Head Quarters 3^d Brigade M^cCalls. Div.

Virginia 17^th March 16^th '62

 

My Dear Uncle,

             We are at last in the sacred soil of Virginia, we marched on Saturday afternoon from Camp King on Meridian Hill through Washington, over the canal, through Georgetown up alongside of the canal and crossed the chain bridge at dusk, continuing up the road several miles we finally reached McCalls head qrs. at 8 P.M. and here we halted for the night.

 

            The march was certainly one of the most tiresome ones that I ever had, it was 10 miles in length and through mud knee deep and a drenching rain, we were soaked through and through and on the whole felt a little fatigued.

 

            I received your very kind letter Friday night and handed your polite note of introduction to Lieu^t. Col. Hayward, it was very kindly received by him but as we had conversed together several times before, it was hardly necessary. I am very much obliged to you for it however, I am very much pleased with him, he is very gentlemanly and polite to me, and is liked by the men on account of his Christian example.

 

            Our Company is guarding 5 camps, 1 commissary store house, 1 Quartermaster's store house and the Head Quarters of Brig. Gen. Meade, 3^d Brigade McCalls Division, the other compa- / nies of our section (3) are distributed around doing guard duty for the other camps, 4 companies under the Lieu^t Col. are on towards Hunters Mill. We are busy all day long and so much so that I have scarcely any time to write.

 

            Lieu^t Leask is or was, very ill with the inflammation of the bowels when we left Washington. Captain Avery being under arrest, all the management of the company devolved on me while we were in Camp King, the Col. however had the Captain detailed to take command of the Company when we march^d from Washington and he is command now and it relieves me from considerable responsibility.

 

            We are having very cold and bleak winds here, but manage to keep warm in the fine tents of the Generals here, we found some Sutlers stores which were left behind and they are tiptop, love to all, yours in haste.

                                                                       

Affec—

W N Green Jr

 

PS. Please write me any news of importance in regard to matters & things. I cannot write anything about the movements of the troops here, but should like to if I could, the War Department have a right to search any letter and condemn it if not right.

                                                                                                           

Yours &c.

WG

 

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Lieut W^m N. Green Jr

Letter Recd from Doctor S. F. Green March 21^st 62

17^th March

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