1861 August 31 Camp Bates near Washington

Dear Rosepha

I am now in that
celabrated land caled
Dixie, I have seen that celabrated
City called Washington, I will give
you a minute account of our jurney
hither. we left Syracuse, 20 minutes after
ten we arrived at Albany at four Oclock
in the morning we crossed the river took
the next rain for New York, the
Railroad laid mostly on the Banks
of the Hudson and you had a fair view
of the river most all the way and it is
a most beay beautifull sight to I can
tell you to see the larg stern boats
and schooners playing up and down
the river and we have a fare view

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of West point it is one of the
most romantic places I ever saw
we arived in new yourk about half past
9 in the morning and staid there till
five in the afternoon we took our first
soldtiers diner at the Baricks it concisted
of two potatos a half a loaf of bread
a grate big chunk of meat and a pint
cup of soap. we had fun[?] enough over
our first soldiers meal I can tell you
at five Oclock or a little after we again
started. Each man taking one days
ration with him. We was feyred
acros the river to New jersy thin we
took cars for washington we pased through
quite a nomber of large Citys going
through New jersy we arived at
Philiadelphia a bout 10 Oclock at
night we thin changed cars crossed the
river took the next train for Baltamore
arived at that famous S City four

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Oclock in the morning nothing of any
note took place while pasing through the
City. One of the boys rais to another clas
the blind, for sombody may throw a brick
bat through. we arived at Washington aboaut
7 Oclock in the morning What a sh sight
for miels around nothing was to be seen
but Munitions of war the ground in every
directtion is coverd with tents for three
and four milles from the City. We got our
breakfast at the baricks in the City we
then marched for our camp which is a bout
three milles from the City. just dark
our tents came we then pitched them and
bunked in for the night four in a tent
This morning while going after soom water going
after which is about 60 or 70 rods from
camp I gatherd soom beautifull litel flowers
which I will send to ou in this leter
which you can show to your Friends as
curostys from the seat of War

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I guess my Dear Rosa I will hafto
draw my leter to a closs as I want to write
to night to Mary and Charly yet to
day you will if cors write as soon as
you get this and write me a god long
leters to give my love to all your folks
resieve a good share for yourself.
Direct your leter to Privet Doran
CO Company I Coln Vanalan
Regt Washington, D C. Car of
Capt Joelneck
Pleas excuse my poor wrighting
as I hav to write on my knee
yours till Death John W. Doran

John W. Doran, 3rd N.Y. Cavalry
Colonel James Henry Van Alen, 1819-1886
Captain Gastorus Jocknick

MSS 8474-u