Sunday Mch 2d – 4 PM
Now we are hard & fast aground down in “Pamlico Sound” We left at 12 to go round to Oregon Inlet to see what the “lay of the land” was but a fog came on & we struck a little breech just outside the Inlet, and have been swinging round to two hours – the prospect is good for a night of it – so much for Sundays work, but it was necessary to see and test the channel before sending a vessel through which we hoped to do tomorrow – We have on board 4 Brigadier Genl & naval Comander 2 naval Capt & 1 navy Surgeon – besides our our Brigade Surgeon on board. By the way how would you like a Brigadier Genl for a permanent beau – Brig Gnl Parker is a splendid fellow – a bachelor & quite a catch – how I wish I was home & in church to day instead of here. There is no Sunday here, no difference from the rest of the week, though the General has ordered that no unnecessary work be done – on the Sabbath, but all work seems to be necessary in order to hasten our expedition. I found a little book in the ½ barrel with Aunts writing on the fly leaf. I love to come across the little books – by the way – I wish you would copy that hymn from the “Hymns of the Ages” that contains a prayer – I showed it to you, & snatches of it come up to me very often, but I cant recall the whole of it.
Source: Daniel Larned Papers, Library of Congress, Transcribed from original by John Barden for Tryon Palace Historic Site & Gardens
*** Daniel Larned was General Burnside’s Private Secretary for most of the Civil War
Larned must be writing to his sister Amelia. I think she was living in New Haven with relatives, and doing summer visits to their sister in Orange, NJ, back then…