Alexandria July 10^th 1862

 

Dear Marshall

                        I received yours of the 30^th June & 5^th July and I thank you for the same. I was very glad to hear from you no change of importance has taken place here since I wrote you last. We celebrated the 4^th by a review &c after which we had a speech by the General and and another by somebody else. And then we had the beer at the expense of the line & field officers. in the evening we had a grand display of fireworks consisting of an immense number of spitting devils made of wet cartridges. Fort Worth favored us with a few variations on its fine instruments from the clear treble of the small Wiard and Parrot guns down to the double bass of a ten inch Columbiad. there has been great fears in camp for the safety of Mac, but the latest news from that quarter has given us great relief there has been severe fighting but I feel satisfied that the rebel loss is much greater than ours. this must be the case when the attacking party is repulsed every time it is a bitter pill for the Richmond papers but they are forced to swallow it. the effect on the men caused by the complete failure of their greatest effort is as good for us as another division of another of reinforcements. but the news I like to hear of is of the conduct of the gunboats. they take the rag off the bush and are the crowning glory of our strength. the first and second division Brigades of our old division that left here a short time ago are now before Richmond and I learn by the papers that some of them have been engaged with their old acquaintances under Jackson 

 

I think we will stay here until our ranks are full which will be done by sending recruits from Ohio. there is no show for the reg^t getting home to Ohio, and still less for any of the men getting a furlough. no one can leave here unless he can show a surgeons certificate stating that remaining longer in camp would actually kill them or disable them permanently. A man was here yesterday from Ohio he represents the Gov^r of Ohio and says it is part of his duty to attend to our wants and interests. What all that means will be seen in due course of time. I intend to go up to Washington tomorrow to see the sights. My health is excellent and I am happy to say that all the ills from which I have suffered are now among the missing. You speak in your last letter about my telling you of my being an officer. I do not now remember what I did tell you, but at present I am Orderly Sergeant of Company D and have been since March 10^th previous to that I was 5^th Sergeant. how long I remain in my present position and whether I leave it or am put out of it is a matter depending entirely on circumstances. One thing I do know, it is the most disagreeable place in the company on account of an O.S. having more work to do and less time to himself than any other officer or man in the company for about a week we have had very hot weather to-day a fine cooling rain is falling. I will write you again soon. hoping you are all very well I am as Ever

                                                                       

Yours James Clarke

           

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