w/Army as

Civilian seeking

duty in Q M Dept

Brandy Station Va.

December 9^th 1863.

 

Dr sir

            As I have not had the pleasure of hearing from you for some time I now take the opportunity of addressing you.

 

            I have now been out with the Army for over one month past, but in a civil capacity but intend visiting Washington in the course of next week to solicit from the Department my appointment as Captain and A.Q.M. it is a matter of great moment to me to secure the appointment as soon as possible, as I have the assurance that if I can secure my appointment within a short time I can get a very favorable and responsible position in connection with the Q. M. Dept of / of this Army, and my return would be highly gratifying to many officers with whom I became acquainted at Stoneman's.

 

            I am at present very [?] situated and my pay is very nearly that of a Captain but I find it unpleasant in many ways, as I feel that although I may be a tolerable good master, yet I make but a very poor servant and I am debarred from many associations which would be agreeable to me as well as deprived of all chances of future advancement.

 

            Now like a woman I will come to the main question inst. I have no doubt that your influence if exerted in my behalf would be highly advantageous to me if not entirely sufficient to effect my appointment. now I can only say that if you would interest yourself in this matter and take hold of it as I know you can you would / place me under many obligations. my recommendations in the Dept now on file are from Col. J. Fred Pierson, General Mansfield, General H G Berry, Gen Rufus Ingalls Q M General M. C. Meiggs also Hon J W Chanler, Elijah Ward, John Cochrane. All are highly commendatory and request my appointment in urgent terms. but I have not as yet succeeded in placing myself "in rapport" with the Secretary, and I am aware that very strong influence is required to induce the Secretary to appoint any one from the city of New York, but I am determined to make the effort and if I fail it will be for the first time. I will leave it with you to determine on what direction

 

            Dec^r 14^th As I have been very busily employed since the 9^th I have not had a very favorable opportunity of finishing up my letter untill this evening. I wish you would answer on receipt of this and inform me if in your opinion you can aid me in this matter in my own opinion I do not think that Secretary Stanton looks with any thing but a favorable light upon any one / hailing from the City of N.Y. in point of which you can look at the list of appointments from the city and State of New York and they are few and far between. Now if his Excellency is determined to vent his spleen on us, why, let him do it, but I think it very poor policy for him. You have no doubt seen the circumstances of the arrest of the Q M at Alexandria, so perhaps it is not such a very big thing after all to be A.Q.M.

 

            I see Gunther has been elected Mayor of the city of New York defeating Brot very badly. You may remember I told you when we first came home that he would be the next mayor. I saw him a few days before he left us and he wished me much to remain but I was tired of the city and some reasons for wishing to leave

 

            I wish you would send my "Aquia Scutum" coat or the waterproof one I lent you at Stoneman's by express to my mother's 118^th Street near 3^rd Avenue Harlem NYCity.

 

            There is nothing new in the Army but the men are reenlisting rapidly for three years, so much so that it will weaken the Army to that extent that they will have to fall back as they send each Regiment home when ¾ of the men reenlist. the 1^st Virginia has gone home and I am informed that 15000 are going home shortly all reenlisted. let me hear from you soon Very Truly Yours

                                                                       

R G Walmsley

Care of Crp W^m H Lambert

Box N^o 112

Alexandria Va

 

lot 3

R. G. Walmsley

Decb 9

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