J. Gordon Taylor, letter to Kate, 26 June 1864, Folder 1, Box 1, Elias Riggs Monfort Letters, Duggan Library, Hanover College, Hanover, Indiana.

Washington D.C. June 26th 1864

Dear Kate

Here I am in my "oven" feeling quite crusty but with still enough of energy left to begin your letter, leaving to time and chance its finishing touches. What a "delightful" day you had for Commencement. I could not but think of you in that hot chapel, waiting patiently for the "valedictory" to which besides its own intrinsic merits, the weather lent additional interest. I fancy I can hear the sighs of the audience as the last "farewell" is pronounced, while the simultaneous flutter of handkerchiefs assures me that there was not a "dry eye" in the house. How very affecting must the scene have been. But in truth I await the programmes with "notes explanatory" with much interest and wish I could have been there. As I am a sort of "Salamander" I could have enjoyed myself even if no one else could. I had intended making a visit to Ft. McHenry on Wednesday last, but the heat and dust prevailed upon me to wait for the rain that is coming — as is Christmas — after which I can enjoy myself far more. I received the letter from "the best sister in the world" who could snatch a few moments

[p. 2] to write to "her dearest brother" and when next I write I shall try to prove my gratitude. I also received a letter from "Orderly Tom" this morning which was very welcome. Tell him his "Commander" will send him "orders" next week. In the way of business there has been but little done, though we are not entirely at a standstill. On Friday last we set up our tents and Gen. Meigs paid them a visit. He seemed to be very well pleased on the whole though he objected to the form of the tents preferring the shape of those now in the service. The ventilation he pronounced to be the best he had ever seen. And now the matter is fairly before the deciding powers, though we do not ask nor do we expect an answer for several weeks. Frank Brooks intends to exhibit the tent to Gen. Grant and get his testimony in its favor, and have his letter laid before Gen. Meigs, to influence his decision. Thus stands the affair at present. I have not heard from Gen. Granger since I returned from New York though I have written him once since. However, I never expect to hear from him except accidently as he is not much given to letter writing. I saw Gen. Gillmore

[p. 3] here last week. He has just been relieved from command of the 10th Corps in Gen. [Benjamin] Butlers Department owing to charges made against his conduct in the attack on Petersburg by Gen. [August] Kautz. He does not expect to have another command soon. Of news I have none. Any little village newspaper will give you more of fact and information concerning our armies than can be found here at the very Head Quarters. We depend on New York and Philadelphia for papers, going from home to learn what is being done at home. This is the slowest, dirtiest dullest, place I ever was in. Even Nashville is preferable and I used to think that town bordered on Purgatory. When once I get away from here, nothing but positive necessity or the wish of some other than myself, will ever induce me to return. The only thing that can give me even a passable opinion of the town will be to meet success in our undertaking and then the utmost I could promise would be, that when I could say nothing for, I would say nothing against the town. I pity Congressmen, President and all who live here and think their honors dearly earned.

[p. 4] I suppose being an American I ought to boast of the Nation's Capitol and so I would to any foreigner, for there are some redeeming qualities even for Washington. Our public buildings are pronounced by all foreigners to be superior to those of any other nation. You know it is one of the inalienable rights of an American citizen to find fault with his country's institutions at home and defend them abroad. After all my complaints I manage to pass the time pleasantly, the great and unsurmountable difficulty being that I am alone. Sam is a first rate fellow but he wont walk because it is hot, because it is dusty — after all really because he is lazy — or if I drag him out he growls because I walk so fast while I grumble because he is so slow. You see we are not well enough mated to make a very good team, so we each go pretty much on the independent line. If I only had some one to run around with me I'd have grand times and probably think this the greatest city in the country, as it is, now and then, I wish myself home. But I must say good bye. Give a kiss and love to Ma, Em. "Tom" Ned and "Bob". Remember me to Eliza and to friends who think to ask for me and take for yourself much love from your affectionate brother Gordon.