1850 TO 1865 353 



troops enough here to resent any attack, don't mind the others much. 

 There is still much apprehension about food, especially fresh meats. 

 I bought 4 barrels of flour last Friday week, and next day was offered 

 an advance of four dollars on each barrel by the same grocer who 

 sold it to me. 



We have now some 12,000 troops in the city, and plenty more 

 in call. 



The city has been much deserted by those who could get away, 

 especially women and children. Off from Penna. Ave. however, there is 

 perfect quiet all the time, nothing to show any unusual state of things. 



Last Monday Gen. and Mrs. Churchill started for Carlisle, taking 

 Lucy; the Gen. having been worn out by his Inspector Gen. duties. 27 

 They were to go to Frederick by rail, and then to Hagerstown by 

 carriage. We have not yet heard from them, but presume they 

 reached Carlisle safely, Mr. Clarke went with them to Frederick, 

 and had to walk two days to get back, the railroad closing immediately 

 after. When he got to Laurel factory a man was willing to bring 

 him to the edge of town (no farther) for $16.00! It cost one man 

 $265.00 to get himself and four people to Philadelphia. 



The Carlisle people seem to have had a terrible scare a week ago. 

 I hope they got over it. ... 



Affly. yours, 



S. F. BAIRD. 



27 Gen. Churchill was very much opposed to leaving Washington, 

 although he was then nearly 78 years old, very deaf, and far from 

 strong, and, therefore, entirely unable to do any but the office work 

 above alluded to. His wife, however, was in such delicate health 

 that it was absolutely necessary to get her away before any possible 

 attack on the city might take place. Even this, however, with 

 all the arguments which his daughter and son-in-law could bring 

 to bear, did not settle the matter until his commander-in-chief and 

 old comrade, General Scott, talked to him, begging and almost 

 ordering him to go and urging the unanswerable argument that all 

 persons whose age and infirmities would render them necessarily 

 non-combatants, would render their country service by not remaining 

 in the city which might at any time be in a state of siege. (Note 

 by Miss Lucy Baird.) 

 23 



