Monterey April 22^nd 1862

 

            Yesterday dear wife brought me two letters from you and one from Jane. They were welcome visitors I assure you just at this time, for we need all things to keep us in any kind of spirits. The rain has fallen incessantly for I cannot tell how many days, and the mud has made the camps and towns almost unbearable. It seems impossible for the sun to shine in this region for any length of time. This morning it was clear and bright for a little while but for the greater part of the day we have had storms of either rain or snow. Pleasant weather this far the season, and well calculated to cheer one away from home. One of your letters I received yesterday about dinner time and the other this morning. They both came in the same mail, but the first letter was sent me from headquarters to where I was holding the court martial, and the other to my quarters with the rest of the mail for the regiment. Your last letter tells me that Johnny really has the scarlet fever, but it also informs me that the fever has left him, so that I feel relieved very much in regard to his sickness. It is a little singular, the manner in which the letters announcing his sickness have been received. Those telling me of his recovery came first to hand, so that I knew of his convalescence before I knew of his sickness. This irregularity has been occasioned by the culpable carelessness of our mail carriers. They have lost two or three of the last mails / in the road, which have been picked up by other persons passing along the road and brought into camp. The letters and papers have been all soaked with water and in some instances destroyed. On this account your letters have come very irregularly and in this one case I do not regret it, as I have thusly been saved a vast deal of anxiety. From your last account I hope dear little Johnny is by this time entirely well. You must keep him quiet, although the task will be a difficult one no doubt.

 

            Just after receiving your first letter on yesterday I was summoned by Gen^l Milroy to go with him to M^cDowell. A report had reached him that the rebels under Johnston had evacuated their camp on the top of the Shenandoah mountain, of which I wrote you a day or two ago, and he wished to know the truth. Col. Smith of the 73^rd Ohio & Major Cryer of the Virginia Cavalry with two of the Gen^l's aids were also of the party. The day was as gloomy as any I have seen even in this most gloomy region. The wind was blowing from the northeast and the rain came down all the time in profusion, with occasional gusts of pouring, when it seemed as if the clouds had opened wider than usual on account of the pressure of water contained in them. The roads were very muddy, and here and there overflowed by the mountain stream which rushes along side after we cross the Jack mountain on which we had the battle. You may imagine therefore that our ride was not a tempting one, and yet in spite of the cold drenching rain, and the mud, my ride was not an unpleasant one. We rode on the jump all the way, and the speed of our horses seemed to add life to the riders. /

 

            The mud flew in all directions. First the General splashed my Aqua Scutum with the muddy water so that until washed clean by the rain, I did not present a very respectable appearance. After this I unintentionally paid him back when we pushed our horses under the excitement of our ride to almost the top of their speed by depositing some mud from my horses heels directly in his mouth and over his face. He laughed heartily at the accident and so did we all, and thus we rode through the mud and drenching rain making merry over even our discomforts. A draggled looking set of men when we arrived at McDowell which was ten miles off. Soap and water washed our faces hands and boots, and when our overcoats were off we made quite a respectable appearance. We found that the report was true in regard to the flight of the rebels. They left in great haste on Saturday afternoon destroying such provisions tents and camp equipage as they could not carry along with them. Flour barrels were knocked to pieces & the contents scattered on the ground, other provisions destroyed in the same way, and the tents not burned were cut all to pieces, so as entirely to ruin them. All this showed that their flight was hasty and that they feared an attack. The rebels have pressed into their ranks a great many of the militia of this region, who desert upon all occasions, wherever it is practicable. Several of them came into M^cDowell on yesterday having deserted during the march on Saturday night. In the dark they dropped out of the ranks and took to the woods where they remained until all the rebels had passed by, and then throwing away their guns and accoutrements, they gave themselves up / to our forces. They threw away their guns lest they might be shot upon sight by our men. These deserters say that great numbers are deserting and going to their homes. This tells badly for the rebel cause, and I hope such fortune may pursue them to the end of their wickedness. Gen^l Milroy remained at M^cDowell today with the intention of riding forward and finding out the course of the enemy. We are uncertain where they have gone. There are rumors that their retreat to Staunton has been cut off by Gen^l Banks having occupied that place, but this comes from their side & we have no such information. Our situation here is a very trying one. The commander of the Department remains at Wheeling, and restrains Gen^l Milroy from advancing when he cannot possibly know whether it is proper for us to do so or not. He gives Gen^l Milroy no discretion and leaves him entirely ignorant of his plans. If we had been permitted to advance upon the Shenandoah Camp I have no doubt we could have driven the rebels back in great confusion, if we could not have forced them to surrender. Why we are held back I cannot imagine. Shenandoah Mountain is I believe the eastern boundary of Piedmont department, and there is now no enemy remaining in front of us on the Staunton road within his jurisdiction. If we are to be confined within this department our lot will be a hard one. All hardship and no chance for anything else. In a few days we will know our fate. My companions have been in bed for some time, and I must follow their example. Love to Sat & the children & family, with good night kisses for dear little wife.

N. C. M^cLean

 

(Postage stamps have arrived safe)

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