Item No. 1776865

This November 1862 letter was written by “N. N. Withington” from Washington’s Douglas Hospital, a series of converted residences at the corner of I Street and 2nd Street. In the letter, Withington writes about the soldiers’ change in opinion toward General George B. McClellan, the early success of Black troops in the Union Army, and the prospects for going into the field.

Withington opens with interesting commentary about the popularity of McClellan, who earlier in the month had been relieved of command of the Army of the Potomac and replaced by General Ambrose Burnside. McClellan had been idolized by his men throughout the previous year, but from Withington’s perspective at Douglas Hospital, opinions of “Little Mac” were changing:

…since McClellan has been relieved, there has been a considerable change in the estimate of him by the soldiers, insomuch that men who a few days since stood up for him, today would gladly be detailed to shoot him. Several such have come under my own observation this very day.

Later in the letter, he continues:

McClellan let secesh get away once more just as Burnside took the command, which is a fact I know, and which I also know you have not seen in the papers, as it was a secret which I learned at Head Quarters, where they try to shield Mac as much as possible. Had he been removed two weeks sooner, there would have been a fight three or four days ago that would either have resulted in our defeat, or in the destruction of the secesh army in Virginia.

Withington also discusses how some of the earliest Black volunteers in the Union Army “fought like lions.” He had evidently heard about the 1st South Carolina Colored Infantry, several companies of which had raided along the Georgia and Florida coast earlier in the month. He writes:

Did you see about the 1st South Carolina fighting secesh? They fought like lions, and took quite a number of officers prisoner. They (the officers) said they were willing to be led into camp as prisoners, but they would be damned if they would have n___s do it. But alas for them, these n___s were the strongest, and they had to go. Such was the story I heard from an officer. Whether it got into the papers I do not know, as I do not get a chance once a week to read them.

Near the close of his letter, Withington writes that “a great change” would be coming to Douglas Hospital:

Dr. Webster is going into the field and offered to take me with him as clerk if I wished. I hardly know whether to go or no. I would like to be in Washington when Congress is in session, and then again I would like to take the field, and especially with the Dr., as I have got used to his ways. And although he is a pompous little cuss, I have a liking for him.

Dr. Warren Webster, an assistant surgeon of the regular army, was in charge of the patients and staff at Douglas Hospital. He would indeed take the field in 1863, and would receive a brevet promotion to captain for his service at the Battle of Chancellorsville. Whether Withington joined him is unknown. Withington’s identity is also uncertain. Signed “N. N. Withington,” he is likely Nathan N. Withington of the 11th Massachusetts, a 33-year-old schoolmaster from Newbury. But it’s not an ironclad ID. Further research required.

To read more about the interesting history of Douglas Hospital, and to see a color lithograph of the hospital complex as it appeared at the time, visit the website of the National Museum of American History.

The letter was written upon three pages of a 4-page bifolium letter sheet measuring about 5 1/4” x 7 3/4”. Very minor foxing. Creased at the original folds. The full transcript can be read below:

Douglas Hospital
Washington, 21st Nov. / 62

Friend Isaac:
I have been worked to death lately and have not had a chance to write even to my wife. I have been writing now nine hours, but I wish to finish my friends today, if possible. I suppose that what you would like most to hear are the matters I have an opportunity to see, which you do not. One is, that since McClellan has been relieved, there has been a considerable change in the estimate of him by the soldiers, insomuch that men who a few days since stood up for him, today would gladly be detailed to shoot him. Several such have come under my own observation this very day.

Did you see about the 1st South Carolina fighting secesh? They fought like lions, and took quite a number of officers prisoner. They (the officers) said they were willing to be led into camp as prisoners, but they would be damned if they would have n___s do it. But alas for them, these n___s were the strongest, and they had to go. Such was the story I heard from an officer. Whether it got into the papers I do not know, as I do not get a chance once a week to read them.

McClellan let secesh get away once more just as Burnside took the command, which is a fact I know, and which I also know you have not seen in the papers, as it was a secret which I learned at Head Quarters, where they try to shield Mac as much as possible. Had he been removed two weeks sooner, there would have been a fight three or four days ago that would either have resulted in our defeat, or in the destruction of the secesh army in Virginia.

We are going to have a great change in this hospital. Dr. Webster is going into the field and offered to take me with him as clerk if I wished. I hardly know whether to go or no. I would like to be in Washington when Congress is in session, and then again I would like to take the field, and especially with the Dr., as I have got used to his ways. And although he is a pompous little cuss, I have a liking for him.

You muse excuse me for the lack of interest in my letters, as I have to work too hard to give the best of my time and thoughts to correspondence.
Yours truly
N. N. Withington