Barstow, Simon Forrester (1817-1882) to Samuel Hooper
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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC04418 Author/Creator: Barstow, Simon Forrester (1817-1882) Place Written: Camp Kelly, Virginia Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 31 January circa 1862 Pagination: 4 p. : docket ; 25 x 19.4 cm. Order a Copy
Barstow, Captain and Assistant Adjutant General, writes to Hooper, a United States Representative from Massachusetts. Complains he is constantly interrupted while writing. States, "I regretted nothing more in leaving Washington than my inability to return your pleasant visits & to pay my respects to Mrs Hooper & your family. But the news came Sunday of the attack on Romney & I started at once to join Lander. Since then our experience has been varied. Shelled in one town, frozen almost in crossing the mountains, arriving in Romney in time to withdraw the troops, a twenty hours march in a pitiless storm over cross roads knee deep in mud & fording swollen streams... Add to an army to create out of armed mob... And so many men ignorant of duties claiming rights." Gives a lively account of other events at camp. Mentions that he has no written confirmation of his verbal appointment (as captain and assistant adjutant); his authority is "derived from Gen Landers' General Order to the troops." Asks Hooper to verify his appointment in Washington, D.C. noting that it would be typical of Simon Cameron, Secretary of War, to have forgotten to make record of it.
Hooper served as a Representative 1861-1874. On 10 January 1862 Union soldiers under General Frederick Lander evacuated Romney.
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