Camp Metcalf Feby 4, 1863

 

Dear Co^l

            I feel almost as bad as I did 3 months ago Rogers arrived here a fortnight ago to morrow and to night his commission arrived as Co^l of the 2^nd it is a tough one isn't it He was getting to be very well liked in the Regt and was just getting the machine into good running order and now we shall have it fall back on its old [faded] again. I hope the Governor in his wisdom and [faded] will send us some one to take command of the Regt. soon Brayton would suit me pretty well what do you think of him for Col—

 

You know of course that we are not at Minors hill now but at [faded] Convalescent Camp half / way between Washington & Alexandria about two miles from Fairfax Seminary down in the hollow directly towards Washington and our duty is to guard the convalescents when the mud is not more than two feet deep it is nice easy place for me but the line officers don't like it much Companies C & K were detached yesterday and sent down to the recruit camp about two miles from here to guard that they are under the command of Capt Parkhurst of course and report to a regular officer Capt Upham

 

We are having a spell of cold weather here now and everything is frozen up tight as a brick; this morning at reveille the thermometer stood at four degrees below zero in Company I Starting out last week and Monday we had some mud I can tell you hub deep [faded] Monday [faded] down to the body and could not get it out at all and had to unload it and leave it [faded] and it froze in and they [faded] getting it out I reckon when the ground is not [faded] mud is awful I can tell you [faded] note of 10^th ultimate came to hand in due season [faded] that brevity is the soul of wit I tell you your letter was mighty witty. [faded] Pitman and ask the question shall I have? I think not [faded] I hear when Frieze has been appointed in the most common [faded] the officers [faded] but for Col / Good Lord deliver us. I see in the paper the Governor is at his old tricks of sending officers to the 3^rd from other Regts. It is a great thing for Rogers giving him [faded] thing was in his favor here this Regt hated Pitman, and then he had all your prestige besides I dont like to make impertinent remarks but excuse me if I say that I think that you do need some increase of caliber among your councillors. I should think you would feel a little lonesome [faded] write me a longer letter next time [faded] Mrs Olney Mrs Perry Mrs Wilcox [faded] Mrs Edwards Mrs Thomas & Mrs Gorton their [faded] gave their wives here and the Col sent off [faded] and two children this morning Write soon

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Yours truly      H S Olney

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