Headquarters Army Of Potomac
November 3, 1863
Did I mention that, since Centreville, some two weeks, I
have had a tent-mate, a Swede, one of those regular Europeans, who have been
forever in the army, and who know no more about campaigning than a young child.
After staying five months in this country, he got, at last, a commission as 2d
Lieutenant of cavalry; and came down to study our system of artillery. He
appeared with a large stock of cigars and hair-brushes, but without bedding, of
any sort whatsoever. I gave him, pro tem, a buffalo, rubber blanket,
etc., and, with these, and a borrowed cot, he has gone on since, apparently
thinking that a kind Providence will ever care for his wants. He hasn't got
mustered in yet, and seems to suppose that the officers will come to
Headquarters and remove all the trouble in his commission. Now he is going to
Washington about it; or rather has said he was going, for the last three
days. Au reste, he is a quiet, polite man, who, I think, will not do
much to improve the Swedish artillery. He has obtained a nigger boy, whose name
is Burgess, but whom he calls “Booyus,” remarking to me that it was a singular
name, in which I fully agreed! . . .
SOURCE: George R. Agassiz, Editor, Meade’s
Headquarters, 1863-1865: Letters of Colonel Theodore Lyman from the Wilderness
to Appomattox, p. 41
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