Ebbitt House, Washington, Nov. 11
It is very late, but I scribble a line before going to bed to say we got over safely from camp, stopping on the way for Mr. Hopkins, who is going to Poolesville with us to-morrow. We got in at six o’clock and since then we have been in a blaze of glory, for there has been a splendid torchlight procession in honor of McClellan, with rockets and blue lights and all sorts of fine things. Of course we followed it with Chaplain Hopkins, bringing up at Mrs. Hodge’s in H street, next door to McClellan’s own house, where the procession halted and called out Seward and Lincoln and Cameron and McClellan himself, and there were several little speeches, the best of which was General Blenker’s, who said: “Citizens and soldiers, when I shtand on de battle field with your thousands volunteers I will fight de enemy better as I shpeak your noble language.” Then on tiptoe he patted McClellan on the back and I think kissed him! Seward’s speech was highly vague and promiscuous.
We came home at midnight, just now, with our patriotic noses smutty from the torches.
At 9 this morning we start for Poolesville and have the prospect of a fine day.