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Major Anderson was there & after the drill was presented to the Regiment each[[strikethrough]] [[regiment?]] [[srikethrough]] company saluting him in turn with three hearty cheers. I was surprised to find him so small a man, his manner dignified & courteous, his face both noble & gentle made a very pleasant imppression upon us. On our return home are found Mr. Smith of the N.J. Regiment He found a soldier's life very tiresome. He occupies a room with 130 other men & [[was?]] delighted to have one comfortable nights rest in a civilized bed room.  Gov. Sprague's men are decided to be the finest here not excepting the proud N.Y. Seventh. He has clothed most of them himself. They are stationed in the Capitol. The streets are filled with soldiers & the sound of the drum is heard unceasingly from morning until night. A squad of men in very pretty grey suits with red trimming have just left the Institution. The N.Y. Zouaves have a very undesirable reputation. They have been quite disorderly since their arrival. 

June 1
We have visited the Seventh Camp since I last wrote. The regiment left us [[strikethhrough]] this [[strikethrough]] yesterday. They were sent into Virginia last Saturday. expected some hard fighting but were engaged in digging trenches in arlington picnic grounds. Most of the regiments are now encamped beyond the limits of the city. The Capitol is still occu-

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pied by troops. The fortification on the Virginia shore are said to be very fine we have not yet visited them. Continuous firing in that direction startled us this evening particularly as we had heard of the encounter at Fairfax Court House. [[Twenty?]] of the [[southerners?]] are said to have been killed ^ there & only two or three of the Northerners. Jef. Davis is said to be at Richmond. It is [[rumored?]] that Judge Douglass is dead he was not expected to live yesterday. Father went to the President's this morning with Prof Felton. Mr. Lincoln & already improved in manner & appearance. his son the "Prince of [[underscore]] Rails" [[underscore]] Father said was really a fine young man. The Seward the French Minister Mrs Montgomery Blair have given pleasant entertainments for the officers. The Garabaldi guards who arrived yesterday are said to be very fine men I do not like their dress. A German regiment has been drilling in front of our windows this morning. 
   A week from last Thursday the bells were tolling for the decease of [[strikethrough]] [M?] [[strikethrough]] Colonel Ellsworth & on Saturday we witnessed his funeral procession. The muffled drums the [[forsed?]] guns the slow sad step of the soldiers was very impressive He was only twenty three years of age. Alexandria now lies under the Stars & Stripes.

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