Joe Howland to Eliza Woolsey Howland.
York River, April 24
Yesterday, at last, I landed the regiment, having asked permission to do so and have the boat thoroughly cleaned. Having picked out a piece of level ground at the head of a little bay where there are lots of oysters, I got a stern-wheeler and sent the regiment ashore by companies, and got all fairly into camp before sunset. I put the major in command on shore, keeping my headquarters on the steamer, and had the work of purification begun as soon as the hold was cleared.
I saw Franklin yesterday, and he asked after you and ours. I took the steamer’s quarter-boat last evening and serenaded the old chap with our stringed band. He seemed pleased and the music sounded very sweetly on the quiet water.
I suspect Commander Rodgers is the right sort of man for the Galena. I heard a story of him to-day. Some one said to him, “Your iron plates are too thin; their thickness should be at least four inches.” His reply (somewhat pro-fane) was, “What to h— do I care about their thickness,—my business is to go up York River and shell the enemy.”
