Click here for this soldier’s biography:
https://micivilwar.com/authors/whiting-eber-k/
Regiment: 2nd Wisconsin Infantry
Battles Mentioned:
Historical Figures:
Camp Randal
Wasshington DC june 28/61
Dear Brother Sisters +
I cheerfully
the opportunity affored
me by
f communicating with
those I love. The old
Second Regiment of W
Volunteers evacuated camp
Randal Wy on the morn
of the 20 = and
for the feat of War. found on
halting at that the
people had spread tables with
earthly bounties and before our
company arrived the other
who came in had swept
everything clean. But at Clevland
we was fed with the best that could
be furnished and in immense
quantity. and the Kissing
that we got was not to be
Sneezed at. it seemed to be
a rich treat to shake the
hand and press the lip
of a Wisconsin Volunteer
The people was wild with
excitement from M
to Washington we stayed
over Sunday in Harrisburg
Passed Baltimore in the
evening. we was
for a fight but
permited to avenge our
friends who
was brutally murdered while
peaceably passing through
twon. The R R from
the Penn line is guarded
by Soldiers in one continu
ary line they wer drawn
up in line by the side of
the road at their various
stations and presented army
when our immence train
passed. It was one contin
uary cheer from morn till
morn again for it was was known
that we was coming
and the people was waiting
at the depots and along the
line of the different
roads. Our boys resp
onded until they was
hoarse. We are about 2
miles from the Capitol direct
ly north there are about
75,000 federal troops within
6 miles of the Capitol and
as many Rebels within 15
miles the enemys lines are
within 8 miles of the City
the sentinels of both armys
are withing speaking
distance. each loosing
a man or two evry night
We are hemed in by
friendly soldiers here
at present but we are
a fight
Night before last we
thought we was to be
for we was called out
at one attack by McKeating
of the roll in the
next encampment
and it taken out
by our Band and in 5
minutes after the first
alarm we wer all in the
bean field ready to
fight but we
that we had done
well this time and we
could go back to our
tents
I was sick at the time
unable to bear arms but I
did not know of it until
after reaching the parade
ground and after we wer
dismissed the officers
said I ought not to
have come out
But I could not miss being
in the first battle
the Second regiment of Wisonsin
volunteers. There are
found lto 3 spyes taken each
night here. one was taken
yesterday just in the act
of poisoning one of our
wells it being without
the camp he had a large
quantity of strikenine
in his possession, he was
executed yesterday.
There have been several
of the and othir
regiments killed on their
posts but we have escaped
unharmed yet.
I think I shal be able
to return to duty Monday
and the regiments
called into action. I am
contented with my lot +
condition as a soldier engaged
in a good cause and an honor
able one. This may be the
last you will hear from me
but be assured that if I die in
battle I Shal die the honorable
death of a brave Soldier for of
all deaths give me that of a
Soldier at this time but
enough good bye
to my Friends
E K Whiting
