Head Quarters 2^nd Brigade 1^st Division

Camp at Sperryville July 30^th 1862

 

            This month is nearly past dear wife and I shall feel when August begins as if already I had begun my journey home. You fear that I may not be able to get leave, so do I but yet I have a very strong hope that I shall succeed. If it was left to Gen^l's Schenck & Sigel I should certainly get the leave, but how his high mightiness Gen^l Pope, or rather his A A Gen^l Col Ruggles may decide I cannot tell. When they come near enough I intend making personal application to Gen^l Pope, and it will be very hard for him to refuse under all that I can say in favor. If he should refuse I will then go over his head to the Secretary of War & the President. Do not therefore trouble yourself by anticipating things which may not happen, but simply be prepared for a refusal in case one should come. Rest contented that nothing will be left undone / on my part to get home. Among the officers there is great complaint of the insolence of Col Ruggles the Ass Adj^t Gen^l of Gen^l Pope. He is said to be a young man about twenty two years of age, but from all accounts his manners and orders indicate a much more advanced age. Not by their wisdom, but by the manner in which they say they are given, and that without consultation with his chief. A pleasant interruption to a disagreeable subject. Your letter of the 24^th has just been received and read. Your letters for the last few days have come quite regularly again and I assure you that they are a great comfort to me, although you complain so much about my having placed myself in such a position. Suppose I were at home now with the present call made for new troops, do you think I could with honor remain at home? You surely would not have me occupy a position now, to which in after years I should always look back upon with mortification. I merely / now write of those personal feelings which every honorable man must have, without atall alluding to that other nobler feeling feeling which calls for all sacrifice for the sake of ones country. It is very hard to be separated from you dear wife at any time, and particularly so at this time, but must we not suffer alike with others? Do you wish that I had taken the course of those who live only for self, and who have tamely remained at home, whilst others were risking all for their country? Oh no, dear wife I know that you love me too much to wish, even at the for the sake of having me at home always, that I should take such a course as ought to subject me to the contempt of every true man. But we have discussed this so often that I will not continue to write about it. Believe that loving you beyond all expression, I have yet, as a man moved by pure motives, decided and acted as I have done, and love me more for it, although we mutually suffer in consequence of it. 

 

I have received the photograph of Tot. I think it far superior to any I have seen of her & have placed it in the little album instead of the full length. I think it much better than yours. When I return home we will all have some more taken. You laugh at our reviews, speech makers &c but I assure you they divert us very much and seem to pass away many tedious hours. Yesterday all of the army at this point started by order at six AM and marched to Woodville where Gen^l Milroy is encamped where we took positions as if an enemy were actually before us. We then maneuvered from one point to another as if in actual battle. The whole thing went off very well and wound up by my leading a charge of cavalry across some fields against an invisible foe. Of course our whole army was victorious and we returned to camp at this place last night tired but victorious. These exercises are very beneficial to both officers & men & Gen^l Sigel is wise in doing as he has done

 

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There is talk of moving our camp a few miles further forward and I hope it will be done as we have been here long enough. We can hear of no enemy very near to us although Jackson is said to be collecting a force to drive us back. Perhaps to preserve his lead against that stonewall they talk about so much.

Remember me to Miss Oglesby & give my love to Lindy & the children. Loving kisses to dear wife soon I hope to be given in person by her loving husband

                                                                                               

N. C. M^cLean

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