Here on this dry and pleasant island in the midst of the beautiful Massachusetts Bay, we have the liberty of the camp, the privilege of air and sunshine and hay beds to sleep upon.  So we went to bed last night with somewhat of gladness elevating our depressed spirits.

Here are many troops gathering daily from all the New England States except Connecticut and Rhode Island.  Their white tents are dotting the green slopes and hilltops of the island and spreading wider and wider.  This is the flow of military tide here just now.  The ebb went out to sea in the shape of a great shipload just as we came in, and another load will be sent before many days.  All is war here.  We are surrounded by the pomp and circumstance of war, and enveloped in the cloud thereof.  The cloud settles down over the minds and souls of all; they cannot see beyond, nor do they try; but with the clearer eye of Christian faith I try to look beyond all this error unto Truth and Holiness immaculate:  and thanks to our Father, I am favoured with glimpses that are sweet consolation amid this darkness.

This is one gratification:  the men with us give us their sympathy.  They seem to look upon us tenderly and pitifully, and their expressions of kind wishes are warm.  Although we are relieved from duty and from drill, and may lie in our tents during rain and at night, we have heard of no complaint.  This is the more worthy of note as there are so few in our little (Vermont) camp.  Each man comes on guard half the days.  It would probably be otherwise were their hearts in the service; but I have yet to find the man in any of these camps or at any service who does not wish himself at home.  Substitutes say if they knew all they know now before leaving home they would not have enlisted; and they have been but a week from their homes and have endured no hardships.  Yesterday L.M.M. and I appeared before the Captain commanding this camp with a statement of our cases.  He listened to us respectfully and promised to refer us to the General commanding here, General Devens; and in the meantime released us from duty.  In a short time afterward he passed us in our tent, asking our names.  We have not heard from him, but do not drill or stand guard; so, we suppose, his release was confirmed.  At that interview a young lieutenant sneeringly told us he thought we had better throw away our scruples and fight in the service of the country; and as we told the Captain we could not accept pay, he laughed mockingly, and said he would not stay here for $13.00 per month.  He gets more than a hundred, I suppose.

How beautiful seems the world on this glorious morning here by the seaside!  Eastward and toward the sun, fair green isles with outlines of pure beauty are scattered over the blue bay.  Along the far line of the mainland white hamlets and towns glisten in the morning sun; countless tiny waves dance in the wind that comes off shore and sparkle sunward like myriads of gems.  Up the fair vault, flecked by scarcely a cloud, rolls the sun in glory.  Though fair be the earth, it has come to be tainted and marred by him who was meant to be its crowning glory.  Behind me on this island are crowded vile and wicked men, the murmur of whose ribaldry riseth continually like the smoke and fumes of a lower world.  Oh!  Father of Mercies, forgive the hard heartlessness and blindness and scarlet sins of my fellows, my brothers.