Head Qrs 1^st Div 11^th Corps

Brooks Station April 6^th [sic] 1863

 

            Once more darling wife I write you from my old quarters at this point. I returned here this afternoon safe and unhurt from our late severe campaign. I wrote you on last Sunday night week and since then have had no opportunity of either writing or sending a letter when written. Our experience has been as hard as I have ever known, and I am sorry to say has resulted in great misfortune in this, that we have not been able to do all that was attempted, but have been forced to retire again to this side of the Rappahannock. We have marched without encumbrances of any kind, slept (when it was possible to do so) in the open air without tents, and lived I cannot say on what. Not one good sleep have I had since I left, but all / the time both day and night have been either marching, fighting, or on the "fire vine" expecting an attack. We have all suffered much and are broken down in all respects. If we had been perfectly successful our spirits would have cheered us so that the bodily and mental anxiety we have suffered would soon have been forgotten, but now we feel that positive and complete rest is necessary for our restoration. You see that I head my letter as commander of the 1^st Division again. The fortune of war has placed me back in that position. Genl Devens was wounded in the battle of the 2^nd of May and turned over the command of the division to me, but not until we had been driven back. His wound is in the foot and will disable him for some time so that during his absence I will command the division. 

 

I do not feel like writing tonight darling and will not attempt to give you a description of what we have done in this letter. I am tired and broken down with fatigue of all sorts, although in good health. I have met with our sad loss and as yet cannot tell its exact extent. Col Reily fell upon the field on the 2^nd of May and as we were driven back some two & a half miles he was left where he fell. I did not know of it until after it was too late to make any attempt to bring him off. We hope that he is only wounded and a prisoner, but have no actual knowledge of the facts. He fell and that is all we know. His loss will be a sad one to me and to the regiment. He was a noble fellow, a true friend & as brave a soldier as ever lived. His fate will soon be determined by a flag of truce which I will not rest until I succeed in having sent out. I will write / particulars in another letter of all that has happened. Tonight I must try to rest. I telegraphed you immediately upon my arrival here, and hope you received it at once.

 

            Love to the dear children and all the family, with loving good night kisses to darling wife.               

M^cL

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