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 [[units:21st Massachusetts Infantry|Back to 21st Massachusetts Infantry]]
+----
+Annapolas Junction\\
+Aug 30th, 1861
+Dear Berdille
+Since I last wrote
+we have pitched our moving
+tents one days march - farther
+from home. Rather unexpectedly
+we recd orders to move to the seat
+of war.  It is understood the
+the Col. went down to Gen Dixs
+quarters at Ft McHenry and
+represented to him that we were
+hardly in condition yet for active
+service and so wee were sent
+to take the place of
+a Penn. Reg. That was quartered
+partly here and party at the
+Naval Academy at Annapolis
+The Ashburnham Spring field
+expenses & our Company
+are here under command
+of Capt Walker of Ashburnham
+our duty is to keep watch of
+the Railroad and all the
+roads that crow it within ten
+miles toward Washington and
+three the other way.  Those corp-
+orals and 33 men were detailed
+From our Co and I presume
+the other Cos as the same.  The people have a holy honor of the
+Massachusetts men.  The men
+that were here report that the
+people with whom they have come
+in contact expressed to them
+their respect that they were to
+leave as they were afraid that
+Mass. Men would be substituted
+the proportion of secessionist
+in many secesh to one union.
+If the men like the business
+and do it to the satisfaction
+of all concerned I don't know
+when we shall see them again.
+The men that were here had
+Not seen some of those first
+sent out though they had been
+here four weeks. The Sergeant
+goes out everyday with the
+rations and if any one wishes
+to change he has the privelege
+of doing so and some one is
+sent in his place. I didn't
+happen to be detailed for
+which I don't know whether
+I am glad or sorry. They
+stop every body that passes
+an search till they are
+satisfied even to unrolling
+the stocking in his valise.
+The Company that left today
+got goods of the value of $800.
+in one hand, and have got
+near $2000 worth since they
+have been here.  There is a
+rumor about the camp this
+P. M that we are to move again
+soon. Whether true or not
+I can't tell.  If we move
+I shall give you earliest
+information of the same.
+I don't know and better
+way than to direct letters
+to the last place you know
+of our being and they will follow.  It seems to me that it
+is about time for one for me
+to catch me.  Of course I look
+to you among you to write
+often.
+Saturday morn.  I didn't get
+time to finish this last evening
+so take an hour before breakfast.
+We had an alarm in the night.
+Some one of the guard round the
+encampment saw or dreamed something suspicious and fired on it
+and those near him instead of
+passing along the watchword as
+they should, they discharged their
+pieces.  The word of alarm is Boston
+and in case of trouble the guard
+should shout that and every soldier
+should repeat the word and rush
+for his quarters. The Companies
+all came on a line at the alarm
+but it proved that these was nothing
+at all the matter and we went back
+to bed.  This is decidedly the most
+shake ground that we have been on
+secession without and Irish within
+I presume I shall be on guard
+today & tonight and will have
+to look out for more things than
+I have even had to.  I only wish
+we had one do the better disciplined
+Companies instead of one that is
+here which is of that sort of material that can't learn anything
+and can't be relied on for what
+they know.  Most of our Co. can
+be relied on as can the Ashburnham.
+The other two are of another sort.
+Sereno has been appointed an
+Corporal in place of Bryant who
+goes as waggoner.  He has just come
+in to the tent with some braid
+with which to put on the stripes
+as is going to sew it on himself.
+So you know that Lydia Ann
+Gates did that job for us at Worcester?  I write to Lenny to send
+with this and think I will direct
+It to him.  I think I am getting
+toughened by the knocking round
+we get. I can sleep on the ground
+or on bare boards and don't see
+but I rest as well as in a bed.
+Not but that I would rather if I
+could creep into the old nest
+after the days [...]
+here with all the inconveniences
+and hardships hasnt affect me
+a bit. We are in a very pleasant
+situation so far as a good ground
+is concerned.
+I have no time for more this morn.
+God bless and keep you all is
+the prayer of yours
+Wyman
+Letter of E. Wyman Stone\\
+Gilder-Lehrman Collection, 2182.
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 ----
+//Rutland Herald//, November 21, 1861
+FROM ANNAPOLIS.
+NAVAL ACADEMY,\\
+Annapolis, Md., Nov. 14th.
+Editor of the Rutland Herald:\\
+the news received last night was of the most cheering kind. The report made to Col. Agustus Morse, commander at this post, was to the effect that the fleet had succeeded in all their undertakings, and there was a general rejoicing among the inhabitants and soldiers in this section. Our Band played Yankee Doodle, the Star Spangled Banner, and other pieces of a similar kind.
+The statement in the Northern papers that our regiment (the Mass. 21sth.) had gone with the expedition, is not correct. We have been here at Annapolis for nearly three months, and I think we shall stay here until the first of April, at least that is the talk now among the officers of our regiment. We have had some guard guard duty to do since we came here.
+There is considerable responsibility resting on the commander of this post. If the rebels could get possession of this place and the Junction, they would cut off all communication between the North and South, for the reasons that the Potomac is blockaded. Many of our men are sick on account of having such severe and laborious work to do when we were at the Junction (company A,) we were up night and day for a long time but now they have relieved us and the Michigan first regiment are there, and we only guard from this place to the Junction.
+The expedition now forming at this place bids fair to be as large as the one sent before it. There are several thousand troops at this place ready to start as soon as the government get the vessels here. I should judge that they had forty thousand boxes of hard bread here now.
+Our sick in the hospital are improving.\\
+Yours truly, E. R. R.
+{{ :21st_mass_inf:rutland_herald_11_21_1861_2.png?linkonly|}}
+----
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Howard County, MD in the Civil War

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