Steamer Telegraph

5 miles above Ceredo Va

Sunday 25^th Jan^y 1862

 

Dear Wife

                        We have reached this point without accident of any kind and both men and officers seem to be well and in good spirits. Last night was a heavy one to me, as I know it was to you. I woke up at twelve oclock and thoughts of you and home kept sleep away. The parting from you and the children was almost too much for me, and even in presence of the men I had like to have given way. I thought I was prepared before our orders arrived, but I feel that there can be but few things harder for me to endure, as far as distress of mind & heart is concerned than that which I have passed through during yesterday, and the days since the receipt of our orders. I have / left home to perform that which I consider a sound duty, and at whatever expense of suffering to myself I intend to perform it. Your distress has been almost too much for me, but I pray for help from that source whence comes all that makes life happy. You dear wife have learned for a long time to look to this source for all things and you will find now I know that in your time of trial, your hurt has not been in vain. How to comfort you dear wife I do not know. I feel that it is very hard to go, but I am sustained by my own conscience and my prayer is that you may learn to look upon my course in the same light.

 

Tonight we expect to reach Parkersburg but I shall not permit the boat to land until morning, so that I may keep my men from the whiskey shops which I am told are very abundant in that place. As soon as we can get cars we will proceed at once to Grafton for orders. I will write you if I can from Parkersburg & telegraph you / from Grafton if possible. This letter will be mailed from Pomeroy by two officers of the 9^th Virginia regiment who are on board & who leave us at that point.

 

            Every little town we pass the people rush to the bank of the river and salute us with the waving of flags & every imaginable thing in the shape of a cloth. Our men in return send up cheer after cheer with such heartiness that everything rings again when they shout. The day is magnificent. The sun shines as bright & warm as on the opening spring. May it prove a good omen of our future course in this struggle.

 

            John came on the boat with us and will go as far as Parkersburg, & then return with the boat. He will come & see you as soon as he returns to let you know from personal experience how we get along in all respects. Much to my surprise I find the officers are fed on the boat. Today at the end of the trip we will find a polite invitation to walk to the Captains office & settle. /

 

I shall anxiously wait to hear from you in regard to the draft in the hands of Shillits & Co. If there should be any difficulty in this matter I will make some other arrangements which will keep you amply supplied with money. There can be no difficulty however as I have only acted upon their written authority all of which I exhibited to Mr Shillits.

 

            And now dear Louise keep up your spirits & learn to take pride in that which I am doing, leaving the result in the hands of that being who directs all things for the best. Kiss the children for me & give them my love. Say that I shall expect to get letters from all of them regularly. May God bless you & them darling wife is the prayer of your devoted husband          

N. C. M^cLean             

N.B. We have services on the boat this afternoon—

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