Washington, January 16, 1865
I suppose the dating of this letter will surprise you a little, but so it is and here I am once more on my way home. I told you some weeks ago that I looked upon my return to Point Lookout at present as a mere experiment. Gradually I have become persuaded that the experiment was not a success, and accordingly I have broken up my establishment and am off to reestablish myself. I don’t know that I am much less well than when I returned from Boston, but I certainly am no better. Accordingly I have now settled up all my affairs in the regiment, broken up my household, packed up all my traps and am now on my way home for an indefinite period of time — certainly, I think, forty days and perhaps sixty. I shall get to Boston tomorrow evening and shall at once take steps to get myself put on some detached duty. From thence I shall write you more at length. . . .
The first news I saw this morning on arriving here was Mr. Everett’s death, and it will go out to you by the steamer which carries this. He seems to me to have died well and in good time. Over seventy, thoroughly redeemed and standing well before his countrymen, his last public words were those of charity and good-feeling. I do not see that he could have lived longer for any benefit. He passed away on the very crest of the wave. . . .
