Historic leaves, volume 1, April, 1902 - January, 1903

I was in this campaign a tourist, with a musket, enjoying the rank and emoluments of a private. We embarked for the South on a steamer on the 22nd, were quartered mainly in the hold upon loose hay, among artillery caissons, and reached Washington via Annapolis about the 26th, and were quartered in the Treasury building until the last days of May. We participated honorably in the Bull Run campaign. The battle of that name, July 21, 1861, was hotly contested for three hours. The enemy's loss in killed and wounded exceeded ours, and their army could have been fought the following day at Centreville, ten miles distant. The result was a disappointment and an awakening. The defeat has been much exaggerated by noncombatants, who followed the army, and have been truthful so far as they portrayed their own cowardice. The company was mustered out July 31, having more than served its three months term. It went under fire when discharge could have been equitably claimed, though the regiment was technically held from date of mustering in at Washington May 1, 1861. The duty rendered by the regiment was of transcendent importance because it was timely, materially aiding in saving the capital from seizure by the Confederates. This would have been a very grave disaster, affecting our prestige everywhere, and would have perhaps given the rebels the foreign alliances that would have secured their independence.

The Fifth Massachusetts Volunteer Militia had nine men killed at Bull Run, and about forty wounded. The Somerville company lost one private, E. F. Hannaford, killed; he was reared, if not born, on Prospect hill, was a very quiet and sedate young man, exemplary in his habits, and attentive to duty. William F. Moore died in hospital at Washington of disease, after the company had left that city. The company submitted uncomplainingly to rigid discipline, and became very proficient in the