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+//Geneva Daily Gazette//, June 14, 1861
+Letter from a Geneva Volunteer.
+CAMP SANDFORD, HEADQUARTERS OF 8TH REG'T.\\
+Washington Greys, N. Y. S. M.,\\
+Arlington Heights, Va., June 10th, 1861.
+Dear Father: I received your letter of the 7th inst., this (Monday) afternoon, and was very glad to get it. The 8th left New York on the 23d of April, by sea to Annapolis, and since that time have seen more active service than any other Regiment that has come into the field. The Regiment numbers 1,200 men, and consists of 900 Minnie muskets, 6 pieces of flying artillery and 10 mountain howitzers.
+This is not a regiment of volunteers, come comes into the field a body of well drilled soldiers. There has been but one regiment come to Washington so well equipped as ours - that is the 7th of New York. Every man is uniformed and equipped alike. Our uniform is find grey pants with black stripes down the sides, grey jacket with black collar and black cuffs, army overcoats, a light grey military cap with Havelock, and fully equipped. There is privates in it worth their thousands. We want for nothing. Sunday night we were two weeks here - the longest we have been at one place since we left New York. when we first arrived at Annapolis we camped in the Naval Academy grounds without any coverings but our blankets; but we finally got quartered in houses. We were under Gen. Butler's command. We had been at Annapolis about nine days, when Gen. Butler selected the 8th, out of six Regiments to go to Mt. Misery, on the main road from Baltimore to Annapolis, to throw up breastworks, so as the keep off any force that might come from Baltimore to Annapolis. From the top of the Mt. we could see Baltimore. It was a dreary place; and the name very appropriate, for we saw enough misery while there. It rained and snowed continually while we were there. We had got the work completed and our cannon mounted on the top of the Mt., when, on Saturday night as 1 o'clock, we received orders to march immediately for Annapolis, thence to Washington. We arrived at Annapolis at daylight, and embarked immediately aboard the cars for Washington, as we supposed, (Gen. Butler was with us,) but when we got to Annapolis Junction they switched us off on to another Railroad, and at noon we fetched up at the Relay House, nine miles from Baltimore. We were the first troops there. Church was just out as we drew up in line, and the officers were dealing out ammunition to the men. It created great excitement in the place. Families packed up and moved out of town immediately. Gen. Butler took lead and marched us up the hill to a splendid mansion, the residence of a leading secessionist, and took possession; and we put up our tents on the lawn. The folks vacated the premises. The next day not a secessionist could be found in the place.
+We had been there a few hours when the 6th Regiment of Massachusetts arrived from Washington, and took possession of another mansion on the hill opposite. While here Company C, of our Regiment, captured the Winans' steam gun and the 6th of Massachusetts gets the credit for it.
+After staying at the Relay House eight days, we were ordered to Baltimore, with the 6th of Massachusetts. We arrived in Baltimore at 7 o'clock in the evening. The 6th Regiment of Massachusetts is the one that was attacked there on the 19th of April. Before commencing to March through the city, Gen. Butler read his orders. In them was this "If you are fired upon from any house, halt and level that house to the ground, and the people therein be made to know earth no more - then march on." The march commenced. The 6th Regiment of Massachusetts went first, and ours followed. The 6th carried no colors, we carried colors (my company is the color company) through the city. As we marched through the city the Massachusetts Regiment was hissed every step of the way, while our Regiment was greeted with cheers and waving of handkerchiefs. We marched through the principal streets, thence to Federal Hill, where we camped.
+About 10 o'clock the citizens of Baltimore sent supper to our Regiment. The next morning breakfast was ready for us at any house where we might go. Folks would pull us in to breakfast; while the 6th was treated with contempt. Fear of having the city burned was what made them treat us so well.
+While in Baltimore we seized about 400 stand of arms, ammunition and provisions. The last night we were there, Gen. Butler received notice of his appointment as Major General. He started immediately for Washington. We were in Baltimore three days and three nights, and then went back to the Relay House. We staid there a few days longer when we went to Washington.
+[...]
+I must stop writing now as I have got to go on parade. I am a private in Company G.
+E. MEAD.
+{{ :6th_nysm:geneva_daily_gazette._june_14_1861.jpg?linkonly|}}
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-{{:{{ :6th_nysm:geneva_daily_gazette._june_14_1861.jpg?600 |img}}
-<caption>geneva_daily_gazette._june_14_1861</caption>
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Howard County, MD in the Civil War

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