Franklin County: Bob Taggart to Captain John
Taggart, April 23, 1863
Summary:
Taggart describes a new encampment near the capitol in Washington and talks about
the unhappiness surrounding an colonel's dismissal from service.
Captain John Taggart, 9th Penn. Reserve Infantry
April 23d 1863
Capitol Hill Maryland
Dear John
I am back at the Regiment once more. Everything looks quite natural, and I feel perfectly at home. The boys seemed all very glad to see me and I can assure you I was no less glad to see them. They have been making many and anxious enquiries about Mrs. Taggart and some of them seem disappointed that I did not bring her to Camp. But, of course, when she went off and married another feller I could not well ask her to come along.
We are encamped on "Capitol Hill" about a quarter of a mile from the "Capitol."
The site for a Camp is very good
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and we
have quite comfortable quarters. My house is not quite as good as the one I
left, but it can be greatly improved at very little expense. The men are much
better fixed than they were before, and they have so far conducted themselves
very creditably. We will be put on Provost duty in and around the city.
I suppose Colonel Anderson has started for Pittsburgh
before this. It seems that the Secretary of War has
positively refused to act in his case. It is really a shame that such a man and such a soldier should be so sent home. I am
told that when the Colonel started from camp, there was
no little stir amongst the boys. and many of them actually cried. He left Camp a day or two before the Regiment started for
Washington. As they were
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[deleted: were] marching along the "Avenue" to this place, the Colonel was standing in the door way of some public
building near the Treasury Department. Someone in the first company spied him.
The word soon passed along the line and such other cheering it is said our boys never gave, except
to General McClelland himself. and not only our Regiment but all the others of the Brigade joined
with a hearty good will. Some of the big men of the City, behind whom the Colonel was trying to conceal himself (for he is very
modest) thought they were the object of the enthusiasm and commenced to
acknowledge the compliment; but the men soon set them right by crying, "not you,
not you, its Colonel Anderson" until at last the old
Man had to come out on the steps and take off his hat. I think if the Secretary of War had witnessed the scene he would have
altered his determination. I promised
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to write to Brother Herdman,
and let him know how the case stood. But as the Colonel
will be home before a letter would arrive, there is not much use in me writing.
Please call on Brother Herdman and tell him why I have not written that he may
not think I have forgotten my promise.
It has been raining all day. Give my love to all at home. Respects to inquiring friends, and believe me
Your Affectionate Brother
Bob
