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On the 2d of May,
Colonel Sargent, of the
Governor's staff, wrote to
Mrs. Mary E. Whitney:—
I promised to write to you if I learned any thing of interest to you. There are no marks of any description whatever on the arms of the man whom you saw this afternoon.
I had a careful examination made.
There is no doubt whatever that this man and your husband are two entirely different persons.
There is no reason to think that any harm has come to your husband.
I have no doubt he is alive and well, and doing his duty like a good citizen and brave soldier.
James Keenan and
Edward Coburn were wounded in
Baltimore, but neither of them fatally.
Of the four who were killed,
Charles Taylor was buried in
Baltimore.
No trace of his family or friends has ever been discovered.
Needham was buried in
Lawrence;
Whitney and
Ladd, in
Lowell.
The funeral services at
Lawrence and
Lowell, over the bodies of these first martyrs of the great Rebellion, were grand and imposing.
In each city, monuments of enduring granite have been raised to commemorate their deaths, and to be their sepulchres.
On the 2d of May,
Governor Andrew wrote to
Simeon Draper, of New York, that he had ‘about four thousand troops already in the field, as many more ready at brief notice; probably ten thousand drilling, hoping for an opportunity.
Why don't the
Government call faster?
We sent a steamer with supplies to-day.’
The steamer here referred to was the ‘
Cambridge,’ which had been fitted out by the
State, and had sailed, laden with supplies of clothing and provisions for the
Massachusetts troops, on the 1st of May.
She had also some recruits for the Third Regiment, and a company for the Rifle Battalion.
After taking out certain supplies and men at
Fortress Monroe, she was to go by the
Potomac to
Washington, if it were safe to do so.
Governor Andrew wrote to
General Scott a detailed statement of the expedition.
He said,—
1st.
I desire our Massachusetts troops to receive and have the first benefit of our supplies, but, if need be, that others should share them.
2d.
That, if you see any objection to the “Cambridge” going up the Potomac, you would give orders to Captain Matthews, her commander, who is instructed to receive your directions.