Head Quarters 2^nd Brig 1^st Div

Camp on Robertsons river Aug 16^th 1862

 

            Another letter from you last night dear wife was most welcome. Since our arrival here the mails seem to be coming along with more regularity. I hope this may continue as no good reason exists why our mails should not come with as much regularity as at home. We have plenty of men to make the road secure & unless the miserable lazy hounds who manage the matter fail in doing their duty we ought to have a daily mail. You complain that I do not write often enough and that sometimes five days intervene between my letters. There must be some mistake in this dear wife as I never omit to write excepting when on the march it is impossible for me to do so. Whilst at Sperryville I wrote very regularly excepting at one time when for several days / I was really not able to do so after performing those duties which were actually necessary, and even then, there was not an interval of over three days. Now I am feeling quite well again, so that you need not feel atall uneasy about my health. How long we will remain here is to us very uncertain. We may march the next hour, or we may remain for a week or two in our present position. It is rumored in camp that M^cClellan is withdrawing all of his forces from before Richmond and that a junction will be made with this army before any serious advance will be made. This policy of concentration ought to have been adopted long since. We have unfortunately been in the habit of fighting the enemy with an inferior force, and the consequence has been that even our victories have been most dearly purchased. I hope for the future that we will fight with the advantage / of numbers on our side, so that we can crush our enemy with heavy blows from which he cannot recover. This war should have been settled long since, and we have no one to blame but ourselves. Our past experience should have taught us wisdom, and I hope the future will show this to be the case. We ought to wait here in our present position until M^cClellan has moved or been so largely reinforced that he can advance in whatever direction he pleases. At present it looks as if the decisive battle would be fought between this point and Richmond and we hear that troops are being hurried forward with great rapidity. We need them badly in order to crush out this wicked rebellion with such terrible earnestness that there may no trace be left behind except the suffering of the rebels. I have read the order of Jeff Davis which you enclosed, but I / do not fear him, or his threats. So sure as he attempted any such measures the whole north would rise as one man and overrun the south with fire and sword, so that none at least of the leaders would be left.

 

As yet I have not heard from my application for leave of absence although it was made some ten or twelve since. This carelessness in matters of this kind is very culpable, and yet there is no remedy. If I should attempt to make a fuss it would certainly defeat what little chance I have for going home, and I must therefore wait with such patience as I can for my answer. It is very hard dear wife to be kept from you now, or at any time, but we all must suffer more or less. Pray keep up your courage and for my sake bear with patience whatever may come. Think dear wife what effect your health will have upon our baby, and bear up even under my not coming, should I be refused. As soon as I get my answer I will either come or write you the result immediately. Love to Lindy and the children & loving kisses to darling wife.

                                                                       

N. C. M^cLean

SOURCES