1862 September 5 near Washington, D. C.

                                                               Near Washington
                                                                             Sept. 5 1862

My dear Mother
                          Your letter with the bond enclosed reached me
a few days ago & I take the first opportunity to thank you for
your trouble & kindness.  I will try to return the one & to
deserve the other.  Everything has been so confused & so disastrous
that we have had neither mail or in many cases food.  The
people do not know it but we have had a series of unparalleled
defeats without the least ray of the sunshine of victory.  The whole
army of the North has been driven back behind the forts near
Washington & into Maryland & as I write the enemy are in
very strong force here in M. & not 4 miles in our front
advancing  upon W Some 14 miles distant & probably
upon Balto.  What a Commentary upon the Govt. &
the weakness of the President! All through the criminal
ignorance  & incompetency of Pope the synonym now of
bombast & folly.  But thank goodness he is down & w
only hope he had the merit of having died a noble death.
The So. is victorious & may take Washington very soon.  They
are fighting for their homes & their hearths-every house
destroyed & every farm despoiled by us nerves every man
in their army to press still stronger forward & to recover
what little is left of their own & to avenge the rest.  We are
fighting for an abstraction--the flag--what do you at home
realise of the actual contest.  You are surrounded by
your usual comforts & ties.  Should you own property be

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invaded your own house destroyed & property stolen do
you not think this would give strength & nerve to the
now slaggard arm?  Mothers wives & relatives insulted
during your absence by a victorious foe is a stronger argument
than to read the high sounding proclamations of some
ignorant political General.  We have tried it & we know it
They fight are led & stand killing better than we.  Our
loss in this last retreat was enormous.  The war is ended
they will be recognized abroad.  They are going to whip us
badly in the So. West.  The only question is where is the  line
to be.  We shall never invade Va. again.  I think they
will get Maryland & I am afraid Washington.  Three
times I have been driven out of Va I think our Govt
a failure we cannot whip them or any people fighting
as they do with one idea & all together.  I am sick &
disgusted & were it not for leaving at the 11th hour would
go home tomorrow.  This is plain talk but true.  I
do not feel like writing any more.  We have been through
all but death this last 20 days.  I think the next 10 days
very eventful ones.  Write me soon & give much love to
all.
                                                Morton

Direct as before.  What is the matter with Uncle M. he
does not write & seem to do anything when I ask
tho' I have written him several letters.  I will write
Mr W. immediately.

Lt. Marcus Morton Hawes, 1836-   2nd Massachusetts Infantry
Asst. Quartermaster to Gen. George Henry Gordon
A grandson of Massachusetts Governor Marcus Morton, Hawes served through the war; later in business in New Orleans.

MSS 11372