Washington Wednesday Feb. 18th 1863.
It has been about as unpleasant as it is possible for it to be today. It has rained nearly all day, and the snow and water on the pavement is nearly over shoes in depth. I have kept very close only going from my room to the office and back except this evening I have spent an hour or two over with Chas and “Sallie” on 9th. Everything seems to remain quiet as it regards the War. But Union men feel more confident and in better spirits than they did a month ago. The opposition and traitorous movement North does not look so Serious as it did. The agitators seem somewhat frightened at their own doings. Much opposition has been made to the raising of Negro Regiments for the War. But if the Negroes will fight let us have them. Many say that the war has become an “Abolition War,” “a War against Slavery” instead of a War for the preservation of the Union. There are two kinds of Abolitionists just now. One kind perhaps make the abolition of Slavery the prime object and care more for that than they do for the Union. The other kind care much less about Slavery, in fact consider it but an incidental question compared with the Union, and are willing to abolish it, if that will abolish the rebellion and in that spirit they “go in” for the Presidents Proclamation of freedom. I go for using all the means that God and Nature has put into our hands to crush out the Rebellion. The moral effect of the proclamation will help us much throughout the world, and that may be its greatest advantage.
