William Schouler, A history of Massachusetts in the Civil War: Volume 1, Chapter 5: , page 234

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‘ [234] Babo and Wesselhoeft, probably drowned; Lieutenant S. W. Putnam, killed; Captains Dreher, Schmitt, Putnam, Lieutenants Lowell and Holmes, wounded,—not fatally. All other officers safe, including myself. Captains Dreher and Schmitt, badly wounded,—probably not fatally. Captain Putnam's right arm gone,—doing well. Lowell and Holmes doing very well.’

This disastrous battle carried grief into many of our Massachusetts families, and depressed the buoyant and patriotic spirit of our people for a time. Its effect upon the country was also unfavorable. Nothing had occurred, since the battle of Bull Run, in July, which so disappointed the expectations and saddened the hearts of loyal people. A distrust was felt of the loyalty and military capacity of some of the high army officers. In many quarters, the Administration was blamed for our ill luck, and want of success. It was at this trying hour that the Governor wrote this splendid letter:—

Boston, Oct. 30, 1861.
Hon. J. D. Andrews, Washington, D. C.

My dear Sir,—I trust you will attribute my non-reply to your letters before this moment to the pressure of employment, and not to inadvertence or neglect.

I fear and feel sometimes in the spirit of your own state of mind, as given in your correspondence; but still I prefer not to lose faith in any one, much less in those in whom I have heartily confided, and to whom belongs the wielding of the national power. I see great proofs of energy and of skill. I also see tokens of slowness, both of sight and of insight. States falter, which should be firm. Counsels cross each other, which should combine, and bear up together.

O God! for a Cameronian battle-cry; for a grand, inspiring, electric shout, coming from the high priests themselves, from the very Jerusalem of our cause! I wait to hear it, and believe it will yet burst forth, and ring in all our ears. This people must be welded together with the fire itself, both of the spirit and the flesh. They must turn their backs upon the possibility of compromise; devote themselves to the labor and pains of this grand conflict of Western civilization; combine heartily in the industries, economies, and enterprises of public and social material life, and in the devoted and daring efforts of war. Every drop of blood shed by our braves will be avenged, not by the cruelty of savage warriors, but by the stern resolve of Christians, patriots, and philanthropists,

1868. E. P. DUtton and Co. Boston,.

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William Schouler, A history of Massachusetts in the Civil War: Volume 1

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