_Washington, May 25, 1864._ DEAREST MOTHER--I have not heard anything of
George or the reg't or Corps more than I have already written. I got
Jeff's letter on Sunday and wrote to him next day, which you have seen,
mother, of course. I have written to Han and sent her George's letter to
me dated 16th. I have heard that the 9th Corps has been moved to the
extreme left of the army. I should think by accounts this morning that the
army must be nearly half way from Fredericksburg to Richmond. The advance
can't be more than 30 to 35 miles from there. I see Fred McReady about
every other day. I have to go down to Alexandria, about 6 miles from
here. He is doing quite well, but very tired of the confinement. I still
go around daily and nightly among wounded. Mother, it is just the same old
story; poor suffering young men, great swarms of them, come up here now
every day all battered and bloody--there have 4000 arrived here this
morning, and 1500 yesterday. They appear to be bringing them all up here
from Fredericksburg. The journey from the field till they get aboard the
boats at Ball plain is horrible. I believe I wrote several times about
Oscar Cunningham, 82nd Ohio, amputation of right leg, wounded over a year
ago, a friend of mine here. He is rapidly sinking; said to me yesterday,
O, if he could only die. The young lad Cutter, of 1st Massachusetts heavy
artillery, I was with Sunday afternoon, (I wrote about in Jeff's letter)
still holds out. Poor boy, there is no chance for him at all.
But mother, I shall make you gloomy enough if I go on with these kind of
particulars--only I know you like to hear about the poor young men, after
I have once begun to mention them. Mother, I have changed my quarters--am
at 502 Pennsylvania av., near 3d street, only a little way from the
Capitol. Where I was, the house was sold and the old lady I hired the room
from had to move out and give the owner possession. I like my new quarters
pretty well--I have a room to myself, 3d story hall bedroom. I have my
meals in the house. Mother, it must be sad enough about Nance and the
young ones. Is the little baby still hearty? I believe you wrote a few
weeks after it was born that it was quite a fine child. I see you had a
draft in the 3d Congressional district. I was glad enough to see Jeff's
name was not drawn. We have had it awful hot here, but there was a sharp
storm of thunder and lightning last night, and to-day it is fine. Mother,
do any of the soldiers I see here from Brooklyn or New York ever call upon
you? They sometimes say they will here. Tell Jeff I got a letter yesterday
from W. E. Worthen, in which he sent me some money for the men. I have
acknowledged it to Mr. W. by letter. Well, dear mother, I must close. O,
how I want to see you all--I will surely have to come home as soon as this
Richmond campaign is decided--then I want to print my new book. Love to
Mat--write to a fellow often as you can.