To Lieutenant Wright.

Cambridge, Oct. 29, 1861.

I was greatly relieved this morning by George’s letter, telling of your discharge. Your letter received a week ago was every way pleasant, except in being written at Camp Brightwood instead, as I had expected, at Northampton. Then came the news of the battle at Ball’s Bluff, which kept me anxious all the week lest the Tenth Regiment should be ordered on some military expedition before you were discharged. But the hard thoughts which I was beginning to entertain against the tardy officials at Washington are all happily dissipated now, and I most heartily wish you joy in your new dignities and duties.

Believe that you deserve your commission, but believe still more that you ought to deserve it; and don’t let your ambition rest here. There are several ranks higher than that of second lieutenant, you know, which you will no doubt deserve, if you keep in mind that you ought to deserve them.

Yesterday, in Boston, I attended the funeral services held in honor of young Lieutenant Putnam of the Twentieth Massachusetts, who fell at the battle of Ball’s Bluff.

He was the nephew of the poet Professor Lowell, a fine fellow about your age, and very accomplished. I had the

honor of being his tutor in Mathematics for a short time last winter. Several others of my friends and acquaintances, officers in the Twentieth, were wounded in that battle, and behaved very bravely. Young Putnam received his death-wound while supporting another wounded man.

I shall try to see you before you go with your new Regiment.