Head-quarters, Harper's Ferry,
Wednesday, July 24,
1861.
If you knew the pleasure I have had to-day in receiving my
first letter from you, you would write — write — write. A letter written on
Sunday with C.’s charming postscript. Its arrival is the incident of our
bloodless campaign. Yet our progress is not without its triumphs. To-day, for
instance, we have had another flag presented. The ladies of Harper's Ferry,
this evening, assembled on the Square, and our officers, with the band and
color-bearer, went out to receive the national color. The flag, during the
occupation of the town by Johnston, had been sent off to Frederick City, in
Maryland. It was brought back last Saturday, to bo given to the first regiment
of Federal troops which brought its protection to the people. The scene and the
occasion were striking. One of the ladies made a short speech. The Colonel responded,
and the band rang out, “Long may it wave!”
Virginia gives an American flag to Massachusetts, and
Massachusetts restores the blessings of that flag to Virginia. I cannot help
attaching a good deal of significance to the occasion. I fancy, too, that there
are Virginians whose blood will boil with the desire to tear down that flag,
which we will certainly carry into action when the time comes.
Since I began to write news has come that General Banks has
arrived to take command of this division. We hear from Winchester that there is
great mourning and no joy over the battle at Manassas. Their dead are coming
home to them in great numbers. If I am not mistaken, it will turn out that, if
that senseless panic had not overtaken our troops, a half-hour more would have
given them a decided success. These speculations and discussions fill our minds
here, for want of something more practical and direct.
SOURCE: Elizabeth Amelia Dwight, Editor, Life and
Letters of Wilder Dwight: Lieut.-Col. Second Mass. Inf. Vols., p. 56-7
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