William B. Shubrick letter to a Union colonel

Washington DC

14th June 1862

My dear Colonel

I am obliged by your several letters giving me information of the state of Dr. Clymers health. The Doctor took us quite by surprise on the 7th – We [illegible] nothing of his having left Port Royal until we got a telegram from him at Philadelphia saying that he would leave that city at 12. for Washington – he is better than when he arrived and expects to return to his port at the expiration of his leave.

The Lighthouse Board is very sensible of the [illegible] Flag Officer [DuPont] in helping our lighthouse people out of their [pecuniary] difficulties, and have passed a resolution to that effect, of which I have informed him. We will endeavor to an arrangement which will prevent our having to trouble him again in that way. --- Captain Jenkins has left the L[ight].H[ouse].B[oard]. for sea service, though I believe he has not yet received any specific orders. And as it is difficult to find a suitable successor to him I am at present Chairman and Secretary which gives me a great deal to do.

We are just now feeling great anxiety about affairs in Richmond -- the greatest confidence in General McClellan, but our deluded fellow citizens of the South seem determined to make a desperate stand. If the accounts that we get through deserters and contraband can be depended upon they are hard up for food and not well supplied with arms, but such reports are always to be looked at with suspicion and with [illegible] the efforts of the North.

A hard fight has to be fought.

With [ardent] regards to the Flag Officer + Capt. Rodger

I am very truly yours

WB Shubrick