Head Quarters 2^nd Brigade 1^st Div

Camp at Sperryville July 16^th 1862

 

            We are still at this point dear wife in spite of our orders the other day to provide ourselves with ten days rations, and to be ready to march at one hours notice. Nothing has transpired within our vision at this point which atall changes the face of affairs so far as we know. Everything seems to be as quiet as if there was not an enemy in the whole state. This morning I rode with General Sigel and General Schurz to see Gen^l Milroy. All of his brigade were out under arms and Gen^l Sigel reviewed each regiment in succession. Some of them I am sorry to say performed rather badly. Our turn will come next I suppose in a day or two, and I intend my brigade shall be in order & better prepared. We had quite a funny time with one regiment. Gen^l Sigel made them a / short speech in which he complimented them for their proficiency in drill &c. He had no sooner got through than the Colonel of the regiment proposed three cheers for the Gen^l which were given with hearty good will, and then he proposed three more cheers for their own immediate commander Gen^l Milroy. This also was done by the men and then the simple old Colonel asked Gen^l Sigel if he would like to have a tune from the band; to which he replied "I am fond of good music". The Colonel forthwith called upon the band to play a good tune for Gen^l Sigel. At the end of the music the men called for Gen^l Milroy and so he had to make them a little speech & this ended the performance. It was altogether upon the order of a political gathering instead of a military review, and made so not by Gen^l Sigel but by the Colonel of the regiment, who is a very simple, good, and kind hearted man full of patriotism, and brave as a bear but utterly destitute of all military knowledge. / I enjoyed the whole performance very much, and laughed until I almost cried. The Colonel thought he had done things grandly, and in his simplicity did not see how anti military his every act was. The regiment was really well drilled, but not by the Colonel. He fortunately has a very good Lieutenant Colonel who attends to the military portion of the business, & who in fact conducted all the maneuvers this morning, although his Colonel was present. The Colonel has good sense enough to understand that he cannot drill & so gives place to his second officer. After our return to camp I dined with Gen^l Sigel and so ended my morning. This afternoon we have had a severe thunder storm, and one man and two horses from the Connecticut cavalry have been killed by the lightning. The rain has now stopped but the clouds are gathering heavily again, and the thunder rolls at a distance as if tonight more rain would come 

 

I have not received a letter from you for the two last mails. Last night I fully expected to hear from you and felt much depressed by not doing so. Tonight we expect another mail, and I hope it may bring me letter luck. As yet I have heard nothing from Washington. I do not understand why Ev has not written to me. She certainly must either be sick, or has a very slight appreciation of my feelings if she has willfully delayed writing. The Senate I suppose will adjourn in a few days, and then the time for nominations which can be confirmed will have past. Some say that the Senate have refused to confirm any more Brigadiers because we have already too many. If this is so of course I must remain a colonel for the rest of the war. I do not feel so hopeful today of its speedy termination as I did when I wrote you a few days back. I am afraid the force of M^cClellan is now too small to take Richmond and he does not seem to get reinforcements fast enough. Love to Lindy & the children & kisses warm & loving to darling wife. N. C. M^cLean

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