ALS signed “Henry,” three pages on two adjoining sheets, 7.75 x 9.75, October 27, 1861. Written from Virginia's Camp Howard, a letter from a Union soldier to his father, in part: "I have just returned from Mount Vernon, the grave of Washington—We were very coolly treated by the occupant, Mr. Herbert. The house and out buildings are in a dilapidated condition. We were shown the key of the bastile presented to Gen. Washington by Lafayette. It is enclosed in a glass case and is suspended on the wall in the front hall. We were shown the ancient dining hall with two rooms adjoining here our guide left us and we wandered over the sacred grounds on our own account, visiting the summer house the old and new tombs. Mt. Vernon looks time worn and shows the want of care—on visiting the kitchen we found two female negroes one with an infant. I asked the worker if she was contented, she said not, said she wished to be free. The old fire place in this room is nearly as large as our little dining room at house. Before leaving Mt. Vernon we called a the slave quarters. The abode of two ancient and honorable negroes a man & his wife aged 80 ad 70 years respectively they entertained my party with a few boiled eggs he appeared a little crusty at first…but on inforcing him to the contrary he stated with terrible oaths that he was Union. This old man says that Herbert was an intimate friend of John A. Washington and that he grieved terribly on learning of the death of the latter. It is currently reported here that 1200 of our men were literally slaughtered at the recent battle of Edwards Ferry. If such a state of affairs is allowed to continue, I shall certainly resign for I will not expose my men without some assurance of success—or at least with an equal force with the enemy." In fine condition, with splitting along folds. The 'slaughter' at Edwards Ferry is in reference to the Battle of Ball's Bluff in Loudoun County, Virginia on October 21, 1861. One of the earliest battles of the Civil War, Union Army forces under Major General George B. McClellan suffered a humiliating defeat, resulting in an estimated 920-1,000 Union casualties, the most notable of which was Oregon Senator Colonel Edward Baker.
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