Head Qrs 1^st Div 11^th Corps

Brooks Station March 29^th 1863

 

            I arrived here today dear wife and am now writing to you from the room we occupied together. It is lonesome and cheerless enough I assure you although I have moved everything up here from the room below. You and Bessie are absent and I cannot make up for your absence by any addition of furniture. I have a regular fit of the blues and hesitated a long time about writing tonight atall, as I am sure that my letter will be as gloomy and stupid as I feel myself. I wrote you last night from Washington that I had failed to see Mr Stanton, and it would not have done any good if I had succeeded in doing so, for I am satisfied nothing will induce Genl Hooker to part with / any of his troops. This afternoon I had a short interview with him on the cars and told him very frankly what I thought of our corps in its present state, and that I desired to leave it. He replied that he was then on his way to Washington in order to have our corps properly arranged, and that he would certainly give us as commander a good soldier. He named Genl Howard with whose former history I am entirely unacquainted, but Genl Hooker says that he is as good a soldier as there is in the army. At present Major Genl Schurz has the command and the leave of Genl Sigel is indefinitely extended. I told Genl Hooker I feared political influence would be too powerful for him and would prevent the arrangement of the corps as he desired, but he thought not, saying the politicians had better take command of this army and he would give it up to them the moment / they interfered with him. He is to return on tomorrow and promises then to bring me good news. If he cannot change our present commander I have said to him I desired to leave, for I could not go into battle with the proper confidence as we are now constituted. I must wait until tomorrow and perhaps longer, but this state of uncertainty is very unpleasant and discouraging.

 

Just as I arrived at the house Genl Schurz rode up and came in with me. His first salutation after taking a seat was a proposition to share my head quarters with him. I of course assented because I could do no less, but I assure this has not atall added to my good humor, or desire to remain in the corps. I have however one consolation, and that is I think he is paving the way for a great mortification for himself. He will move / the headquarters of the corps to this place and fix himself very comfortably when perhaps during the next forty eight hours he will be compelled to vacate his quarters and command in favor of Genl Howard. He will feel rather cheap and perhaps too late come to the conclusion that he has moved rather hastily. I hope most sincerely that he may also find that although the President had it in his power to make him a Major General, yet he could thereby give with his commission the command of the 11^th Corps. But enough for the present of Genl Schurz, I am satisfied that Genl Hooker will in some way manage to get me away from his command, and that will be something.

 

As yet I have heard no news of the enemy in our front. everything seems to be very quiet, but Genl Hooker speaks with great confidence of his ability to carry everything before him, and I trust he may be able to do so with such success as to destroy the Richmond army. Love to Bessie, Evy Johny and all the family with good night kisses to darling wife           

M^cLean

 

[sideways overwritten]

 

I forgot to ask you to buy for Evy a little book to hold scrip and for Johny a bow an arrows. They both asked me for these and in the excitement of parting I forgot all about it. Please buy these things for them for me               

M^cLean

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