Huttonsville   

Feb 28^th 1862

           

You have learned by my telegraph darling wife ere this of our arrival at this point. We arrived here day before yesterday, and reported to Gen^l Milroy at his head quarters in a log cabin. He is a fine looking man over six feet high, and has the reputation of being a good general. He is polite & kind, treating us with consideration after our hard march. Since our arrival I have been engaged all the time in getting my men comfortable which is no easy matter in a country where we can get neither lumber or straw or hay for them to sleep on. The men have cut brush and branches of fresh pine upon which they sleep very comfortably. The pine when pressed by their feet gives forth / a fresh perfume which is very agreeable & healthy. The men have stood the march wonderfully well under the circumstances. Gen^l Milroy has visited us in camp, and says we have had as hard marching as we will have during the campaign I have forgotten whether I told you in regard to the rescinding of the orders dividing our regiment & lest I have not I will tell you now. Immediately upon reaching this hole for it is not worthy of the name of town, I drew the regiment up in line & reported in person to Gen^l Milroy. He directed me where to camp at a place about a mile from the town. After the camp was established I again reported for orders and he then gave me an order to keep my regiment together here, and relieved me from the command of the post, for which I thanked him most sincerely. We will thus be enabled / perfect our drill to some extent as I expect we will remain here for some little time. The Gen^l says he cannot move without more transportation forage &c. and these he cannot get at present. Just imagine how bare the country is, when he suggested to my Quartermaster that he might send teams some eighteen or twenty five miles back over the road we have travelled in order to procure forage. Hard times for the poor horses is it not? The men fare better although our rations are not varied as in Camp M^cLean. This camp I have named Milroy after the Gen^l on account of the favor done me in not dividing the regiment. We are here some thirty or forty miles from any regular camp of the enemy and the only trouble you can meet with here is from bushwhackers who attack stragglers from the Company. / Our troops are encamped on the summit of Cheat mountain some ten miles from here on the direct line to the enemy so that they must first be driven in before we can be reached. At this point the mail stops I am informed; that is when it runs. Last night the arrival of the mail rejoiced many hearts. We had a meal bag full of letters for the regiment. It came just as my supper was ready, but I seized the bag & let supper go until I had distributed every letter to the captains of the different companies. I was made rich by the receipt of four letters from my darling wife, all written from Louisville. They were the first letters received since we left Newburg last Monday week, and you may imagine with what pleasure we read them. /

 

I am afraid dear wife that you do not guard yourself enough. I see that you need me to make you take that care which is now more than ever necessary for you. Indeed you cannot be too careful in any particular, in order to preserve your health, for the trial which is coming upon you. I wish you to take exercise in the open air every day. There is nothing which will benefit you so much as this. It will keep off your headaches, and give you strength to bear that which is before you. Do little wife be very careful for upon you depends my whole happiness in this life. I fully return your warmest love dear wife, and only wish you were here at this moment in order that I might take you in my arms and by warm loving kisses make you feel / how devotedly I love you. Think then darling wife of me, and do guard yourself in every possible way from ill health. Do not wait to be sick before you begin to do anything but the moment you find any irregularity correct it at once. In this way you know you have heretofore been kept well. Your letters rejoiced me as I was satisfied in hearing from you, but since reading them the thought that you continue to suffer from slight sickness gives me trouble. Take the advice of your mother. I cannot be with you, and you must consult her.

 

How much I wish the recent victories might reestablish our union upon a firm basis. I have no idea however that such will be the result. We have got before us some hard fighting before the end can be reached. I feel / very much for Mrs. Johnson. Give my love to her, and say that she has my warmest sympathy in her trouble and if ever it is in my power to help her husband, consistent with my duty she may rest assured that I will do all in my power for him. Tell her not to grieve for his life is safe at all events, and for this she ought to be thankful.

 

I regret very much to hear that your Uncle William has so misrepresented me. He is entirely mistaken in my sentiments, and equally so in ever having heard me make any statements which could induce him to believe that I was an abolitionist Why he should be so bitter I cannot understand, as he or his family have never had any cause to complain of me in any particular, unless indeed my present position is objectionable. In that event I glory in being in / opposition to them. You will of course regulate your conduct in your intercourse with the family as you deem best. I can rely upon your judgment in this as in all other matters.

 

Dinner is called and I must close with love to the dear children and all the family, and a thousand warm kisses to darling wife.

N. C. M^cLean

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