Head Quarters 2^nd Brig 1^st Div

Camp at Centerville Oct 3^rd 1862

 

            I have just received your letter of the 27^th Sept dear wife. I am afraid from what you say that the doctor does not think you quite as well as you hoped to be at that time. Of all things in the world I would like to see you today if possible, but you must not run any risk in the matter. A few days will make you much stronger and then there will be no difficulty in your coming on. I do not anticipate any movement on our part very far beyond this point, but on the contrary I should be very little surprised if we were ordered back to the immediate vicinity of Washington City. In truth the force which we have at this point is entirely too small except to act as an advance guard to watch the movements of the enemy. If we / are attacked with any considerable force, we must of necessity fall back nearer to Washington. Our position here is not an agreeable one and I am going to Washington either tonight or tomorrow for the purpose of seeing if it cannot be changed. I am also going to make one more effort to get leave of absence. Perhaps Mr Stanton will think the emergency over and will redeem his promise made when when I first went to Washington. If he should do so, a very few days will bring me home. I am also going in to see something about my promotion. Gen^l Stahel as I wrote you yesterday he intended doing, has written a letter officially to Gen^l Sigel asking him to recommend me for promotion and has sent me a copy of the letter with permission to use it as I please. This may bring matters to a point so that the Department will say whether they / intend to promote me or not. Certainly I ought not to hold the position I have held for nearly four months unless I am fitted for it, and if so then surely the rank should follow as a matter of course. I have written you so much about this promotion that I fear you are tired to death, but I feel more deeply in regard to this matter than I have ever done before, as I have heard the names of some officers mentioned for that position who certainly should not be promoted over me. My next letter I expect will be from Washington unless I should hear such news from some scouts who are expected in this afternoon which would make it necessary for me to remain with the brigade. How much I wish I was going to meet you there. Perhaps it will soon happen however either there or at Glendale. You must keep up your courage and never now have / the blues, for you and I both have too much to be thankful for, even if we are separated for the present. Did I tell you the number of Ev's house? She lives on I Street No 249. near the corner of 18^th Street. When you arrive at Washington you must immediately drive to her house. You will there be most likely to hear of me, and perhaps find me too, if I am expecting you. By the last of next week or the first of the week after I shall certainly expect to see you. How happy we shall be if we are permitted to see each other under fortunate circumstances. Hope always for the best dear wife and do not despond. As soon as I close my letter I am going to see Gen^l Stahel to get the report of the scouts and from his quarters very likely I may ride on tonight to Washington. I cannot arrive until late but then I can be ready for tomorrow.

 

Love to your mother Lindy & the children with loving kisses to darling wife & baby

N. C. M^cLean

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