356 SPENCER FULLERTON BAIRD 



From Spencer F. Baird to Dr. S. E. Hale, Elizabethtown, New York. 



WASHINGTON, May i, 1861. 

 DEAR SAFFORD: 



Your kind letter of April 25 was duly received a day or two ago. 

 I am much obliged to you for your invitation to our people. Gen. 

 and Mrs. Churchill are now in Carlisle, Mary with me here. At 

 present we do not feel in any danger of attack, but of course cannot 

 say what may turn up. If we should be obliged to run, it is a great 

 comfort and satisfaction to know that we can find so safe a harbor 

 as "the Valley." 



Our town is quite full of soldiers, and more coming in at the rate 

 of about a thousand a day. Our mails are still in a sadly deranged 

 state. No newspapers since April iQth, and a letter mail only once 

 in every few days. With love to all I am, 



Ever yours, 



S. F. BAIRD. 



From Spencer F. Baird to Gen. S. Churchill, Carlisle, Pa. 



WASHINGTON, May 8, 1861. 

 DEAR FATHER: 



I received yours of the 5th and 6th last night and this evening 

 went to the War Office. The Chief Clerk told me that the Adjutant 

 General could tell me what had been concluded in the matter. I 

 went to Col. Thomas who said that such was the feeling in regard to 

 Gen. Floyd by the Secretary of War that he had not been willing to 

 take the Board's opinion on the manuscript, 28 that the matter would 

 be considered afresh by this administration, and that a new Board 

 would have to be convened in the matter. Also, that such was the 



28 The above refers to a manual for the use of the army compiled 

 by Gen. Churchill. The letter is given as illustrating the feeling of 

 the time. Gen. Churchill himself was a Vermonter, an Old Line Whig, 

 and afterwards a War Democrat, thoroughly loyal, of course, and 

 perfectly well-known to be such. (Note by Miss Lucy Baird.) 



