Willard’s Hotel, Washington, Jan. 30, 1862.
Dear Father, — I reached here safely this morning and am now waiting for the arrival of James.[1] I am afraid from what I hear about the time it takes to transport freight, that he will not be here for some two or three days yet.
I spent Tuesday night in New York and called on the Rowlands. Mr. H. is quite sick, but all the rest of the family were well and Miss Helen and Miss Cornelia wished to be remembered to Hannah. I stayed at the Brevoort House, and on Wednesday morning, just before I started for Philadelphia, I met Mr. George Minot and bid him good-bye. I arrived at Philadelphia at about 2 o’clock and went immediately to the Furnesses’, where I dined and took supper. They were very glad to see me, and Mr. Furness spoke quite kindly about you in connection with his son Charles. I took the 11 p.m. train from Philadelphia for Washington, and feel quite sleepy this morning.
The weather here is damp and foggy, and at times a drizzling rain falls, making the streets quite dirty and muddy. There is no snow to be seen around here, but mud can be had in any quantity. I am going to look round the city to-day, and think I shall start for camp to-morrow, if James does not come to-day. . . .
