Head Quarters 1^st Div 11^th Corps

Camp at Stafford Court House Jany 12^th /63

 

            Col Richardson of the 25^th Ohio is going in to Washington tomorrow dear wife and I have asked him to take a letter for me. I would like to carry it myself but that for the present seems to be impossible. As I wrote you in my last letter I have been given the command of the first division formerly under Gen^l Stahel and it will take some time to get everything in easy working order. This will be the more difficult, as I do not expect permanently to keep the 1^st brigade, but as soon as it can properly be accomplished to exchange it for the brigade commanded by Col Smith. I shall of course therefore make as few changes in the 1^st brigade as possible, leaving them to their own management wherever it is practicable to do so. / When my new command is arranged as I desire, everything will I know be much more agreeable than at present. Col's Smith and Lee are both personal friends and we have ever had the most friendly intercourse with each other. The soldiers in the two brigades will also agree perfectly, as they are entirely distinct from the German regiments. Tomorrow if I can be spared I think of going over to the front, and if so, will try to find out from Gen^l Burnside what we are to expect in the future in regard to our movements. If we are to remain stationary I intend to have the men build themselves cabins, so as to be comfortable during the cold weather. If on the contrary an advance is intended then it will not be advisable to move from our present quarters. If we remain here I will see if it is not possible to find some house nearby where / you could be tolerably comfortable. I fear however that there is nothing here that would suit. I know of but one house near, and in this several officers have rooms which would not be atall pleasant. I might build a log cabin and will do so if we stay long enough. The trouble will be to have one warm enough for Bessie. Annie I expect would be more difficult to please than any one else. I am probably too fast however in talking about this matter now, for there are every day rumors of an advance which if true will upset all my calculations. Today we have a grapevine that Gen^l Sumner has advanced with his corps but no news of any such advance has been received at headquarters here, and so we do not credit the rumor. We are however in just such a state of expectancy that a forward movement would not surprise us at any moment. 

 

I told Gen^l Stahel what you said about my slippers but he would not take the hint and I must therefore wait for some other important matter before I can be permitted to come in. I received a nice long letter from Evy tonight. She and Johny are both well and had a delightful Christmas. She writes that your mother was better and soon expected to be well. She and Johny are both going to school and improving in their studies. It is very funny she writes to me Johny at his books after tea getting his lessons. I hope his studious fit will last and I think it will under judicious management. I am interrupted by some firing in the brigade which turns out to be a disgraceful act by some of the 75^th. A few of them made an attack upon the sutler wagon of the 17^th Conn and were fired upon by the guard & one of them badly wounded. Dr Hart has just gone over. Col Constable is behaving very badly and not keeping

 

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the men under proper discipline. I believe I told you he had sent in his resignation because he could not "endorse & carry out the proclamation". He will probably be dismissed from the service and he is acting in such a way now that he deserves to be. Some of his officers say that he is a traitor and that they will not fight under him.

 

            Love to Ev, Tottie, Bessie & little wife with loving good night kisses.

N. C. M^cLean

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