Head Quarters 1^st Div 11^th Army Corps

Brooks Station Feb 6^th 1863

 

              It is late dear wife and I am just now able to write you a few lines. I have been busy until this moment, but will not go to bed as late as it is without first sending to you my daily greeting.

 

              Genl Hooker is making great changes in his army, which will change its whole organization. Tonight an order has come doing away with Grand Divisions, and adopting Corps organization in its stead. Sigel is therefore placed back in the command of the 11^th Corps and Stahel in that of the first division, so that as a matter of course I will go back to the brigade. As yet the order has gone no further than to direct Stahel to resume his former command, which / he no doubt will do tomorrow, and then my turn comes with the brigade. Now we go up, up, up, and now we go down, down, down. I am really curious to see the result of this on the aspirants for confirmation as Major Generals. Schurz will be brought back to his division under Sigel, which will now be very disagreeable to him. Stahel yesterday informed me (entre nous as he said) so be sure you dont tell, that Schurz had gone to Washington to ask the President to relieve him of his command under Sigel, because the latter had written a letter to the President stating that Stahel was the better man to command the 11^th Corps, or something to that effect. I hope most sincerely that he will be successful, and that we will no longer be troubled with an intriguer. Stahel is a gentleman and much more agreeable in every respect / than Schurz. I regret this going back in our commands, on one account very much. It will place Col Lee back in the command of his regiment, and this to him, I know will be a very great disappointment. He has for a long time desired to command a brigade, and was very well fitted to do so. At present he is at home on account of the illness of his wife. If Schurz should be relieved, it may yet be possible to keep Col Lee in command of the brigade. If Schenck should apply for me now and his request be granted it would make Col Lee all right, but perhaps it might give me a very inferior command. Tomorrow I shall see Genl Stahel and then we can more clearly see our way through the fog which now surrounds us. Sigel will be disappointed I know, for he said last night, he did not believe Hooker would lessen / his command. Today however he has reduced it one half. What the result will be no one can tell, but I hope good will result to our cause. Since my return I have heard some very bad accounts of the troops under Genl Meredith at Belle Plain. From what Col Richardson has told me both men and officers are utterly demoralized, and it will take great effort to bring them back to proper discipline. This change will move me, I am afraid from my present quarters to a tent where it will be impossible for you to come and visit me. If I move from here I will build a log cabin, in the primitive style, and then you can come and try how you would like to move to a new country, and live like a pioneer. No letter today. What is the matter? Love to Ev & family Tottie, Bessie and loving good night kisses to darling wife—

M^cLean

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