June 18, 1861

Washington 

June 18, 1861

My dear brother and sister, I sit down to write you a few lines and let you know where I am and how I am. I am well at present and I hope these few lines may find you the same.

We were called to march to sooner than we expected to, for we left Grand Rapids on the 13th and got to Washington the 16th. We had a good time and a long ride of eight hundred miles. We went through Baltimore at about Seven o’clock. All was quiet we were all armed and our guns loaded, we expected an attack. We are encamped”on the heights in the District of Columba close to Virginia.

There is someone killed almost every night here. Our guard shot at a man last night but did not hit him, it seems as if this is a dangerous place. Here everyone has to look out for himself, and is not allowed to go out of camp unless he is armed. Last night there was a traitor captured in woman’s dress. He had a buggy and a bushel of caps for guns. We heard that the there was a battle at Alexandria yesterday, that is thirteen miles from us.

I like it here, it’s the best country I ever was in. It is a little warmer here but the night is cool. The water is not very good, it seems to be soft and warm. The crops are better in Michigan than Ohio or Pennsylvania but some parts of Maryland can’t be beat.

We went through tunnels through the mountains for a half mile, it was dark as night. We go to sleep on our arms during the nights, for the enemy is watching us.

I must bring my letter to a close, you must write all the news when you read this. You must direct your letter to Washington’s Regiment of Mich. 

Kiss Bub for me so good by

                           Samuel Matthews

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Written by pencil on one sheet of paper on both front and back side.

The trip from Grand Rapids was an interesting trip for these men who had spent most of their life in Michigan. Wherever the regiment stopped throughout Michigan, they were greeted with celebration and "baskets filled with all the good things that can be found at any time…hot coffee, cakes, oranges, lemons, apples etc." They received an almost identical welcome while traveling though the rest of the northern towns and cities on their way to the capital, with the exception of Baltimore. 


Previous to the arrival of the 3rd, the 6th Massachusetts had been assaulted by Southern sympathizers while marching through Baltimore on their way to DC. So this would not happen to them, the 3rd loaded and primed their guns and their colonel made it know that "if a man in my regiment is hurt, the streets of Baltimore will run with blood". It was a tense march, but the people of Baltimore realized that the 3rd was not to be trifled with and let them pass.

The battle that Samuel erroneously calls the battle of Alexandria is probably the battle of Vienna, VA, really only a skirmish with eight killed and four wounded.