Head Quarters 1^st Div 11^th Army Corps

Stafford Court House Jany 18^th 1863

 

              Ten oclock dear wife and no letter from you tonight. I am more charitable than you and will blame the mails rather than find fault with little wife. But although I will not scold you yet I still feel the deprivation and most heartily wish that your letter had arrived. As I wrote you last night my anticipations have been realized and we are still in camp at this spot, no final orders to march having as yet been received. We are still however under marching orders, and liable at any moment to move, but who can tell where or when? It is very provoking to be kept in this suspense which prevents one doing many things for our comfort. My superior officers here are however in the same blessed state of ignorance / as myself, and I fear those still higher in command from present indications are almost equally in the dark as to our future course. I have not yet visited Falmouth as I intended but if we remain here much longer I certainly will do so. For the last few days the weather has been very cold, and it is very difficult to keep warm at night. Our discomforts in this respect make us think more frequently of the comforts of home. I find my robe which I purchased in Washington a very great comfort, and without it I should really have suffered during the last cold weather. Now if I only had in addition a good comfortable bed and darling little wife to help keep off the cold I could very well endure all the cold that might come.

 

As yet nothing has been permanently settled by the President in regard to the promotion of Genl Stahel to be a Major General so as to give / him command of the 11^th Corps, and perhaps there may yet be trouble in the camp should Steinwehr happen to return to duty before Stahel is nominated to the Senate. Should this happen I do not know what would be the result. There is evidently trouble somewhere and I most heartily wish the matter could be settled immediately. Dr Hart has just interrupted me to ask if he might not send his regards to you upon the strength of his acquaintance with me. He says that his wife threatens to go to Mass^tr unless she can go soldiering again. You see how it is, when ladies once get a taste of the life they insist upon having as much of it as possible. How much I wish you could have the opportunity. If it was not for dear little Bessie I would bring you out to my tent so that you might really have a taste of a soldiers life. / Neither you nor I will however regret the cause, or would be willing to risk her health in order to gratify our wishes to be together. I am sorry that her face is no better. Have you yet received my letter which contained the directions of Dr Hart? Try them faithfully and see if she cannot be cured entirely. Do you take the proper care of yourself? You ought not to have headaches atall, and unless you get rid of them almost entirely, I do not believe that Bessie will be relieved.

 

My fire has burned very low and there is nothing but green wood, so that the cold forces me to stop writing. I must go to bed to keep warm. Think of that in your warm snug room, and pity us poor fellows who have such a glorious time in the army. I shall expect to write you from here tomorrow night as usual. Love to Ev, Tottie, Bessie & good night kisses to darling wife               

M^cLean

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