Armed with pencil and paper, he jotted down particular desires of the soldiers-horehound candy for one, rice pudding for another. Nonetheless, he decided to remain in Washington to serve the Union through ministry to its wounded and to chronicle its struggle from the unique perspective of the hospital bedside. At the war's opening, Whitman, an anti-slavery and pro-Union journalist, was embittered at the failure of the republic's leaders to resolve the regional conflicts peacefully.

Before long he was visiting the hospitals daily. Once in Washington, Whitman visited the patients he had accompanied from Virginia and met other injured soldiers. While waiting at Aquia Creek, Whitman ministered to the injured, later recalling,'Several wanted word sent home to parents, brothers, wives, &c., which I did for them, (by mail the next day from Washington.) On the boat I had my hands full.

The journey from Falmouth to Washington was made in two parts: first by rail to Aquia Creek Landing, Virginia, and then by government steamer up the Potomac River to the landing at Seventh Street, S.W.

Mount and blade civil war