143rd Ohio Vol. Camp Totten, near Washington, Describes Trip from Enlistment to Washington, Grant's Army on the Move, Troops Being Sent to Front

4 pages in ink to his brother John who was a Captain in the 27th Ohio by William Cartright, he relates in part his journey from enlistment to Fort Totten near Washington. " I am glad to now have your address received from the family, we get the Washington papers every day and see that your regiment was in the fight and in the hospital. The news from home says you had been in 12 days fighting. We wanted to write you our particulars starting from four weeks ago - we went from Columbus to Camp Chase and were sworn in the U.S. service for 100 days, some would not swear in and they were marched off to the guard house, we went from Camp Chase to Washington and then to Fort Totten. We have only 20 guns to drill with, have two companies and two artillery sergeants to drill us. He hopes for peace soon and the war to be over this summer. Grant's army is as strong now as when it commenced to fight, there are few soldiers around Washington as they have been sent to the front. Everything is sanguine with Grant's army. Send letter in care of Captain Brient, Co. I 143rd ONG, Washington D.C., Your brother, William Cartright."