January 16th, 1862 [Thursday]. Washington, D.C.
Dear Father and Mother:
I received yours of the fifth and sixth on the seventh and, at your suggestion, I wrote to Aunt Angie. You wrote that you hadn’t received a letter from me since I left home except the last one I wrote on before that and wrote that I staid in Wilmington the night after I left and came on to Washington by the 12 o’clock train next day.
I saw Captain Layton in Wilmington. He said he was going to Georgetown this next week and after that would probably come here, but I haven’t seen him.
Mr. Lovejoy introduced a bill the other day to decrease our pay twenty five dollars and a half per month and Mr. Wilson put in another of the same description which I suppose will pass as it don’t cut their pay down. If it does pass I hope Mr. Lovejoy will put in another bill requiring all of us to pay him twenty five cents per month for the privilege of being an officer in the army.
Mr. Cameron, after stealing a million or two, has resigned and Mr. Stanton of Pennsylvania was appointed in his place. I think this will be a move very soon.
We received orders to draw one hundred rounds of ball cartridges for every man and to use up all of our blank cartridges practicing. There has been another Provost Marshal appointed to Washington and General Porter will take command of all the Regulars which will act as a reserve.
General Sykes will have command of the infantry I think, and I believe a great many of them think, when Burnside’s Expedition lands, that there will be a war made from every side.
I saw General Butler a few days ago for the first time. He is just like the pictures you have seen of him.
Gen. McClellan has been very sick for some time but is better now.
There are a great many soldiers and officers, here now that were exchanged.
It has been sunny and rainy for the last twenty three days and we have a very slippery time of it. I slipped down twice today and it’s not very pleasant to sprawl down in the street and have every body laughing at you.
Please write soon.
Your affectionate son, W. J. Fisher
Tell Sis to write what she wanted me to send back by you and maybe I’ll send it if she will knit me a pair of gloves.
William Fisher Letter Home
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William Fisher Letter Home
