Camp at Mount Jackson

Shenandoah County. June 4^th 1862        

       

            I again dear wife have a possible opportunity of sending you a line by a messenger from this camp. We arrived here last night and our whole army is encamped in these fields just outside of the town. There is a railroad that terminates at this point by which if it was in order we could go to Washington City in a days travel or less. For the last few days we have been marching through one of the most lovely countries I ever beheld. How on earth the people could be so mad as to bring this terrible desolation upon themselves I cannot imagine. The fact is the people did not expect a war, they almost all of them say that they never expected a fight in the beginning. They believed the separation would be quiet & peaceable. How bitterly they have been disappointed. Now almost total destruction is the result. I am sorry to / to say that Blenkers division in this army are a disgrace to the country. They rob and steal from every house they come to and when they cannot carry things off they destroy them. Gen^l Fremont says when this pursuit is over he intends to enforce strict discipline in this matter, but then it will be too late. I feel that we are being disgraced and I do not hesitate to say so. Our brigade is an exception, and we are free from this charge. I wrote you last that we had started in pursuit of Jackson without our tents or baggage, and we have been making forced marches ever since, through rain and mud, and living upon half and sometimes less rations. We have truly had a hard time. It has rained almost night and day ever since we started and this you know makes every thing miserable. The poor soldiers after marching all day for many long weary miles in the rain & but poorly fed are encamped in a field of grass with no shelter but their water proof blankets which are small and afford but poor protection. / It is very early in the morning & the rain is coming down steadily as if it meant to rain forever. It was raining before dark last night, it rained all night it is still raining. Major Riley & myself were so fortunate as to get into a house last night, but generally, we have had fence rails for our beds and rubber blankets for our roof. This is soldiering in earnest and it requires great fortitude to endure. Many of my men are left behind, but we must push on or miss Jackson. I am afraid he has already escaped us. He passed through here yesterday and burnt the bridge over the north fork of the Shenandoah river which we cannot ford. We are now building a pontoon bridge which I fear will be so long in completing that Jackson will be far away before we get over. I am now writing in the portico of a handsome house belonging to a Mr Moore who no doubt very reluctantly entertains us. There seem to be a good many ladies in the house, but they keep up stairs most of the time. Gen^l Schenck has his headquarters here also. 

 

We have passed our wedding day dear wife & I could not even write to you much less make you a present. How differently I passed the day from any previous one. Our whole army was drawn up in line of battle expecting every moment to have a general battle. Our pickets and advance guard were engaged, and the thunder of the canon and rattle of the musketry kept us constantly on the watch. We remained in this order all day & night but marched in pursuit of Jackson in the morning, he having taken advantage of the night to retreat. We have taken quite a number of prisoners who say that the enemy are very tired having marched night & day to get away from us. We expect M^cDowell to join us after we reach New Market, if he does not succeed in getting in behind Jackson so as to cut off his retreat. I will write you whenever I can & in the meantime rest easy. Love to Lindy & the children & loving kisses to darling wife—

N. C. M^cLean

 

[front side overwritten]

 

Major Riley gives me an envelope upon the condition that you inform Mrs Riley that he is well & where we are, so dear wife go & see her as soon as you receive this

SOURCES