"HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
WASHINGTON CITY, April 27, 1861.
"_Dear Sir_: We arrived in Washington yesterday after a great deal
of hardship and privation, living for thirty-six hours at a time on one
small loaf to a man; water a great part of the time very scarce, and not
of a very good quality. But the men bore it almost without a murmur.
The Eighth Regiment had the honor of taking the noble old frigate
Constitution out of the dock at Annapolis, and placing her out of reach
of the Secessionists. The Eighth came from Annapolis to Washington, in
company with the New York Seventh,--God bless them. They shared with us
their last morsel; and the two regiments together have laid railroad
tracks, built bridges, run steam-engines, and contracted an eternal
friendship, which has been cemented by deeds of daring for each other.
We have encamped in corn-fields, on railroad embankments, with one
eye open while sleeping; and have opened R.R. communication between
Annapolis and Washington, for all troops which may hereafter want to
pass that way.
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