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tent near by, our old friend Dr. Lyman; also, Captain Batchelder, late of the Twenty-second Regiment, now on Martindale's staff.
We then proceeded over fields of fallen timber, and across ravines, for about four miles, to Fort Cass, which was constructed last summer by the Ninth, and named in honor of their colonel.
After warming ourselves and drying our clothes, we started across the country towards Fort Albany, passing through several camps; among them, that of the Nineteenth Indiana, commanded by an old veteran friend of mine, Colonel Meredith.
At Fort Albany, we parted with Colonel Cass; he returning to his regiment, and we to Washington, and reached our hotel about six o'clock.
We never saw
Colonel Cass in life again.
He was mortally wounded before
Richmond, and died July 12, 1862.
The report continues,—
I had been two days on horseback, through a continued storm of rain and snow, with mud up to the stirrups part of the way; and yet I never had a more delightful journey.
Two more days were passed in
Washington, transacting business at the War Office.
On the third day, accompanied by
Colonel Coffin, of
Newburyport, went on board a steamer, and were taken to Budd's Ferry, about fifty miles down the
Potomac, on the
Maryland side.
Here were the First and the Eleventh Regiments, which formed part of
General Hooker's brigade.
We quote again:—
On the opposite side from the landing, one of the rebel batteries was distinctly visible.
The roads from the landing to the camps of our regiments were the worst I ever saw. At one place, a wagon of the Second New-Hampshire Regiment was stuck fast in the mud. The forward wheels were completely out of sight, and the thin, red mud was running into the bottom of the wagon.
We soon came to a detachment of the First Regiment, under command of my friend, Captain Chamberlain, of Roxbury, making a corduroy road.
After a tiresome ride on horseback of two hours, we came to General Hooker's headquarters.
We had a pleasant interview with the
General, and then went forward to the regiments, where we met with a hearty welcome.
Colonel Cowdin was acting Brigadier-General.
The regiments were comfortably quartered, and there were but few in the hospitals.
