Washington Friday March 6th 1863.
No news today of any importance from the armies or from the southern coast. We are in a State of great anxiety just now. It seems so important that we should now hear of Victories and I cannot but think that our troops will be successful wherever they strike at the Rebels. We are in a better condition now to strike hard blows than we have ever been before. Our armies now in the field are stronger than ever before, if not as numerous, for they have got rid of the most of the inefficient officers as well as soldiers. The “weak kneed” and the faint hearted have gone been going home by the thousands every week all winter. I have been in the office today as usual. After leaving it I went down on to the Ave, droped into Bradys Photograph Gallery which is one of the Institutions of Washington. Genl Sumner of the Army was there and I was introduced to him by my friend the Artist Mulvaney and had some conversation with him. He is not as white haired and bearded as the Pictures represent him, his hair and beard is a fair iron grey. I told him that I found him a much younger looking officer than I expected, which seemed to please him, as he said he the pictures did not do him justice. I spent an hour at Charleys and then was over to Doct Munsons where I staid an hour more.