Head Quarters 1^st Division 11^th Army Corps

Brooks Station Jany 23^rd 1863.

 

              Another day has passed dear wife but no letter from you. The storm seems to be over and the weather is almost as mild as spring. It is too warm for the season, and we may therefore look for more rain soon. Everything here so far as a forward movement is concerned seems to be at a stand still. Col Lee writes me from Belle Plain that the troops he relieved are today returning back to their camp, so that everything looks as if the forward movement was abandoned for the present. Genl Burnside is said to be in Washington, and now we are like Micawber waiting for something to turn up. What will it be? Perhaps winter quarters in fact, although not so openly proclaimed.

 

[newspaper clipping]

 

Major and Brigadier-Generals.

 

                             The Senate Military Committee to-day had up the nominations for                                       Major and Brigadier-Generals. The present law must be repealed                               before any can be confirmed. A vote was had in the Committee on                                         reporting a bill to repeal the present law, and authorize the making                                          of more, but was voted down. Consequently, none except such as                              are necessary to fill up vacancies produced by casualties, &c., will                              be confirmed. This will be bad news for the aspirants of stars.

 

I enclose you an item of news which will no doubt please you as if true, and the committee are only sustained by the Senate, will very speedily put me out of the service. No doubt there are many appointments as Brigadier prior in date to mine which are yet unconfirmed, and I take it for granted those appointments will be first on the list for confirmation. If such is to be my fate I will submit patiently and go home with a clear conscience. I have always, and under all circumstances endeavored to perform my whole duty, and have been fortunate to meet with the expressed approval of every commander under whom I have served. If those who by their positions have the power to overrule the action of the War Department should decide that my services are no longer needed by the country, I can then / freely, and under all the circumstances, with perfect honor return to civil life. I shall not feel a refusal to pass a law, by which my confirmation is made impossible, as a slight or judgment by the Senate that I particularly am unworthy to hold the position for which I have been nominated, and therefore shall not be ashamed to return home to my friends. It would be otherwise if the Senate should object to my individual confirmation. I shall only feel this matter to such a degree that I feel perfectly justified in declining all future service with any less rank than that which I now hold, unless indeed such an emergency should arise as would make it incumbent upon every man no matter what his position might be to shoulder his musket in the cause. I will wait as patiently as I can for the final decision by the Senate / ready however at any time to march on, or go home.

 

Every day the time seems longer by more than a day since I last saw you. Now that our present movement seems to have been stopped, I will will make another effort to get to Washington for a few days. I must first get my division together if possible, and this will take some days, so that I do not hope to see you before sometime next week. I would like to arrange my visit so as to be able to draw my pay for this month if I can, but that seems to be a good while to wait. I am afraid it would not be possible for you and Bessie to get along in this house. There is not an article of furniture in it excepting that we brought from camp, and the dirt abundant. We have no milk but that we bought in Washington. We will talk it over when I come up. Love to Ev Tottie, Bessie and darling wife with loving good night kisses.  M^cLean

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