Ward H. Lamon to Abraham Lincoln, August 23, 1861

    Source citation
    Ward H. Lamon to Abraham Lincoln, August 23, 1861, Williamsport, MD, Abraham Lincoln Papers at the Library of Congress, http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/alhtml/malhome.html.
    Type
    Letter
    Date Certainty
    Exact
    Transcriber
    Transcribed by the Lincoln Studies Center, Knox College, Galesburg, IL
    Adapted by Don Sailer, Dickinson College
    Transcription date
    The following transcript has been adapted from the Abraham Lincoln Papers at the Library of Congress.

    Head Quarters
    Camp Lamon
    Williamsport Md--
    August 23rd 1861

    Dear Sir:

    I have just heard from Martinsburg, that there are about four hundred raw troops there, -- and about as many wagons; hauling the machinery from the machine shops there, to Winchester-- One Locomotive that they had not destroyed -- in the general destruction of the engines -- cars &c, there -- they attempted to day to haul to Winchester -- but got only two miles out of town when they broke down-- There is a guerrilla cavalry there numbering about 50 men under a man by name of Dougherty -- who are a terror to the Union men in Berkeley County-- By Monday night I expect to have in camp, six more companies -- and if the same state of things exist then, -- I will try to clean out Martinsburg -- purge it if possible, so it will have none of the unclean thing in it.--

    There has been great consternation among the people here, since last Sunday night they have been daily and nightly expecting the Rebels to cross here, into Maryland-- I think they have been unnecessarily alarmed-- Col Kenly is in command here, and I found on my return here that he had sent two of my companies some fifteen miles down the river -- to guard the fords-- He speaks very highly of my men, especially the cavalry. --My little preacher commands a Co. of Cavalry-- Col Kenly is a fine officer -- and is very vigilant-- I have an arrangement made by which I expect to hear from Martinsburg daily—

    So far as I am able to judge -- I believe that more than one half of the women in Maryland are secessionists-- I had a quarrel with one, a few days ago -- and I told her that I was well satisfied that Breach loading pieces were dangerous weapons in the hands of the Enemy-- -- She recoiled from me like a timid person would from the discharge of a Howitzer-- I think I satisfied her that I had little respect for an Enemy dressed in either pants or petticoats, -- I treat all alike--

    Very Respectfully
    Your Obt Servt
    Ward H Lamon

    How to Cite This Page: "Ward H. Lamon to Abraham Lincoln, August 23, 1861," House Divided: The Civil War Research Engine at Dickinson College, https://hd.housedivided.dickinson.edu/index.php/node/37399.