Headquarters 56th Mass. Vols.,
Near Alexandria, Va., June 1, 1865.
Dear Hannah, — I have received several letters from you lately, but have been so busy that I have had no chance to answer them. I am President of a Board for Examination of Officers in this brigade who desire to remain in service, and consequently have my hands full.
There was a review of the Second Army Corps day before yesterday, which I attended. I saw the Lorings there, but did not speak to them, as I did not know whether they would remember me. Also saw Miss Schenck, who told me that she had just come on from Boston, and had met you there. After the review was over there was a grand spread at Second Corps headquarters. Charlie Whittier is A. A. G. on the said staff, so I was an invited guest there. They had a long row of tent-flies stretched so as to make a tent over a hundred feet long. The sides were made of firs and green branches. Outside were hung two enormous American flags, while numerous regimental and state colors were planted in the ground all around the headquarters. Inside the tent were two rows of tables, and meat, bread, cake, strawberries and ice cream in profusion. Also punch of the kind called claret and rum, which I, of course, did not touch. I saw President Johnson and Secretary Stanton there. Also Generals Hancock, Meade, Humphreys, and numerous others. Saw most of Meade’s staff, and among them General Macy. When I got back to camp, I found George Weld. He was on his way back from Richmond. He spent the night with me, and went home the next day.
I am going to send out for Charlie Griswold’s remains in a day or two. I have received two or three letters from Mrs. G. who is very anxious to have them sent home.
I think that the men who are left from the 36th Massachusetts will be sent to my regiment. The 36th goes out of service as a regiment in a few days.
I have two hens in camp, who lay every morning under the head of my bed. They are quite tame and seem to enjoy camp life very much.
My garden in front of headquarters is the admiration of all the passers-by. It is really quite pretty and I feel quite proud of it. I manage to secure a new flower almost every day. To-day I got hold of a very fine fuchsia.
Young William when he was here offered to sell me his plantation down in South Carolina. I don’t like the idea of going down there to live; and unless there was a prospect of getting rich speedily, I should not want to hold of it. I can probably remain in service as colonel if I wish, but I don’t think I shall do so. . . .
