Head Quarters 2^nd Brigade 1^st Division

Camp at Sperryville July 22^nd 1862

 

            I have another opportunity dear wife of sending a letter to Ohio without trusting to the mails. Col Smith of the 73^rd Ohio has applied for permission to go to Ohio on the recruiting service for ten days, and I have obtained leave for him. I do not know whether he will have time to visit Cintⁱ or not, but he can at least take my letter as far as Columbus. I shall give him a letter of introduction to you in case he has the time to visit Glendale. You will like him, as much as I do. Ever since we have been together the Colonel and I have agreed perfectly and have considered ourselves fortunate in being placed in the same brigade. He is the senior Colonel in my brigade and professes to be a good friend of mine, of which I have no doubt. He is a fine / officer and a worthy gentleman and you must give him a cordial welcome should he have the time to visit you.

 

            We have had no mail for a long while but I was fortunate enough to get a letter from you by Captain Swope last night. Your letter was dated the eleventh and was ten days on the road and yet is the latest news I have from home. This afternoon I heard that a large mail for this army corps was stored away at the depot of the railroad at Warrenton, no one seeming to have any care for it, safe keeping, or forwarding to its destination. In truth our moving to this point has seemed to derange all matters in regard to the mail, and our complaints so far have not been attended to. Today I personally informed Gen^l Sigel that the mail was at Warrenton, and he gave orders / immediately in regard to its prompt arrival. As yet we are all in the dark as to the movements of General Pope. He has issued some very good and stringent orders, which give better promise of his military skill than his address to his troops. He still remains at Washington, and the opinion seems to prevail here among officers high in command that this portion of his army will remain here for some time to come, until a large force can be accumulated in this valley, so as to make a serious and effective attack upon the rebels on the other side of Richmond, cutting off their way of retreat. Whither Gen^l Jackson (who is said still to be alive, although we "as reported" killed him off before Richmond) will permit us to remain here in peace and quiet is a matter which we cannot at present solve. / our position here is a strong one, and we have a heavy artillery force, so that we might successfully resist an attack from a much superior force. Banks has it is said some forces in our front in Culpepper Court House and beyond. Our own troops have scouted beyond Madison Court House but since their return we have rumors that the pickets of the enemy have approached that far, and that he is accumulating a force at or near Gordonsville. All this however is very uncertain information, and we scarcely even know from one day to another what is to befall us. You write of the uncertainty of my obtaining leave of absence. I will not permit myself to believe that I can fail. It would be as great a disappointment to me as to you, for I have set my heart upon a trip home next month / Furthermore I think I am entitled to leave of absence, and shall so claim. It is true that no one can tell under what circumstances we may be placed by the middle of next month, and it might so happen that our condition in regard to the enemy would be such as to make it impossible for me to leave with honor. Under such circumstances hard as it might be for both of us, I do not believe that you even would be willing that I should run the risk of dishonor, even to have me at home. I do not however dear wife anticipate that we will be placed in any such situation, and therefore look confidently forward to the time of our meeting. Capt Swope says that the place looks beautifully. How much I could now enjoy its quiet and comfort. Lately you have said nothing about money matters, and as the paymaster has / not arrived, I have not been able to help you. I hope you have not been straitened in your affairs so much as to make it uncomfortable. If the paymaster should not come before I start for home, I shall have to borrow enough to get me to civilization as my supplies are not very abundant. No news as yet from Washington. In fact there has been no mail, but I hope on tomorrow to receive a letter from Ev. I believe I wrote you that Slough was not confirmed, but today Gen^l Sigel informed me that the Secretary of War has authorized him (Slough) to raise a brigade in Ohio. This will still make him a Brigadier. I do not know that the Senate acted atall upon his nomination, but their non action under the law defeats his nomination. Favors you see fly around to others, but not to me from Washington. My chances there are I fear very slim. Gen^l Blenker has been confirmed, in spite of all that has been done to prevent such action by the Senate, and in spite of the character of the man. He may be sent again to this army corps, / but his coming will produce more commotion than any other thing which could happen. No Division General is willing to have him command a brigade under him, and no Colonels of regiments are willing to be commanded by him. There are three brigades now here commanded by Colonels, perhaps four, and all them dutch excepting my brigade. If Blenker is sent here Gen^l Sigel may be ordered to assign him a brigade. He will not obey such an order if it is possible to get around it, but his orders may be positive and then, who will suffer? It is in his power to displace me, but such a course would in all probability deplete the brigade of officers to such an extent that he would have nothing but privates to command. The American portion of this army will not submit to be commanded by any man of such an infamous character as Blenker. The officers here of his own nation do not hesitate to say that he is a thief and everything else that is infamous, and all / of us here consider his confirmation by the Senate as an outrage upon the army. Why such things are done I cannot tell. The powers at Washington are not ignorant of his character, for they have been informed time and again in many ways of his demerits. I am opposed to resignations by officers at this time, but I do not think that I could ever reconcile myself to serving under Blenker. I would unless under the most peculiar circumstances quit this army corps and offer my services to Gov Tod in one of the new regiments. What was the true reason for the resignation of John Groesbeck? It seems very strange to me that any man in his position should at this time leave the service, because he thought he had done his share. Such a reason is unworthy of any man who has a grain of patriotism in his heart. He deserts his country at the greatest need, because he has contributed his share. I cannot understand such a course, and must believe that some other good reason led to his resignation. Love to Lindy and the children & kisses to darling wife. N. C. M^cLean

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