Franklin May 21st 1862

 

            Now that we seem to be settled for a few days at least dear wife I can write to you oftener than I have been able to do lately. Our prospect for moving is just now very poor for Gen^l Fremont has so far found it impossible to properly provision his army or feed his horses. Today a train of wagons arrived with crackers and when they were divided our regiment received four barrels. One days ration of crackers would have been too much good for the men, and so they only get the first barrel making part of a ration for the regiment. If the state of things continues much longer there will be a mutiny, or something very near it in the army here. The men now very reluctantly perform fatigue duty when called upon saying that they cannot work whilst they are starved. I agree with them perfectly and think the government to blame. Soldiers live hardly enough even at the best / on full rations, and to take from this is abominable. I am satisfied the men in my regiment would not complain if they really thought this trouble had arisen without fault on the part of the government or its agents. They did not complain in falling back from M^cDowell although we had fighting, hard marching and want of sleep upon half rations and sometimes less. Indeed at no time did we have full rations of anything but fresh beef. The men knew that this was unavoidable under the circumstances and therefore they submitted with great cheerfulness, and were always ready and anxious to turn out for a fight. Now however the matter is different. The government has plenty, and by willful mismanagement has failed to furnish sufficient transportation for the necessary provisions for this army. I pray that the error may soon be remedied for if it is not there will be trouble here.

 

As I wrote you last night my whole time in the day is occupied by a Court Martial / It promises to be a very tedious affair and I am not atall gratified at being placed to preside over it. I must however perform all duties that devolve upon me to the best of my ability, without grumbling, excepting to you. I tell you of all these drawbacks in my military life in order that you may see how delightful it is to be a soldier separated from home and all the dear ones there. You have many things to trouble you dear wife but I do not think a change to my troubles would atall increase your happiness. I see very little of my brother officers in this brigade. Col Smith of the 73^rd is more to my taste than any one else, and we are separated so far that I have only seen him for about five minutes in as many days. My duties confine me to the regiment the most of the time. Occasionally I make Gen^l Schenck a visit, and find him very companionable. He is very anxious to get the 75^th in his brigade and thinks he will succeed in doing so. On the other hand Gen^l Milroy is unwilling to part with us, and as yet / we cannot tell where we are to fall. My company officers one and all desire to go to Schenck and in truth it would be very agreeable to us all on some accounts. Tomorrow will probably determine our destination and if we are sent to Schenck, I expect there will be trouble among the Generals. There is trouble everywhere however, and each one must strike out for himself in this world of trouble.

 

I wrote you a long while since that Donn Piatt had been nominated Brigadier General but find now that it was his brother, and that Donn is only a Captain and Assistant Adjutant General on Schencks staff. He is very polite to me as indeed are all who are with Schenck. They want us and therefore treat us kindly. I have written my whole letter about myself dear wife which I did not intend to do, but I will send it as it is, hoping that my opportunities for writing will remain as they promise for some days. Love to Lindy and the children and good night loving kisses for darling wife—

N. C. M^cLean

 

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George has left me this afternoon. I have paid him his wages in full and given him money to pay his passage on the railroad from Cinti to Glendale in order to see you which he promises faithfully to do as soon as possible

N. C. M^cL

 

In my letter yesterday I sent you four hundred dollars in the shape of a receipt from the State agent under the late law. Let me know if you have received it

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