SHARON SPRINGS, 24 July, 1861.

MY DEAR CHARLES, I have yours of 23d asking my permission to join one of the Massachusetts regiments. The feeling which induces you to go to the war is natural and proper and if I thought your services were required by your country I would not hesitate. Under the bitter accounts received of the battle of Bull's Run, I don't wonder at your excitement. This I will promise, that when the time comes for your fighting, and come it may, I will cheerfully give my consent; at present I do not perceive any necessity. Keep up your drill, learn all you can, so if you should be called into service you may be able to take the position your knowledge may entitle you to.... Your aff. father, J. I. BOWDITCH.

To this I replied, July 28:

To tell the truth I was not much surprised at your refusal to allow me to join the army, but it has not caused any difference in my feelings. I don't think that you at Sharon, where your life is so quiet and easy, can understand what is wanted here. The North seems in a torpor from which nothing can wake them except some terrible disaster ten times as severe as that which we have received. The country must be aroused to the sense of its dangers. The regiments are not filling up fast and if this goes on the barbarous system of drafting must be resorted to. The country wants soldiers and before Massachusetts should be obliged to come to drafting, I think that every gentleman and gentleman's son ought to go into the field. Such a proceeding would exercise a good influence on everybody. If a company or regiment of gentlemen should be raised, those in the lower classes would be brought to understand that they too should be willing to sacrifice their lives for the good of the country. Nobody here seems to be awake, There ought to be public meetings in Boston and in fact throughout the country to stir the people up and tell them what is really wanted. The people are ready to do what is needful, if they only knew what that is. They do not feel that there is any necessity for extra exertion and are as quietly settled down now as they were before the defeat at Bull's Run. Then look at the people at the head of our Government. . . . And then Cameron! what an old heathenish rascal. He has just carried the Mass. 12th round by the way of Harrisburg, giving the soldiers a ride longer by seven or eight hours and causing an extra expense to the Government of 3 or 4000 dollars. I wish he could be removed.

1 Cameron was heavily interested in the railroad line between Harrisburg and Baltimore. C. P. B.

I hope as soon as you come back and see how torpid we are here that you will go and see Gov. Andrew, and Edwd. Everett, and L. Saltonstall, and make them get up a meeting in Faneuil Hall where patriotic addresses shall be made to rouse the people from their stupor.

It must have been about this time that I had printed and posted round Boston the call "To Arms! To Arms!" a copy of which, found among my papers, is here reproduced.

I supposed that I accepted the inevitable, though I was by no means satisfied and Father, in order to take my mind off of the army, obtained from Dr. Bache, the head of the U. S. Coast Survey, a place in Dr. Bache's own camp on Mount Tom, Mass. It was from here that I wrote the following three letters.

August 5, 1862.

DEAR FATHER, You remember last year when I spoke to you about enlisting, you said that there were so many men ready to go, that there was no need of men of education volunteering. It seems to me now that the case has changed, at least in this state, and men are coming in very slowly to the recruiting offices. I think no one will deny that it is the duty of every one, who is not held back by duties or ties which he cannot break, to volunteer and set an example for others to follow. Those who have families to support or whose absence would bring distress to many others have some reason for staying at home. others ought to go. Now here I am, of no earthly use in my But all present position, and having completed with the exception of one year, my whole college course. There is no doubt that the country wants men, and that, speedily. The example of gentlemen volunteering would be extremely advantageous. The common people, so far from the war as they are here, cannot perhaps understand the necessities of the occasion simply from newspaper addresses and enthusiastic speeches. But if they saw that the time is so threatening as to require gentlemen to enlist, they would have an example before their eyes, which their own senses would lead them to follow.

Don't think now that my wish to enlist is caused by any enthusiasm to see service and get a shot at a rebel, for it is far otherwise. Taking my own feelings simply into consideration, I do not think I should care to go. But, as I said before, it is every one's duty to enlist, if he possibly can, and why is it not

TO ARMS!

TO ARMS!

MEN OF MASSACHUSETTS!

Your COUNTRY is in danger! She calls on you for her defence. She puts her trust in you. You will fight in a righteous cause. Will you hear her in silence? Will you permit her to raise her voice in vain? Has she erred in placing her confidence in you?

FILL UP THE REGIMENTS

then, and let not MASSACHUSETTS be behindhand in sending her quota of troops! Let it not be said that the freemen of MASSACHUSETTS have lost their valor and patriotism! Let not the system of drafting be resorted to, but show the South and the whole world that the OLD BAY STATE will send forth her sons without stint for the defence of their country!

FILL UP THE REGIMENTS then. Enlist and let the name and praise of MASSACHUSETTS be in the mouth of all!

First in sending troops for the defence of the Capital, let her be last in ceasing to send them! Think of the glorious deeds of our soldiers and let them incite you to emulate them! Where are the descendants of those who fought at LEXINGTON and BUNKER'S HILL? Do not the deeds of your sires urge you to devote your lives to the preservation of the Union? Has CONCORD been forgotten? Do not the memories of '76 live in your hearts? Rise, then, and show that northern freemen still hold liberty as their dearest possession, and that they will give their lives and property for its maintenance! FILL UP THE REGIMENTS! ENLIST! *Onward in the name of GOD, your COUNTRY and the CONSTITUTION!