Camp 32^d Mass Vols

Kemper's Ford. June 3^d 1863

 

Dear Col

                                    Yours of the 25^th ulto just received together with the pictures which were much admired especially by Hoyt who immediately proceeded to imitate the style with the enclosed result which I send for your edification I believe the last time I wrote you I was rather spreading myself as Commandant of the Potomac Creek Fortifications and indulging in great anticipations for the future "Alas for human hopes"!

 

We had barely got settled before we received orders to move and here we are on the Rappahannock River at Kemper's Ford which is between Ellis & Kelly's Fords with instructions to prevent the Rebels from crossing and a fine time we shall have of it I am afraid I send you some outlines showing the form of the river at this point and also the earthworks which have been erected under the direction of chief engineer Prescott made on a new principle in the form of a trap with two openings, at each of which I expect some ½ a dozen rebels will present themselves some dark night and say to our / men "that as those are the only convenient means of egress they had better throw down their arms and surrender" Our position is a bad one if the rebels see fit to attack us the banks of the river on this side being wooded they have a full range over the open fields on our side and the shape of the river being such that with artillery planted on the open space as marked on plan they can shell us without any difficulty We keep sixty men at the ford and the balance in camp ½ a mile to the rear

 

            Those women did not come to our camp after all the particular object of their visit being the hospitals of the 3^d Corps which were at too great a distance from our camp Col P. visited them a number of times before we left. he never told me with what success. Pike is discharged but he cannot get his descriptive list which troubles him exceedingly, he was discharged by Dr Dale, so I am told

 

            Edmunds gets along very well the only trouble being that he is rather young and boyish thinks rather too much of his pretty clothes and visits other camps too much Still he is quite efficient and if he dont get his head turned will make a good / officer; he threatened to resign at our last camp he first was located with the Col and got so disgusted that he begged me get him transferred to my command or else he must send in his resignation. The Col seemed to forget that he was a Major and used him for a mounted orderly               Bumpus got discharged on the application of Gov. Andrew "for promotion" I believe Dr Adams arranged the matter with the Gov. when he was in Boston.

 

Cunningham is quite sick with the bilious fever Whidden is sick again, he applied for his discharge but your friend Dr Owen would not approve his application and recommended that he be transferred to the Invalid Corps. (only think of it! The higher powers didn't see it so poor Whidden remains here to die. Dr Owen I am happy to say has within a few days received orders to report for duty in New Mexico. I hope the Indians will get him and take off his scalp

 

            I thank you heartily for your present; my box has not yet arrived so I can give no opinion respecting the flags                                    

 

Yours truly

L. Stephenson Jr

 

[endorsement]

 

L^t Col Stephenson

June 3^d 1863.

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