Head Quarters 1^st Division 11^th Army Corps

Camp at Stafford Court House Jany 11^th 1863

 

Capt Stuart has returned dear wife bringing me a letter from you. I cannot imagine why it is that you do not receive my letters for I have written nearly every day since my return. There must be some bad management after the letters leave my quarters. I will endeavor to find out where the difficulty exists, and apply a remedy that will make our mails more regular. You must continue to write as usual, and not imagine that the army or anything else can make me change in the least so far as you are concerned. It will not do for you to begin to count letters with me now, until you have first paid back all you owe me on the old score. But do not let us begin now to measure that which we do for each other by any other standard than the love we mutually feel. / I will write you as often as I can when I feel like it, and do you the same on your part. We will each receive an abundance of letters. There are times to be sure when I am so situated that I cannot write to you, but then you will understand it is not from want of inclination, but because it is impossible. The letters of Col Clark no doubt are sent in regularly with the letters of Gen^l Burnside and in this way come regularly, whilst my letters go by a side mail which is not considered so important. In addition to the letters sent by mail, I gave a letter to Col Constable which he mailed in Washington for you. Perhaps you may not get this letter unless you send to the Post Office as it was not directed to the care of any one.

 

            Did you observe the heading of my letter? I have been placed in command of a division, and / Gen^l Stahel in command of the 11^th Army Corps. As yet the command is not arranged to my satisfaction but I am assured it will be as soon as it can properly be done. Now I have my own old brigade and the first brigade commanded by Col Von Gilson. The latter is composed entirely of German troops and in this respect is not so desirable for me, as an American brigade. I am promised however in a short time the brigade commanded by Col Smith in place of the 1^st brigade, and this will suit all parties better than the present arrangement. As yet we have no orders in regard to a forward movement, but on the contrary everything looks towards inaction. It is very possible that our division may change its present position for the winter but I am beginning to believe that our army here will remain / quiet until spring unless the enemy should fall back upon Richmond. I see the papers are discussing who is to be Burnsides successor with command, as they say he has asked to be relieved. If this is so, I have no doubt he resigns because they will not let him advance. Perhaps in this they are wise, but as yet all interference on the part of the powers at Washington has seemed to prove unfortunate, and I hope for the future the commanders in the field will be permitted to act without dictation from Washington. I will tell Gen^l Stahel what you say about the slippers but I am afraid he will not think it important enough to order me in just now. I send this letter in by Major Gamble of the 55^th Ohio who is going to Ohio on duty. Love to Ev Tottie Bessie & all with kisses for darling wife—M^cLean

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