Head Quarters 2^nd Brigade 1^st Div 11^th Army Corps

Brooks Station Feb 10^th 1863

 

              As you will see dear wife from the heading of my letter I have again resumed the command of my old Brigade, but I am happy to say that from present indications I do not believe it will be necessary to change my present quarters. I rode over to Stafford Court House today to see Genl Stahel, and he requested me to send all the books, papers, and property belonging to the 1^st Division over to him in the morning, so that he intends to keep his quarters where they are, and let me remain here. For this I am very much obliged. Since my return I have thought more seriously than ever of bringing you and the baby out here, and Sattie too if she wishes, but for her I am afraid it would be so dreary and uncomfortable that she would become dissatisfied and want to return at once, and this would not atall answer. The house in which I am / living has been occupied by soldiers who have injured it very materially; so much in fact as to make it not only uncomfortable but unsightly. The paper is torn from the walls, and the plastering and boarding above the fireplaces destroyed making a very ugly appearance. This we hide in some degree by branches of holly. The floors are rough and dirty in spite of our sweeping, and the hall is very uncomfortable in every respect. This however we do not mind if the rooms inside can be kept warm and atall decent. There is not an article which you would call furniture in the house. In my room I have two chairs which have been carried all around on our different marches, a very nice pine table made by the pioneers, a pine bedstead 6 feet 6 inches long by 3 feet 6 inches wide made also by the pioneers for a double bed in expectation of your arrival, and some pine stools which belong to the dining room but are kept by me for visitors, and carried at meal times into the other room where we eat. This is literally all there is in my room, / and you can imagine how attractive it must be. Our dining room is a desolate looking room with a pine table furnished with such remnants of china &c as we have been able to save up to this time. There is another room upstairs reserved for me which has nothing in it atall but a pine board bedstead made by the pioneers 6 feet long by 2 feet 7 inches wide. As to bedding I have nothing but my little cotton bed now grown as hard almost as a board and my blankets and robe. If you should come I would get a supply of blankets from the Quartermaster sufficient to keep us warm, but we never dream of having such luxuries as sheets and you would have to go without them. If you should come I would take two upstairs rooms and make them as comfortable as possible, but you must not expect anything better than a tent excepting the bare walls of a house. Yet with all this picture of discomfort I really wish you to come and tell you these things beforehand in order / that you may be prepared for the worst. There is also one thing more which you would have to submit to without complaint. If I should be ordered to march on any expedition or to perform any duty, no matter at what time or to what point you must make up your mind beforehand like a soldiers wife to send me off with a smile, and not try to keep me in any manner whatever. This I know you can do, and it will be necessary, for you will know that I am subject to orders at any moment. Bessie I believe can be provided with milk, as there are cows in the neighborhood, but it would be necessary for you to provide against contingencies by bringing plenty of the concentrated milk, and material for making the food she now takes. Perhaps if you think seriously of it you had better get Willie Gwynne and come down with him alone first just to see how you think it would do. In this event however you must not fail to bring a breast pipe for yourself, otherwise you might suffer again as you have done. Remember now and do as I say in this. You might start in the morning boat and reach here a little after the middle / of the day, and after staying here the next day return to Washington on the third day by two or three oclock. If Bessie is well enough for you to have her this would be the better plan, and then if you decided to come down and stay you could find out exactly what things it would be necessary to bring along in order to make yourself comfortable. If you telegraphed me the day before you started I could meet you with an ambulance at Aquia Creek landing and bring you up more comfortably than on the cars should they happen to be crowded. If you only had a saddle and riding dress, should the weather be pleasant you could ride around and see the camps which I should like to have you do very much. Suppose you borrow of Bell or Evy both a saddle & habit. You can bring a small trunk & the saddle without any trouble atall and return the things when / you go back. I know you object to borrowing but in this case I would like you to do so, unless you could get prepared otherwise. I would like you to look well before my soldiers. Do not forget to bring all your other things which you will have occasion for on your visit. I have written myself into the belief that it will be very easy for you to do this and shall feel disappointed if it cannot be accomplished. Capt Stuart is going up in the morning and I will send this letter by him. How long he is to remain I do not know, probably four days. I have just sent a note directing him to call here before leaving, and I will give him my letter with instructions to deliver it to you the very first thing he does on his arrival at Washington so that you will probably receive it by two or three oclock. If you could get to see Will Gwynne tomorrow you could come down on Thursday, but if not you might return at the same time as Capt Stuart. You must arrange this as you think best. Can you not buy some ticking / and have it sewed up except at one end, wide enough for my double bed or a few inches wider so as to allow it to be filled with hay. It will make a nice bed for us. My own, now, is very hard I assure, and my bones sometimes ache when I rest too long in one position. If you bring the cloth I can have it made here very well and without trouble in a little while. Perhaps however I may need some larger needles than those I have.

 

              If you bring a saddle remember you must have a nice becoming riding hat gloves &c for I will not ride with you if you slight yourself. I am proud of my darling little wife, and I will not have my pride in this interfered with even in so small a matter as dress.

 

              Now dear wife if Bessie and Sat are only well enough, come right along and see how grandly I live. Ev can have the telegraph sent for you. You will have to get a pass which Hancock can procure and it will take you on the boat, and cars, if your telegraph should fail to reach me in time for me to meet you.

 

              After arriving at Aquia Creek landing should I not be there, enquire either for Colonel Rogers commanding the post, or Captain Hall, Quartermaster stationed there, and tell them who you are and that you desire to go to Brooks Station. They will I have no doubt do everything for you possible, and telegraph to me that you are coming. You see I am in earnest about your visit and I hope it will be in your power to come. Other officers have their wives, but no babies, and I have no doubt they would very cheerfully stay at home if they could have as nice a little baby as our dear Bessie. Poor child she little knows what a darling trouble she is just at this time. Love to Ev and her family Tottie, Bessie and loving kisses which I hope to give in person on Thursday next to darling wife.

M^cLean

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