' Battery, who escorted us through the
identical streets that the 6th Regiment marched through and were assaulted
on the 19th of April previous. Before marching through the city, I
distributed ten rounds of ball cartridges to my men, loaded and capped my
pieces, and was prepared for any assault that might be made upon us, and
took up the line of march through the city. The streets through which we
passed were thronged with people, whose countenances indicated the hatred
they felt towards Massachusetts soldiers; but no insults were offered, and
we marched through the city unmolested. I arrived in Washington at 6
o'clock of the same afternoon, and reported myself to Gen. Mansfield, who
had charge of the troops then arriving, and on the 19th was ordered to
Georgetown, near Chain Bridge. Soon after arriving in camp, an order was
issued by Gen. Mansfield, of which the following is a copy:--