Head Quarters 2^nd Brig 1^st Div

Camp at Centerville Oct 26^th 1862

 

            As yet I have not heard one word from you dear wife since I left home, nearly one week ago. I hope tomorrow to get a letter from you. As yet all is quiet around us so far as we can discover. Only small bodies of cavalry hover around watching our movements and so I anticipate it will continue until winter will make it impossible for the army to advance. I hope our fate may not be to remain in this place for it is certainly as desolate a spot as I ever was in. The house at which I have my quarters is called bleak house and although quite a comfortable frame house is certainly well named, for all around is bleak & desolate enough. The wind which has been / blowing heavily since my return howls around it very fiercely and gives a foretaste of winter blasts which promise to be anything but agreeable. The house has been occupied during the war by many famous persons. Jackson, Johnson, Jones Beauregard and others on the rebel side, and Kearney Schenck and many others on our side. The landlady Mrs Stewart informed me this morning that Rebecca Taylor (Mrs Gen^l Jones) staid here for about a month and occupied the room I have. They seem to have liked her very much. She must have had a gloomy time but I suppose being with her husband was better than other places without him. How do you think you would fancy living here this winter in case I should be stationed here? I hope to be moved back at least as far as Fairfax Court House for the winter, or advanced / as far as Warrenton where you can be accommodated in a more reasonable manner, for unless you object I intend to have you near me at least this winter, if I cannot have you in my actual quarters. Today the rain has commenced and everything looks perfectly cheerless and desolate out doors. The rain comes down in a perfect drizzle which and promises to continue for an indefinite time, until mud I suppose will take the place of the dust which has been suffocating ever since my return. I hope the rain will reach you at Glendale so as to revive the grass & trees. The rain will also accomplish another good purpose if it only continues long enough. It will swell the Potomac so as to make it impassable excepting at a few / places which can be easily guarded. If this should happen we may then look for an advance of the Army of the Potomac and perhaps a battle which may possibly end the war. Would that it might be so. It is terrible to think of the loss which must ensue in case another great battle is fought, and yet the suffering to the whole country would be much less than even the delay in camp until Spring. The loss to our army in camp is far greater than one would suppose possible unless they have had actual experience. Disease kills more than the bullet. I will enclose a reply to Mr Millers note which you can send to him through Mr Munroe so that he will understand what deduction to make. Love to Eliza and the children with loving kisses to darling wife & baby.   N. C. M^cLean

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