From Hector Tyndale   January 23d 1862

Sandy Hook, Maryland, | (Opposite Harper’s Ferry, Virginia) January 23^d 1862

My dear John

It really gave me great pleasure to receive your short note of no date.¹ November last probably, as I received it almost a month since, having come through the channel of home. It did me good to hear of Hirst and yourself again, for although an American in England (if he has any character at all) like an Englishman in America, shows his worst points & excites more antagonisms than he deserves, perhaps, and making the application to myself, I am yet more than only glad to hear from you both, as from those friends much sundered many ways, but friends at bottom. Faults which roil nationalism become rather pleasantly salient when not too near! Since the writing of yours our aggregated vanities have been nearly at war. But, I presume our bit of leek-eating has averted it.² But our national stomach has been damaged by the meal, and the stomach is called a proud one. And just now every American is in earnest. We have been looking foolishly for sympathy and, properly, got only Manchester morality³ instead. It is true that what England has done to us makes no show of right for us to do to England—because each nation has it’s height chalked against the doorpost of History and no one should be tried by any higher, or lower, standard than it’s own mark has made. We were wrong, by our own claims, in taking the American traitors from an English ship⁴ even tho’ England set us the example, and tho’ it is somewhat hard to take a slap in the face from the dirty hands of such thieving vagabonds as those rebel commissioners are. The men have been given up however, and chyle or chyme⁵ must be made from the swallowing. Compensations, I trust, do not fail at this point of the World.

Hirst and yourself must have a good time of it now—taking your own brandy and “mutton-chops” off your own mahogany! I should not mind dropping in upon you of a night and “trying it on” with you. Be good enough to drink my health and consider me present in the spirit—not in the brandy unless it is good. And then, the luxury of smoking your own window curtains! with no rising ghost of a neat housewife to groan out—pah! after the exit has been made. Why, your “own vine and fig tree”⁶ is a fool to it!

You speak of John Brown.⁷ Now there are queer things abroad. I am now stationed here, being Senior Major of the 28^th Regm’t Penn^a Vols:, in command of this Post with a battalion of the Regm’t: and this Post is immediately opposite (across the Potomac river) from Harper’s Ferry,⁸ a strategical point in the rebel Slave State of Virginia! It has struck me sometimes, the poetical justice of the thing—to say nothing of political justice of my commanding & dominating there! A part of my Regiment thrashed a body of them at Harper’s Ferry in Oct^r. last. You remember that Harper’s Ferry was the scene of Brown’s attempt to carry off Slaves, or return them to freedom. This war is desolating all the Southern Country and here upon the border land. Three pretty towns opposite all vacant and deserted—the hand of the Ruler is heavy indeed. Daily the rebel Pickets (we write it so here) and their Scouts prowl around the hills, very beautiful hills, of Virginia, but they keep away from their dens: Somebody said that the Hand would be laid heavily upon Virginia for the hanging, & the manner of it, of John Brown—and Virginia has borne the brunt of this war so far, especially these adjacent Counties. But this can’t interest you. About a month after our, Mrs Tyndale’s⁹ and my, arrival at home I received the appointment I now hold and have been here, or near here, for about six months. You must always remember that our 600.000 men, had to be organized and readied as an Army.

Mrs Tyndale sent her remembrances to Mr Hirst and yourself as also did Mrs Mitchell¹⁰ to you. I hear from home every few days. With kindest regards to Hirst and wishes that he will write me too and if so address as usual as my position will change.

I am very truly affectionately | Your Cousin & friend | Hector Tyndale

RI MS JT/1/T/51