Click here for this soldier’s biography:
https://micivilwar.com/authors/whitworth-william-g/
Regiment: 6th Michigan Cavalry
Battles Mentioned: Fredericksburg, Virginia
Historical Figures: Ambrose E. Burnside
Washington City Dec. 15th
Dr Father & Mother
I find myself
in the Capital of the United
States. We reach here Sunday morning
at day light pretty well tired out. I
assure you though our journey was tedious
we had some good times. for the
weather was Beautiful. We left G. R.
Wednesday morning 9 oclock Our first
stoping place was Toledo, Ohio We
reach there that same night 12 oclock
they march us in to a Forge Depot
and had our canteens fill with hot
coffee. We had our provisions in our
Haversacks of hard crackers and
cheese and cold meat. We took the cars
at 2 oclock for Cleveland and reached there
at noon they same day pass through
some good country
going through Ohio very level we
left Cleveland same day one oclock
did not change cars. Our next stoping
place was Pittsburgh Penn We reached
there that same night at 12 oclock
they had supper ready for us we
marched in to a large building
decorated with flags of every shape
the table was set there were no dainties
it was good wholesome food were was
there about 2 hours then we took new
cars for Baltimore we had a hard
time for the cars was so scarce
that we had to ride in bagge
cars and they burn coal you had
better believe we were a black set of
looking fellows we cross what is called
Mason and Dixie line about 9 oclock
on Friday then were where all on the
look out for rebels we were in Maryland
arrived in the City of
Baltimore at noon the same day
I must say that I was disap
pointed we had a good reception there
was Union flags hanging out in
every direction we marched about a
mile then we sat down on our bagage
on the sidewalk pretty soon the
news came that we were going to
have a warm supper there was 24 of
our Company detailed to go and
pour coffee I was one of the number
and I tell you the boys made
the coffee suffer it was the best we
had anywhere on the way. Baltimore
what I saw as we where marching
through is the prettiest city that I
have seen in all my travels I think
it ranks as the third city the states
our Colnel had to work to get cars
was for us to go to Washington
it is about 50 miles from Baltimore
there is so many troops going through
there is not cars enough to carry
them
but we succeded in get cars and
got in to the cars about 10 oclock
and that was the last I see untill
next morning for I was so sleepy
what I was going to say about Baltimore
it is under Marshal law and they
are very strict there is 15000 soldiers
guarding the city besides what is in
fort McHenry which is 2 miles from
the city although there is a good display
of Union still there is a good many
traitors the way we told was if they
did not cheer us in some way or
other we call them rebles and let
them go we were greeted with hankerchiefs
and flags and old rags in every way
they had a chance to show their feeling
toward us. there was a drafted regiment
in Baltimore from Penn. there is some
days as high as 7000 troops pass through
the city of Baltimore. they are having
a great Battle at Fredericksburg there
was 30 prisoners brought in that night
we was there we are 50 miles from the
Battle ground there was no fighting
yesterday the news was that Burnside
would commence the atack this morning
Adress William G Whitworth
Co A 6 Mich Cavalry
Washington
Don’t let any one see this, D. C.
I shall not write again until
we are settled so that I shall know what
are going to do.
