Wednesday, February 26.
Encouraged by several windy days, which were likely to dry the roads, we ventured out to Joe’s camp for the first time since early in January, to show it to Mother and Hatty. The roads were unexpectedly good, the only really bad places being near the camp. J. had dined, but gave us a nice and hearty after-lunch, and Mother enjoyed the experience very much. While we were there the general order arrived placing the army in readiness to march at very short notice. Four wagons are allowed to each regiment, and quartermasters are to see that they are not heavily loaded: the men to carry knapsacks and blankets and the little shelter-tents large enough for three or four men to creep under. The order cast a gloom over our little visit, but the effect on the troops was very different. As we sat in J’s tent we could hear the cheers ringing through the camps as the order was read–three times three and a tiger.
Just before this J. H. had mailed a little box of trailing arbutus “from camp” to J. S. W. and this acknowledgment came back.
Arbutus from Camp, near Alexandria.
Sent by Capt. J. H., 1862.
“ Thank God for Spring!” I said;
While no one watches, through the gloomy hours
She walks the weary earth with noiseless tread
And fills the graves with flowers.
And, holding in my hand
My Soldier’s message, in its leaves I read
Through winter-sorrows of a weeping land
A dawn of Spring indeed!
Dull, sodden leaves o’er-strown,
Then, tears of rain, and then, these flowers for me.
The wild war horses tread the blossoms down
And set the sweetness free.
So get me flowers again
Dear Soldier;–not alone of Hope and Spring,
Flowers of full Summer, through the crimson rain
And battle thunder of the stormy plain,
Close on their blossoming!
Red roses, flushed and bold,
Red victor-roses,–sea-blue bells wide blown
That ring for joy the river-edges down,
And white Peace-lilies with the spike of gold
That clasp the perfect crown.
J. S. W.
