Hd Qur 2^d Va Cav

Camp Fitz-Lee Brigade

Dec 22^d 1862

 

My dear Nannie

                                    A merry Xmas to you all and many returns of the same? as the Irish say. I have wished to write to all of you but really am such a bird of passage rarely ever have an opportunity, for if my men hear of my having a pen in hand, I am immediately beset with "Col will you please sign this" Col will you look at this & that & that & I might continue to write until I had filled this sheet & still have a hand full, & by the time I am through with them I am so completely out of humor & disgusted that I cannot bear / to use it longer.

 

Since I joined this command we have very little to do, but are constantly moving about, starving out both men and horses as "rapidly" as possible The poor horses seem to be refurbished by a little fresh corn daily, & corn & fodder every other day occasionally once in thirty-six hours. so you may imagine the pleasure I enjoy seeing a splendid Regiment reduced by mismanagement & a want of a little common sense. My Regiment is the largest in this Division & is nearly equal to the Brigade before I joined it & need I tell you the best in the service, less you should think me vain. / but I am proud of it, & would rather command it on detached service than a Brigade here

 

Stuart issued a circular asking that a subscription be taken up in the Division for the benefit of the suffering poor of Fredericksburg, & in an hour I had in my tent $2037. We will see what Regiment will do more in the whole Army. Many of my men are poor, but they are generous & brave, & tho they suffer for the thousand comforts & see their horses which they own themselves starve, I rarely hear any but just complaints.

 

I have not seen George for some time hear he is well saw Porntack yesterday, he heard from his father & home a few days before All of his / father's valuable negro's have gone to the Yankees. Indeed that whole country has lost nearly all of the servants. Willie has resigned and gone home, I regret very much that he could not get a furlough, which induced him to leave, but think he would have done better to have belled on, as he had won a reputation, and I am sure would have been better satisfied after the war. I visited Miss Kate Corbin a few days since at Mossy Neck, found her a very sweet person, her sister was keeping house with three or four little ones around her but as she did not have them very cleanly attired I did not kiss them for Rosa. We were not in the fight at Fredericksburg my Regt was on the right flank & under fire all day had one man wounded from their sharp / shooters. I am still in hopes the Secty of War will give my Regt. a place where it will be more agreeable to us all. I like Genl Lee very well he is certainly a gentleman & a good officer but would greatly prefer being on detached service than to be cramped & starved to death.

 

I am sorry not to be able to give you my account of the fight at Fredericksburg we could only see a small portion of their Army during the fight there the commander was terrible & their loss heavier than in any fight I have seen. they have completely riddled the town, but I trust are / so sorely discomforted I hope will remember the lesson they have received. rumor says Burnside has been superceded & Hooker in command. They are much demoralized and I do not believe will fight as here again, but the Powers that be think differently. Lomax is very well sends his love

 

with my kindest love to one & all I am

                                               

very truly & affectionately your

brother in law

Thomas T Munford

 

Address Gaines Depot Caroline Co Va

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