Camp Metcalf Va March 1, 1863

           

Dear Co^l

                                    I am not agoing to bore you much this time but just give you a slight potion as a reminder that I was once a member of the 3^rd R I Artillery and under your command and also that I was again associated with you for the short time you were in command of the 11^th R.I. of which I have the honor at the present time to be Quarter master

 

We have no Co^l yet since Rogers left us but Lt Col Church of the 7^th R.I. was appointed Col of this ten days or more ago but could not get discharged from that Regt till he could show his commission as Colonel of this but I think matters are arranged so that will get it and get here in the course of the present week hope so at any rate for I have got so I fairly hate old Pitman and you know I am not hypocrite enough to successfully conceal my feelings under such circumstances.

 

Mrs Pitman has been here now about two weeks and [torn] PA has got a small village for his own and wifes [torn] tion is two wall tents two A tents and a Sibley [torn] eating in the mess tent with the rest of us. I hung [torn] about getting the Sibley as long as I could in hopes that Church would get here and take the same / view of the subject that Rogers did and that was that I need not get him one unless I chose to in which case I certainly should not have chosen to I can tell you My wife still remains here as does also Mrs Perry Dr Grosvenor has no wife so he has his Mother and Aunt here instead Capt Gortons wife is still here but Mrs Kendrick & Mrs Thomas have gone home.

 

Capt Howard is at home on a leave of absence procured on acct of his father's severe illness and rumor says that he will not come back to stay if he can get discharged as if the old gentleman don't die he will never be able to attend to any business again and Capt Howard will be needed there.

 

J Fessenden & Burlingame were both promoted to 1^st Lieutenantcys on Rogers recommendation and Segts Thompson of Co H & Robinson of Co E to 2^nd Lieuts on the same recommendation. Sweet of Capt Thomas Co resigned his warrant as 1^st Sergt and was appointed 3^rd Sgt and is now under arrest and will probably be reduced to the ranks charge drunkenness when on duty.

 

The Dr discharged 14 last week and has got another batch through now which he is agoing to send off to morrow He told me last night that he had discharged [torn] or 34 in all since the Regt came out and two have [torn] viz Severn the Hospital Steward & my man of Co D Companies C & K are detached from the Regt and are at [torn] distributing camp 2½ miles from here they have sent two men into Washington last week with small pox 

 

            Gen Cowdin (formerly Col of the 1^st Mass) has been ordered with his brigade from Minors hill to a place just outside of the rifle pits on the pike that leads from the long bridge to Centreville say about ½ a mile from where the 12^th first encamped and about a mile or a mile and a quarter from here and Cowdin told me that a detail of 700 men had been made for 10 days to dig rifle pits to complete the defences of Washington and at the expiration of that time another would probably be made so that don't look much like leaving for the front right away does it.

 

I hear in Washington that Hunter is to be superseded again or something of the sort and that No Carolina is to be added to the department and Burnside to take command of the whole have you heard any thing of it—

 

Lieut Harrington who I believe was a favorite of yours has resigned on account of ill health got discharged and gone home—

 

Dennis is here now 1^st Lieut Co A Clark feels a little sore in consequence Bacon still remains on Cowdin's Staff by consent of Co^l Rogers but all the [torn] detailed from this Regt have returned to it The Sergt Major has not been promoted yet

 

Please remember me to all my old acquaintances

 

This scrawl has spun out a great deal longer than I intended

 

Yours as ever H. S. Olney Lieut & R.Q.M. 11 Regt RIVols

SOURCES