1

Boston[, Mass.] 18 September 1863.

DEAR FATHER

I have just read your kind letter to me.^{1The letter has not survived.} Yesterday I had an interview with Col Hallowell^{2Edward Needles Hallowell.} of the 54th and he told me that I may have to go down to
Morris Island early next month with a batch of conscripts for the 54th^{3No such assignment developed for Charles Douglass. He continued his rear-line service with the Fifty-fourth Massachusetts Infantry Regiment until being transferred to the Fifth Massachusetts Cavalry Regiment in March 1864. Emilio, Brave Black Regiment, 364.}

giving me to understand that I must be ready at a moments notice. I also
had an interview with my Capt who is on furlough. he said that Col. Shaw^{4Robert Gould Shaw.}
never told him that I was to report to the 55 and after my furlough had
passed two weeks Capt. Bridge^{5A Methodist minister’s son, Captain Watson Wilberforce Bridge (1836-84) commanded
Company F of the Fifty-fourth Massachusetts. He had served as a first sergeant in the Thirty-seventh Massachusetts before accepting an officer’s commission in February 1863. After the war, he became a businessman in New Haven, Connecticut. William Frederick Bridge, An Account of the Descendants of John Bridge, Cambridge, 1632 (Boston, 1884), 36, 39; Emilio, Brave Black Regiment, 331.} put me down as a deserter but Col Shaw
saw it and had it taken off as he knew that I was sick and not a deserter. I
will never desert I take a bullet first. Lieut. Wulff^{6Erick Wulff.} is trying hard to have
me stay and help him as I suit him first rate. Are you acquainted with an
old colored man in Boston by the name of Col. Mandiuku.^{7Information about E. F. B. Mundrucu (1792?-1863) is sparse and garnered mostly from an obituary in the Boston Liberator. Mundrucu was identified as a black colonel who fought in “the revolutionary struggles of the Brazilian Government,” which suggests that he led a government regiment against insurgent forces. Following his military career, Mundrucu relocated to Boston and established a business that was particularly well respected among African Americans. Mundrucu’s obituary describes him as “enterprising and public spirited” and notes that he left behind a wife and family. Lib., 25 September 1863.} I believe He is
was thought a great deal of here he died yesterday and will be buried
sunday: I wrote to you for a couple of your Photographs with your name
written upon them or upon the card I would like to give one to Lieut Wulff
whom I esteem as a true Friend and the other I want for myself as I have
one from each member of the Family except your own and Lewis’. There
is a report around here that Lewis is agoing to have a commission as Lieut
as soon as Gov. Andrew returns from Washington^{8Lewis H. Douglass was never promoted to the rank of officer by Massachusetts governor John A. Andrew or any federal government official.} I dont know how true
it is but Lew is highly spoken of in Boston and New Bedford to, Everyone
says that he will receive the first commission. Col Hallowell says that the
54 boys have been worked hard but they are plucky yet and want to be in a
fight. If I have to go by the 3d of next month I will write as soon as I receive
orders to pack my knapsack my love to all the family and Friends if there
are any I suppose that the McVicars^{9Possibly the family of Duncan McVicar (?—1863), a Scottish-born soldier who served in the British Army in Canada. McVicar settled in Rochester, New York, in 1861; he and his son John joined the Sixth New York Cavalry Regiment in the Civil War. Duncan died in combat in Virginia in May 1863, but John finished the war as a captain and later became a typographer. DM, 5:814 (March 1863); Indianapolis (Ind.) Typographical Journal, 39:510 (November 1911); Documents of the Assembly of the State of New York, One Hundred and Thirty-Fourth Session, 1911 (Albany, N.Y., 1911) 31:346, 459.} and our folks dont visit any more.

Your Aff. Son

Care Lieut Erik Wulff
Camp Meigs Readville
CHARLES R. DOUGLASS

ALS: General Correspondence File, reel 1, frames 849-50, FD Papers, DLC.