Head Quarters 2^nd Brig 1^st Div

Camp on Robertsons river Aug 18^th /62

 

            I have heard nothing as yet dear wife from my application for leave of absence. It was made on the 6^th of August and now on the 18^th I have as yet heard nothing from it. Twelve days is a long time to wait when we are so near to Washington City. There has been some neglect somewhere and I fear to stir up the matter lest I should injure my chance of getting home. You think I do not care about coming home, but you are very much mistaken. I have such a longing for home that I am scarcely fit for duty. I am however in the hands of those who have the power to say yea or nay and I am compelled to submit whether it is agreeable to my feelings or not. I still hope the answer to my application may prove favorable, and I have deferred / making purchases of one kind & another because I could do so much better at home. Gen^l Schenck has promised to send to Gen^l Pope for me today to ask why no answer has been returned. Should it prove favorable I will return forthwith, that is as soon as I can find a paymaster who will give me money enough to get home on. I understand there is one to come here for us in a day or two, but I will believe this when I see him. On the 30^th of this month there will be four months pay due us, and this is the way in which we are paid off every two months.

 

            We are accumulating a very heavy force at this point, preparatory I suppose to a grand forward movement. Gen^l Burnside is within four or five miles of us, and I suppose very soon the balance of the force of Gen^l M^cDowell will come up so that altogether we will / have a large army without any of the new regiments. The prevailing opinion here among those of us who are kept in the dark about our future movements, is that nothing of importance will be attempted until the new troops come forward and get into some sort of shape for fighting. This will take at least thirty days or more, and we do not anticipate doing anything unless forced by the movements of the enemy. Gen^l Jackson may conclude to attack us of course and if he does the decisive battle will then probably be fought. Delay on our part is adding all the time to our strength, and if we can only remain quiet for thirty days we can then bring such a force into the field as will enable us to meet the enemy all the time with a superior force. This ought to have been done all the / time, but our wise rulers never could be persuaded that even an equal number of troops on our side was necessary, and the consequence has been sometimes defeat & always great loss of life. Today is our great muster day where all absent officers & soldiers will be accounted deserters unless under certain prescribed circumstances. Many have come in within a few days, but a large number are still absent. I cannot tell how much I was grieved at your account of John & Nat M^cLean. I hoped that the name would be clear of traitors. I hope they may both be arrested before they actually enter the southern army. This rebellion must & will be crushed out and the more stringent and severe we become the sooner will the end be accomplished. I am very sorry for John & Mildred. I do not know what on earth he can do for a living. Why does he not enter the army under the new call. Love to Lindy & the children & loving kisses to darling wife.

                                                                                               

N. C. M^cLean

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