Benchmarks

began, and which God alone knows when, & how it will end -

M. E. Stone, M. W.
The above was a part of a letter to a friend the morning after the news reached here of the reception of the Mass troops in the city of Baltimore the 19th of April 1861.

To

LETTERS from North Oxford, Mass.

186

them safely at Head quarters. - I have no doubt but it has all been properly done; - A bag for the 25-K I had delivered to Capt. Atwood's co- and he was with much satisfaction the gratification it afforded the anxious recipients. The men are looking splendidly, and I need not tell you that the 25-K is a "live" regiment from its Col & Chaplain down. Necessary to his just cause for pride.

I come now to the expression in your excellent letter which I have all along feared - are our labors needed? shall we "sink or fail" - from the first I have dreaded lest a sense of vague uncertainties in regard to matters here should discourage the efforts of our patriotic ladies at home - it was this fear and only this which ever gave me courage to assemble the worthy ladies of your committee (to confer with us upon a subject matter after which they seemed perfectly satisfied) knowing so little. - But now I see how much I know how to reply. It is said that our Army is supplied - Still this may be so it is not for me to gainsay - and so far as New England troops are concerned it may be that in these days of idleness they have really no pressing wants - But on the