Head Quarters 2^nd Brig 1^st Div

Camp at Centerville Oct 25^th 1862

 

            Here I am again dear wife all safe and sound at my old quarters and hard at work. It seems a little strange and unknown to me after the liberty which I have had, and not near so agreeable as being at home. I arrived here yesterday evening and I will tell you how my first night was passed. After supper some of the officers came in to welcome me back and remained until nine oclock which you know is our bed time in camp. I was just preparing to retire when I received an order to send our regiment some three miles on the road to Manassas in order to protect a bridge over Bull Run against an expected attack from the enemy. This was rather startling as I was not informed why the order / was given, or what ground there was for expecting an attack, further than a cavalry skirmish, which I knew had taken place during the day near Catlett's Station. I of course was left to imagine anything I pleased in regard to the advance of the enemy, and was at liberty to lose as much sleep as I pleased in the fear of an attack. The regiment was ordered out and marched to its post and all was quiet for a little while, and I had gone up stairs when another order came in great haste, ordering me to have half the brigade in camp under arms, and to remain so until further orders. This was rather startling and indicated fear of a night attack. All passed off quietly however and no enemy appeared to break our slumbers. So is our life here, and one not accustomed to such things would have a very hard time of it, but / we have had so many alarms which in the end have turned out to be nothing of importance that we have learned to sleep even in the midst of alarms of all kinds. We are on the outpost but I do not believe the enemy will attack us, as long as the army of the Potomac is in front of them under M^cClellan. All that we have to fear is a cavalry raid and against this we can easily protect ourselves. I wrote you that Bell had a little boy baby. Before I left Washington I went to her room and saw both her and the baby. He is a nice plump baby, but not near so good looking as our little girl. How is our dear baby? You must be cheerful for her sake, as your distress will make her sick sooner than anything else. Gen^l Sigel's corps has been enlarged by the addition of several new regiments, and he has reorganized the whole Corps, and / made some changes in the old brigades. He takes the 73^rd Ohio Col Orland Smith away from me, and places him in command another brigade of which his regiment forms a part. In place of the 73^rd Ohio I am given the 82^nd Ohio commanded now by Col Robinson formerly by Col Cantwell who was killed at Bull Run. I am also to have a fifth regiment from Ohio which has not yet arrived, but will be placed under my command as soon as it arrives. I am very sorry to lose Col Smith but I get a good regiment in his place, and he deserves promotion. Col Robinson was in the brigade when it was first formed, and was very sorry when he was transferred to Gen^l Milroy which was done at the instance of Col Cantwell. Robinson will be glad to get back. I am nearly as ignorant of our future movements as when at home. All that we know is from rumor. The officers in Washington with whom I have conversed say that the army / must soon go into winter quarters, and do not anticipate an advance at least in this quarter. I am afraid that our generals are too jealous of each other to do much good until some one of great energy takes the command, who will be capable of ruling regardless of anything but the good of the service. In a very few days we may expect the winter rains to commence and then marching will be over until spring unless indeed the Government mean to reorganize the whole transportation of the army in the field. It is useless however to speculate upon the subject for we know literally nothing in regard to the plans of those in command. If we do go into winter quarters here near Washington I shall expect you to spend the winter near me, even if I should not be / able to have you with the brigade. We may go to Fairfax Court House and then I can get accommodations which will be comfortable enough for a soldiers wife. Will you be willing to take them? Perhaps they will give me a star and then we might get a place in Washington if you preferred it, but in that event I could not be with you all the time. Next month we can make our plans for the winter and I fully expect to have you with me near this place for I do not believe we will advance from here permanently.

 

In my next letter I will enclose a reply to Mr Miller. Upon reading his note I find he asks more than the painting the outside of the house & I cannot assent to his request. Something I will do but not all that he asks. Love to Eliza and the children with loving kisses to darling wife

N. C. M^cLean

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