Washington D.C. Sept 25. 1861

Headquarters 3^d Regt N.H.V.

 

I have just rec^d a letter dated Sept 22^d and this morning I rec^d a Boston Journal dated Sept 12^th. the letter I was very glad to get, but the paper was rather stale, but that was not your fault as I suppose it has been been on Long Island ever since you sent it. I only wish now that you have found out where we are that you will keep sending them ie the Ballot & Journal. By the date of this you see that it takes about two days for a letter to get here and I suppose a paper would come about as quick, so if you send a tolerably fresh paper the news will not be so very stale as it might be 

 

The rest of our Regt also arrived this morning, the Exeter boys i.e. Watson, Berry, Horace Hall & George James I have seen and they are all well with the exception of Watson whose carbuncle on his neck is not quite well yet. They brought on part of our baggage but our team horses, baggage wagons and tents have been turned over to the General Government and we shall not probably see them again very soon, which we are all very sorry for the tents we now have are much smaller and of course less convenient than ours were. I dont see as any thing gained by having such small tents as we have two more to each Company and the teams we have don't look quite so well as those we brought from New Hampshire, but I suppose / it is not much use to complain for if we stopped to complain of every little thing we shouldn't have much else to do some days, though we generally get along very well in dry weather but when it rains it is rather rough.

 

I hope Father's hand will get well soon though it seems to hold on rather longer than I expected. I think young Dr Perry can cure it if any one can.

 

Give my respects to cousin H Lombard and all others who write to you concerning me. tell Aunt Harriet to write what vessel Uncle Thomas is attached to and tell any one that writes to him that I should like to see or hear from him as soon as convenient—as you say I think the chances of finding our second cousin are rather slim at present 

 

Our Chaplain may be a very good man for all that I know, as I only see him at evening prayers and Sunday sermon. he never comes amongst the men but will speak to them if they go where he is. All the Exeter boys in this and the 2^d NH Regts are well except John Bennett of the 2^d who is said to be in consumption. I have seen W H Colcord Isaiah Horner Eldridge Leavitt G H Thing A J Currier All the Brigham boys and N. Gill

 

W H Smith of Sullivan & Janorin W^m Morrell and Howard Chase. Orin Head and today Calvin Dearborn is here and says that Jess Tanner will probably be over to morrow or next day they all look sunburnt and rugged.

 

Yesterday I went over to Washington and went up on the dome of the Capitol & over part of the city the Capitol is a very large building and what is finished is very handsome. No picture that I have seen gives any idea of the size of the building. the other public buildings I did not see as I had not time. there was twenty of us went over with Lieut Fogg who had a pass for all of us. when we got to the Capitol he dismissed and told to be back at ¼ past 11 six went of us went on to Pa Avenue to buy some things and were taken by the Provost Guard and carried to the Guard House where we were furnished with a pass into camp but as we didn't come back with Fogg Capt Wilbur went to W. after us and when he went to the Col for a pass, reported us missing and as 4 of us were non-commissioned officers he broke all of us but— / we dont feel very bad about it, and the end is not yet as we are bound to get square on Capt W before many weeks. I write this to forestall any rumors that may reach you. we went and had a talk with the Col and he thot we were in the right

 

in haste

JWC

 

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Direct to John W Clement Co B 3^d Regt NHV

Washington DC

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