Same old spot

Octo. 25 1862

 

My dear wife

            The first use that I make of your present of a writing case is to write to you & thank you for it and for all those comfortable things which Mr Cobb brought with it. they all come very put to the point (except perhaps the stationery) and will all of them come to constant service. It is almost as good to receive such a package as it is to Frank to get a box of what he melodiously calls "grub". One thing after another was produced examined & admired by the field staff until I knocked off so as to save up some of the pleasure for the next day.

 

            But the Stationery!! goodness me! On the march all that you sent / wont help me for it will be locked up in a valise and in the wagons which will be far away and when we come to a camp for a day or two, we have cords of it in the Quarter Masters department. But I shall use it.

 

            Yours of the 13^th is the last that I have received. Does D^r Stedman intend to remain at home or to go to sea again & what vessel does he go in.

 

            Mr Oriatt will last about a week in the service.

 

            Of course people are getting uneasy about the army not moving—I reckon that they would be more uneasy if it did—we can go into Virginia & march up the Shenandoah Valley easy enough / losing 15 or 20000 of the peoples brothers & sons & leaving Stuarts Cavalry at liberty to forage any where in Pennsylvania—Oh yes say the people but why dont you catch Stuart's cavalry too—well if he would advertise for 4 weeks in the principal newspapers when & where he was to be found we might but the worst of it is he has the selection of what point for 100 miles on the Potomac he will cross and all the army of the United States couldnt stop his crossing—all they can do is to chase him when he has broken through our lines and as our cavalry is composed mostly of stupid / men with stupid officers riding on battered and starved horses—the chance of catching anybody is small—least of all of catching a body of gentlemen all horsemen & superbly mounted on horses owned by themselves.

 

            The fact is that the people at home wont know anything about war unless they go to it and when they get there they wont be in any great hurry to fight every other day and march every other one.

 

            Please to send me by mail a woolen army shirt similar to my others 16 or 16½ inches round the neck. 

 

today I have had a twenty mile ride to inspect one of my companies which is on detached service. The day was pleasant the air hazy as it should be at this season. Coming back to shorten the route I came over a ridge of hills and from the summit looked down upon the camps of Sumner & Burnside and M^cClellans Head Quarters, the reserve artillery & the huge army trains. It was a beautiful view apart from its warlike aspect. It could be a pleasure "when this sad war is over" to go with you over the ground of our marches & battles and see how the country looks in time of peace / My present impression is that a view down Chester park would be pleasing or an "American interior" at No 80.

 

            Dont let Mary fall to cursing about the war if you can prevent it. My love to her Willie & the children                    

 

Affy Your husband                      

Fran^s J Parker

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