Camp on Potomac Creek Va

January 25^th 1863

       

My dear Colonel

                        We have returned pretty well used up from our late march & camp up the river. Burnside ordered forward & told us that we were to fight the great battle of the war. God commanded a halt & the pontoons & cannon did not move an inch further.

 

            It may have saved the Southern Confederacy, & it may have saved our own from greater ruin. At all events it has saved many lives in our own division, for we were to have been in the advance. Burnside moved very rapidly when he began & I think he might have been successful. Our Grand Division was to have crossed about eight miles above here & then behind us Siegel & behind him Franklin on parallel roads to the river. No crossing was possible there in the face of a large force, but and the delay gave the "rebs" time to concentrate on the hills near the river. At first they had no force there & we could have crossed easily if the cannon & pontoons could have come up. No wagons were allowed in the column, or behind it & the consequence was that we had no tents & soon neither had nor could get provisions. / The whole army was turned out to make roads & at last with great labor we succeeded in saving & getting back the cannon & pontoons, men & horses dragging them.

 

            We suffered much from the constant rain & exposure. I send you to day my resignation. I see no chance of getting a discharge here. Prescott will not approve it for the reason that I am valuable to him. I did not dare to apply to Adams for a certificate, but I presume the one I send will answer as well as any any. I am not sick, but I am not quite as well as usual. exposure & labor have rather worn me out, & I really doubt my ability to bear another vigorous campaign. If Prescott merely "forwarded respectfully" my papers, I could expect nothing more from Switzer or Griffin. Either of them would do me a common favor, but neither of them would consider that this was for the interest of the service, & my papers would probably be disapproved at Corps Hd Qrs, where I have no friends. Of course I could not use Faxon's certificate here & win if Adams would give me one like it I should have to be examined by Dr Owen!

 

Capt. Edwards has applied for leave of absence to go to Washington. It will probably come back within a week & I shall send by him a duplicate of these papers. He knows Wilson & his father has influence with him. Perhaps Wilson will put them through but I have no great hopes of it. In the mean while if you / know any one you can send them to with a good chance of success please do so. It is well to have two strings to ones bow. Edwards & Faxon are the only persons here who know that I have concluded to get out of the army if I can. It was a long time before I could make up my mind to resign, but now it seems clearly my duty.

 

            Of course it is quite possible that Edwards may not get his leave, & the rainy period is so short here that it is very important to take advantage of any moment of inactivity. Dana, Warren & Hensch have received their commissions. Col. Prescott's has not come. He has applied for leave of absence 20 days "to confer with Gov. Andrew about the appointments".

 

            Faxon has resigned & sent up the papers to day. Prescott wants to get rid of him & approved them. Adams & Stephenson have quarreled about the fly that Stephenson took for his tent. They nearly came to blows & we had to get between them. Adams tried to strike & Stephenson armed himself with a big bottle! What a happy family! I fear that a court martial will be the result. When you send my papers will you please give a hint to the M.C. that a return "for approval" "through proper channels" would make an unpleasant delay? You know my health might suffer still more from prolonged delay!! /

 

Please give my regards to Mrs Parker. Hoping to be able to talk over the past & future with you before many weeks in your little library I am

                                                                                   

Very Truly Your friend

Cha^s K. Cobb

 

What a pleasure it must be to feel that one can go to N.Y. or anywhere else without asking permission from half a dozen generals!—I call myself 1^st Lt. only because I thought they would not discharge an adjutant so readily.

 

[endorsements]

 

Adjt Cobb

Jany 25, 1863

 

Hd Qrs 32^d Mass Vols

January 26^th 1863

                                   

Cobb. Charles. K.

1^st Lt. & Adjt.

                                   

Applies for his discharge

                                   

Hd Qrs 32^d Mass Vols

January 26^th 1863

Respectfully forwarded

recommended

            Without Command by

            Lt. Col. Prescott

Cha^s K. Cobb. Adjt

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