Lawrence Berry Washington
For most volunteers of the Virginia Regiment the voyage from Fort Monroe to Point Isabel was a wretched experience. The discomforts endured on board the crowded transports were many, but the greatest was seasickness. Some of the ships were struck by gales during which mountainous waves broke over the ships, drenching the seasick volunteers clinging to the rail. The stifling and crowded quarters below offered no greater comfort, with the putrid odor and crawling lice. High winds endured on the voyage prevented the building of fires to cook meals and boil coffee. The officers fared better as their meals were served up from the steward’s galley, where fires were permissible.[i]
The first battalion of the Virginia Regiment arrived at Point Isabel on February 18, 1847. The second battalion arrived on March 10th and followed the route of the first battalion up the Rio Grande to Camargo, Mexico. When Captain Johnson anchored the barque Exact on March 1, 1847 at Point Isabel on the Texas coast, Lt. Washington and the other men of Major Early’s detachment learned of Zachary Taylor’s victory at Buena Vista on February 22-23, which, although they could not have known at the time, marked the end of active campaigning in northern Mexico. [ii], [iii] The Virginia Regiment's duty was assigned to that of an occupational and peacekeeping force to prevent uprisings in northeastern Mexico.
Chronic cases of diarrhea-dysentery, caused by drinking contaminated water were the prevalent maladies of the
hospitalized. At the end of April 1847, the regiment, out of an aggregate strength of 938, had only 648 enlisted men and 36 officers, present for duty. Nearly 200 men were sick; ninety men and three officers were too sick for duty. Ninety enlisted men and five officers were sick, and confined to hospitals. [iv] Lt. Washington had been stricken by illness at Fort Monroe, but had embarked with his regiment to Mexico
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on the hope that his health would improve.[iva] In June 1847, Lt. Washington was in Monterrey with his regiment. Under the care of the regimental doctor in Monterrey, Lt. Washington was diagnosed him "suffering from hemorrhoids and affections of the liver which diseases he has been afflicted nearly six months. And that, in consequence thereof he is, in my opinion, unfit for duty. I further declare my belief that he will not be able to resume his duties in a less period than three months." [ivb] Lt. Washington requested leave of absence for the purpose of recovering his health 8 June 1847.[ivc]
Lt. Washington in June, 1847 was given a sick furlough by the regimental commander from the request of Col. Hamtramck. Also,Lt. Lawrence B. Washington and a number of other senior officers were sent back to Virginia on recruiting duty in June 1847.[v] Lt. Washington returned to Virginia by the land route up the Mississippi and Ohio Rivers. He posted two letters from the Ohio River, in one letter, dated July 19, 1847, he writes Col. Hamtramck, "Sir, the eighth of this month being the completion of the first month of my furlough, I should have reported at the time agreeable to orders, but was sick on the Steam Boat. My health is still bad, and my recovery has doubtless been retarded by the protracted voyage which it was my bad luck to undergo." [vi] In the other letter, dated June 8, 1847, he reported to the Adjutant General, "Sir, Being on a sick furlough and ordered to report monthly to the adjutant general the state of my health - I proceed to inform you that I am still unwell." [vii] It is probable that the letters of Lt. Washington posted on the Ohio River were at a port in Kanawha County, Virginia where the Lt. had friends. From the Ohio River, Lt. Washington made his way home to Jefferson County and then received a medical examination. Washington’s subsequent report to the Adjutant General dated July 28th 1847 transmits the medical report of his physician, Hugh J. McGiven of Winchester, Virginia. After examining Lt. Washington, Dr. Hugh J. McGiven reported “his general health is bad, now laboring under Jaundice produced as I suppose from inflammation of the Duodenum and regard him as unfit for Service, until his health is more restored.” [viii]
Upon reporting to Col. Walbach, he was placed on duty at that post. Lt. Washington then apprised Col. Hamtramck of that fact. At the time of the writing of the letter in November, Lt. Washington was again on leave granted by Col. Walbach. The Lt. entreats that if there was any omission of duty on his part, it was through ignorance and not neglect. If so, he begs to be enlightened. In concluding his letter, Lt. Washington requests orders to either resign, which a return of his malady would compel, or to receive immediate orders to rejoin his regiment in Mexico. [xii]
The decision to assign Lt. Washington to recruitment duty was made at Fort Monroe December 14, 1847. [xiii] Lt. Washington was assigned to recruitment duty. In attending to his recruitment duties, the following notice that appeared in the Spirit of Jefferson Dec. 17, 1847.
WAR NOTICE.
LIEUT. LAWRENCE B. WASHINGTON is authorized by the War Department to receive any number of recruits for service, during the existing War with Mexico. Persons wishing to enroll will do well to make immediate application to him in person or by letter in Charlestown, Jefferson County, Virginia.Dec. 17, 1847 . |
Also, pursuant to his recruitment duties, Lt. Washington placed the following notice in the Virginia Free Press, January 12, 1848.
“Lieutenant L. B. Washington, of the Virginia Regiment, is recruiting for his own company, in order that it may be filled to the standard of 100 men. All Able bodied men, of good character, between the ages of 15 and 45, by applying to him in person, or to George W. Sappington, Esq., of Charlestown, can have their names enrolled, and be immediately furnished with comfortable board and lodging at the expense of the government.”
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With U. S. military activities in Mexico waning, Lt. Washington received notice in May, 1848 that no additional Virginia Volunteers were needed. Lt. Washington, in closing out his recruiting efforts, requested funds for subsistence and pay. [The funds he requested were sent to Charleston, South Carolina by mistake, but more funds were subsequently sent him.] Lt. Washington's recruitment services completed, he reported to Fort Monroe. [xiv]
The Mexican War was concluded with the signing of the Treaty of Guadalupe in February, 1848. May 7, 1848, Lt. Washington sent a letter to U. S. Secretary of War, William L. Marcy, offering to raise a company of troops to fight Mexican forces in Oregon or elsewhere on the condition that he be granted a captaincy.[xv] The Virginia Volunteers of Captain Rowan’s Company in Mexico returned home the first week in August. Lt. L. B. Washington and the members of the First Virginia Regiment of Volunteers were honorably discharged.
The Mexican War was concluded with the signing of the Treaty of Guadalupe in February, 1848. May 7, 1848, Lt. Washington sent a letter to U. S. Secretary of War, William L. Marcy, offering to raise a company of troops to fight Mexican forces in Oregon or elsewhere on the condition that he be granted a captaincy.[xv] The Virginia Volunteers of Captain Rowan’s Company in Mexico returned home the first week in August. Lt. L. B. Washington and the members of the First Virginia Regiment of Volunteers were honorably discharged.
Sources:
[i] Wallace, Lee A., Jr., 1969, The First Regiment of Virginia Volunteers 1846-1848, in The Virginia Magazine of History and Biography, vol. 77, January 1969, pp. 46-77, p. 58-59.
[ii] Johnson, William Page II, 2006, Off to War, Heritage Books,Westminster, Maryland, 460 p., p. 23.
[iii] Early, R. H., 1912, Lieutenant General Jubal Anderson Early, J. B. Lipincott Company, Philadelphia & London, 496 p., p. xxi
[iv] Wallace, Lee A., Jr., 1969, The First Regiment of Virginia Volunteers 1846-1848, in The Virginia Magazine of History and Biography, vol. 77, January 1969, pp. 46-77, p. 60-61.
[iva] Note of Col. Walbach of Fort Monroe August 16, 1847 appended to Letter Report of Lt. L. B. Washington to the Adjutant General posted at Charlestown, Jefferson County Va., August 8th, 1847.
[ivb] Report of W. H. D'Arison, Surgeon, 1st Regiment, Virginia Volunteers, 8 June 1847.
[v] Wallace, Lee A., Jr., 1969, The First Regiment of Virginia Volunteers 1846-1848, in The Virginia Magazine of History and Biography, vol. 77, January 1969, pp. 46-77, p. 69.
[vi] Johnson, William Page II, 2006, Off to War, Heritage Books,Westminster, Maryland, 460 p., p. 302.
[vii] Report of Lt. Lawrence B. Washington, June 8, 1847, Letters received by the Adjutant General, 1822-1860.
[viii] Report of Dr. Hugh J. McGiven on the health of Lt. Lawrence B. Washington, 28 July, 1847, Letters received by the Adjutant General, 1822-1860.
[ix] Letter Report of Lt. L. B. Washington to the Adjutant General dated Charlestown, Jefferson County Va., August 8th, 1847.
[x] Report of staff and Col. Walbach, 16 August, 1847, Fort Monroe, Virginia.
[xi] Johnson, William Page II, 2006, Off to War, Heritage Books,Westminster, Maryland, 460 p., p. 302.
[xii] Letter from Lt. L. B.Washington to [Capt.] W. G. Freeman, [Fort Monroe], dated Charles Town, Jefferson County, Virginia, November 12, 1847.
[xiii] Letter from Lt. L. B. Washington December 8, 1847 and notations thereto of officer at Fort Monroe.
[xiv] Letter from Lt. L. B. Washington May 12, 1848, Letters received by the Attorney General 1822-1860.
[xv] Washington, Lawrence Berry, 1848, Letter from Lawrence Berry Washington, Fortress Monroe, Va. to Will L. Marcy, ALS, May 7, 1848, WorldCat, OCLC 122466373 (https://worldcat.org/ococ/122466373): [In trying to obtain a copy of this letter, I have been informed by the Library of Congress that this letter is in the files of the Rosenberg Free Library. I have inquired seeking to obtain access to the letter, but I have been unable to obtain a copy.]
[i] Wallace, Lee A., Jr., 1969, The First Regiment of Virginia Volunteers 1846-1848, in The Virginia Magazine of History and Biography, vol. 77, January 1969, pp. 46-77, p. 58-59.
[ii] Johnson, William Page II, 2006, Off to War, Heritage Books,Westminster, Maryland, 460 p., p. 23.
[iii] Early, R. H., 1912, Lieutenant General Jubal Anderson Early, J. B. Lipincott Company, Philadelphia & London, 496 p., p. xxi
[iv] Wallace, Lee A., Jr., 1969, The First Regiment of Virginia Volunteers 1846-1848, in The Virginia Magazine of History and Biography, vol. 77, January 1969, pp. 46-77, p. 60-61.
[iva] Note of Col. Walbach of Fort Monroe August 16, 1847 appended to Letter Report of Lt. L. B. Washington to the Adjutant General posted at Charlestown, Jefferson County Va., August 8th, 1847.
[ivb] Report of W. H. D'Arison, Surgeon, 1st Regiment, Virginia Volunteers, 8 June 1847.
[v] Wallace, Lee A., Jr., 1969, The First Regiment of Virginia Volunteers 1846-1848, in The Virginia Magazine of History and Biography, vol. 77, January 1969, pp. 46-77, p. 69.
[vi] Johnson, William Page II, 2006, Off to War, Heritage Books,Westminster, Maryland, 460 p., p. 302.
[vii] Report of Lt. Lawrence B. Washington, June 8, 1847, Letters received by the Adjutant General, 1822-1860.
[viii] Report of Dr. Hugh J. McGiven on the health of Lt. Lawrence B. Washington, 28 July, 1847, Letters received by the Adjutant General, 1822-1860.
[ix] Letter Report of Lt. L. B. Washington to the Adjutant General dated Charlestown, Jefferson County Va., August 8th, 1847.
[x] Report of staff and Col. Walbach, 16 August, 1847, Fort Monroe, Virginia.
[xi] Johnson, William Page II, 2006, Off to War, Heritage Books,Westminster, Maryland, 460 p., p. 302.
[xii] Letter from Lt. L. B.Washington to [Capt.] W. G. Freeman, [Fort Monroe], dated Charles Town, Jefferson County, Virginia, November 12, 1847.
[xiii] Letter from Lt. L. B. Washington December 8, 1847 and notations thereto of officer at Fort Monroe.
[xiv] Letter from Lt. L. B. Washington May 12, 1848, Letters received by the Attorney General 1822-1860.
[xv] Washington, Lawrence Berry, 1848, Letter from Lawrence Berry Washington, Fortress Monroe, Va. to Will L. Marcy, ALS, May 7, 1848, WorldCat, OCLC 122466373 (https://worldcat.org/ococ/122466373): [In trying to obtain a copy of this letter, I have been informed by the Library of Congress that this letter is in the files of the Rosenberg Free Library. I have inquired seeking to obtain access to the letter, but I have been unable to obtain a copy.]
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