Georgetown Hights July 30^th

 

Dear Mother &c

                                    Now that we have got on land once more I thought I must write you a word or two more, although not having the good fortune to get a letter to night as many of the boys, but I suppose every thing is all right, as Lime & Mark both got letters and they tell me every thing is going on as usual and not much news, I shall expect a letter from you in a day or two in answer to the one I wrote of Cape Hatteras. I intended to have added a little more to the letter before I sent it when we got in to Fort Monroe, but it rained that day and we being quartered on the outer deck, it was impossible to write any more. We got into Hampton Roads about eleven oclock and stoped/there but a short time, and then started for Washington. we got up to the Potomac river just at dark and anchored off the mouth untill morning and then we started up, getting up to Alexandria about noon we lay of from the dock a while, and then came up to Washington staying aboard of the boat till this morning, and then came ashore and marched out here. it took us down considerable marching out here, not being much used to marching lately. we are five or six miles I should think out from Washington on some very high hills near a small fort and the river. As to being near a fort we could not help being near one very well if we wanted to, if we was within ten miles of Washington, for in fact there is nothing but forts hardly around the city. Coming up the river we saw Mt. Vernon Gen. Washingtons place, there was so many trees around there we/could not see whether it was a very pretty place or not, acrost from Washington city is Arlington hights, the property (or was once) of Gen. Lee C.S.A., his house I could see quite plainly from the city. marching out here, we went very near to the Capitol so that we could see the building very plainly, and went passed the White House, and War Depatment and Treasurry Department. they all looked full as well as I expected except the White House that did not look as large as I thought it was. While we were marching through the city some one taped me on the shoulder, and I turning round was surprised to see Georgie Warren. I not have a chance to speak but just a word to him, he said that his regt. was here somewhere and that they expected to start for home in a day or two. I am going to try to see him again if I can before he starts for/home if we stop here a day or two but I dont know whether we will or not. the talk is that all the troops are under marching orders. any way we will stop where we are to night so our Lieut. Col. tells us. We saw our Col. to day in the city for the first time for over a year and a half. he is now up here to see us. the boys gave him some rousing cheers. I must close now for it is getting dark all of us boys are all right and right glad to get a shore again. we were on the Steamer ten days, again soon

                                                            Yours for ever & ever

 

                                                            Lewis Josselyn

 

PS you nead not put on to the directions to me all I wrote you to write to Washington DC

 

[envelope: Postmarked Washington DC Jul 31/64;83^rd;Mr Cyrus Josselyn/

West Hanover/Mass]

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