Head Quarters 1^st Div 11^th Army Corps

Brooks Station Jany 28^th 1863

 

              No letter today from you dear wife to cheer me up under my disappointment. I assure you something of the kind was needed by me, as I have rarely felt more depressed since my connection with the army. The weather has been horrible and our poor soldiers with nothing but their shelter tents are expected to stand it all not only with patience but also to keep up their enthusiasm and patriotic ardor to the highest pitch. God help them in such a terrible night as this is. All day long the rain snow and sleet has been falling, driven at times by a furious northeasterly wind so that no tents of the kind used by our men could possibly protect them. The snow, or rather slush, for it has just enough consistency to hold it together, is / now about five or six inches deep upon the ground, and the wind howls dreadfully. Even in my room with a large blazing wood fire, I feel desolate and cheerless, although not suffering from the cold, but how must it be with the poor fellows in the field who are almost without any protection atall? How very little is really understood about the sufferings in our army by our good people at home. Exposure most surely brings on sickness, and then neglect, sometimes unavoidable but I am sorry to say often otherwise, brings on either permanent disease or death. Major Reily has been telling me of an instance of this sort that happened the other day at Belle Plain which is dreadful. A few days ago when the advance was ordered some troops at Belle Plain marched off, leaving some twelve sick men who were unable to go with their regiments. These men were taken to the dock / in order that they might be taken by a boat to some designated hospital near. No boat came, and all that dreadful night they were left exposed to the terrible storm of which I wrote you and which was so severe as to defeat the advance of our army. The result was that five of the men died that night. Yet no doubt this will go unpunished and probably unmentioned. The story may be exaggerated, and yet Major Reily got the account from a Sergeant who professed to know the facts about which he spoke. Under such treatment as this who can wonder if our soldiers desert and become unwilling to serve longer. What also is there of encouragement in this frequent change of commanders? Our men are not ordinary soldiers, but many of them have great intelligence. They are capable of judging as well as their officers of the effect of all these frequent changes, and they become discouraged & lose confidence. / In what will this end? Promotions also in many cases seem yet to be made solely upon political grounds and commanders are given to us in whose military capacity we have no confidence.

 

              I wrote you last night that the leave of Gen^l Steinwehr expired today and at headquarters they seemed to be waiting for this before they would act. The day has past and Genl Stahel has sent me word that he has not yet returned. Tomorrow I intend riding out to Stafford Court House to learn what they will do and also to press my leave to visit Washington. Certainly I can do no particular good here just now. No movement is possible, and what better time can be chosen for my visit. I will insist upon my right to go. Genl Stahel says he wishes me to be here during the change in the commands which no doubt will take place when Schurz takes command, but if they would do me injustice when absent, my presence will not constrain them and so I shall tell them tomorrow

 

[sideways overwritten]

 

I have written you I am afraid a crass stupid letter but I feel desponding and need dear little wife to cheer me up. Love to Ev & family, Tottie, Bessie & good night kisses to darling wife

M^cLean

SOURCES