Annapolis, Monday Evening, Jan. 6, 1862.
To day the embarkation of the troops has been going forward. Several sad accidents have occurred, resulting in the death of several men, one of whom belonged to the Massachusetts twenty-third. While that regiment was waiting to embark, several members of Company C went to a saloon. Here Thomas Butler of that company was accidentally shot dead by one of his comrades named William Beecher, who was playfully going through the manual exercise with a gun not his own.
The war ship Minnesota, Commodore Goldsborough, made her appearance here this afternoon. The Massachusetts twenty-first went on board the steamer Northerner to day, Lieut. Col. Maggi commanding. On board the steamer Cossack there are six newspaper reporters, who mess together, and a jolly set they are. You will be pleased to know that when our regiment went on board the vessels to which they were assigned, Col. Upton put his own shoulder to bags and boxes, and made things move. This moving of so many regiments, with their teams and camp equipage, has made such a stir here in sleepy old Annapolis as will not soon be forgotten.
Tuesday, Jan. 7.—A clear and beautiful morning has dawned upon us, showing in the pleasant sunlight the vessels in the harbor crowded with soldiers. Regiments were going on board all last night, and such progress has been made that there is now a prospect that the fleet will sail to-morrow. The next news you have of us will be that we have landed somewhere, and victorious we must and will be.
Worcester Daily Spy, Worcester, MA