from The Webster Times, 31 August 1861 (Volume III # 25), 

Camp Kalorama
Washington D. C.
Aug.17, 1861

Friend Spaulding,
I suppose the interest of the people of Webster in the military is centered in Co. I of the 15th reg’t M.V.I., and while you are in quiet Webster getting ready for morning devotions, the boys here are preparing for the weekly inspection.

I will give you a few items: We are a part of a brigade under Brigadier Gen,. Rufus King, composed of the 14th and 15th Mass, the 5th and 6th Wisconsin, and one Indiana Reg’t, stationed about two miles north of the capitol, where we shall probably remain for some time, though we know less about the intentions of the Generals and cabinet at Washington now, than when we were at home and had free access to the Tribune and Times.

Now as to the company. Its commissioned officers are Capt. George C. Joslin, 1st Lieut. Amos Bartlett, 2d Lieut. Frank S. Corbin. Who is Capt. Joslin? He is a native of Leominster Mass., and is 22 years of age, and for the last five years has lived in Worcester. He was a 2d Lieut. in Co. C of the 3d battalion recently returned from Fort McHenry. He is a gentleman and ranks well with the other company commanders of the regiment. He is liked by all of the company. The non commissioned officers have not been warranted yet, when they are I will send a list. Clemans will be a sergeant. We do not live as well here as at home but we did not expect to. The health of the men is good, better than at Camp Lincoln.

Some of our company will be discharged because of chronic complaints. Can you send us about twelve good stout able bodied recruits? That which we miss most, is pure cool water, from the old oaken bucket. The water here is hard, warm and brackish; there is none of the glorious New England sparkle to it. Another thing we miss is money. The company left Worcester without it, traveled without it, and are without it now. The other companies of the regiment have been paid, ours has not, owing it is said to the fact that the pay roll was not made out soon enough by our former commander. The cash capitol of the company will amount to perhaps $25. We work hard and are endeavoring to bring the company to a degree of drill to compare with the others, which we shall do.

We are armed with the 1841 pattern of musket. Our flank companies are to have the rifle musket. When shall we fight? We don’t know, and as this is to be our business, we don’t care, so soon as we become a little better drilled in the manual of arms. We hear strange stories from the East; that we have been fired into, wounded, poisoned, when the fact is, we are quietly situated.

An ugly horse fired his heels into the waggoner's face yesterday, that's all the enemy fire we have received.

Along the route from Worcester to Washington. the friends of men would fill their canteens with the most miserable and murderous compound, called whiskey, and that’s the only attempt at poisoning. For a week it has rained every day. We were inspected, by a federal officer day before yesterday, every man of the regiment was dressed in his best and stood patiently in the rain for three hours.
B

 

15th Massachusetts VI