Head Quarters 2^nd Brigade 1^st Div

Camp at Sperryville July 20^th 1861[sic]

 

            Sunday has come again dear wife and I doubt not you have written me a letter today. I have been expecting every day to receive orders to march, but although our commander Gen^l Pope ordered us long ago to take ten days provisions and hold ourselves in readiness to march at an hours notice, yet the notice has not yet come, and all things seem quiet so far as our information is concerned. The late heavy rains have cut off our communications with Warrenton so that our mails have neither arrived or departed, and I am therefore without any letter from you, for a longer period than ever before when we were stationary. If the fork of the Rappahannock were not too high for the mails to cross I should feel very uneasy at the non receipt of / letters, but I blame the mails, and believe the first arrival will bring me the letter which should have arrived several days since. As the time approaches for my expected visit home I find the days pass by slowly, and I am becoming very impatient for our Generals both here and before Richmond to make some movements which will render it more easy for me to return. I am constantly fearing that they will delay any advance until the time arrives when I wish to leave, and then they may refuse to give any one leave of absence. I will hope for better things however, and intend to move all things to obtain my leave next month. I have set the middle of August as the time for starting, and I intend to make my application in advance to the Secretary of War. As yet I have not received a line from Washington, but I hope the back mails now delayed by the high waters / will bring me letters. The Senate has by this time adjourned I presume, and without confirming so far as we are yet informed several Brigadiers who were in this army. Gen^l Slough, Bell M^cLean's husband & Gen^l Stahel at the last reports had neither of them been confirmed, and if they have not been their appointments fall to the ground. I have almost given up all hope for myself, so long as Stanton and Lincoln are at the head of affairs, but my friends here still insist that I will be made a Brigadier. They are partial and judge of me by what they see here in the army, whilst I am afraid at Washington another rule prevails. A large portion of our army here is composed of Germans, who although well drilled, are yet totally undisciplined when out of the ranks, and indeed are not good soldiers so far as I have seen for any other purpose than drill. This is perhaps too sweeping, and / should not be applied to the whole of the German troops. It is difficult  however to distinguish between them, and when a portion are so lawless we are apt to blame the whole. I understand there is great trouble among the highest officers in their command. Gen^l Schurz a junior Brigadier has been placed in command of a division, and this gives great dissatisfaction to the other German Brigadiers. Gen^l Bohlen who commands a brigade in Gen^l Schurz division, and who I am under the impression ranks him, has become very much dissatisfied and yesterday made a demand of Gen^l Sigel that his brigade should be transferred to Gen^l Schenck. What the result has been I do not know, but there is trouble ahead, and I fear these jealousies between commanders will render the army inefficient. / What they mean at Washington by acting as they do in regard to the assignments of commands I do not know, but great care should be taken to have the army harmonious. I am afraid the next presidency is the aim of too many parties, and in looking to self elevation the country will be allowed to suffer. I hope the people will take these matters in hand and hold every officer in power to a strict account for all his acts.

 

On yesterday I had my whole brigade out for brigade drill, and succeeded I think to the satisfaction of those under my command in showing them that I was able to maneuver them in a body, and in a military way. Tomorrow morning our whole division is to turn out for a grand review and battle drill under Gen^l / Sigel. The performance was appointed for this morning but as it was Sunday I begged of. I hope we may be able to show as well as our German friends, although, I expect they will beat us in the drill. When however it comes to the fighting, experience has thus far shown so far as this army is concerned that we are their superiors. How much I wish M^cClellan would by a sudden and terrible blow end this war by the destruction of the rebel army at Richmond. If we had one hundred thousand men at this point we could ourselves strike the decisive blow, but our army is small and unable at present to do more than perhaps watch the approach to Washington from this quarter. I expect this letter to be carried by Capt. De Beck who commands the artillery in my brigade. He has promised if he gets leave of absence to call and see you. He is a warm friend of mine and you

 

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must treat him accordingly. He is a most excellent officer, and in battles I rely greatly upon him with his battery. I shall give you a separate letter of introduction. Love to Lindy and all the children with loving Sunday kisses to darling wife, from her lonesome husband                                                               N. C. M^cLean

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