Thursday, February 27. — We were waiting in anxious expectation all day for our orders to march, but no such orders came. We heard that Banks had crossed the Potomac below Harper’s Ferry, and I found that if we marched, we were to go to Washington, from there up the river as far as possible by rail, and then march to Winchester. Our sick were all taken to Washington. John Ropes[1] was out here to see me, and brought me a small package of medicine from Uncle Doctor.[2] I was glad to see him, and went with him to the 83d Pennsylvania, 22d Massachusetts, and 18th Massachusetts.
[1] John C. Ropes, Harvard 1857.
[2] My uncle, Christopher Minot Weld
