CAMP TENNALLY OCT. 9TH, 1861
DEAR RACHEL –
THE REGIMENT MOVED OVER THE RIVER THIS EVENING AND THE BAND REMAINS IN CAMP TILL MORNING, WHEN THE WHOLE WILL GO OVER INTO VIRGINIA. WE CANNOT KNOW WHAT IS ON HAND, BUT I SUPPOSE A GENERAL ADVANCE IS BEING MADE. THE 1ST, 2ND, AMD 3RD BRIGADES OF THE RESERVE HAVE GONE OVER. OUR BRIGADE IS THE 3RD, – COL. McCALMONT OUR ACTING BRIGADIER GENERAL.
THERE ARE ABOUT 10,000 MEN IN THE THREE BRIGADES. WE ARE SUPPOSED TO FORM THE RIGHT WING OF THE ADVANCING ARMY.
BY A GENERAL ORDER, REGIMENTAL BANDS ARE ATTACHED TO THE HOSPITAL DEPARTMENT IN ACTIVE SERVICE. ON THE BATTLE- FIELD OUR PLACE IS WITH THE SURGEON – SO THAT WE WILL HAVE THE SAFEST POSITION THERE IS. YOU WILL REST EASIER FOR KNOWING THIS, BUT IT IS A MORE DISAGREEABLE POSITION THAN IN THE RANKS. YOU KNOW HOWE I DISLIKE TO BE ABOUT WHERE SURGICAL OPERATIONS ARE GOING ON, BUT I THINK UNDER THE PRESSURE OF NECESSITY I CAN STAND TO MY POST.
BY A GENERAL ORDER, REGIMENTAL BANDS ARE ATTACHED TO THE HOSPITAL DEPARTMENT IN ACTIVE SERVICE. ON THE BATTLE- FIELD OUR PLACE IS WITH THE SURGEON – SO THAT WE WILL HAVE THE SAFEST POSITION THERE IS.
OUR MEN WERE IN GREAT SPIRITS WHEN THEY LEFT. THE USUAL GUARD WAS LEFT. GEORGE GRAHAM AND FRANK GIBSON HAPPENED TO BE ON IT, AND THEY COULD GET NOBODY TO EXCHANGE WITH THEM, SO THEY HAD TO STAY. THEY WILL MOVE WITH THE CAMP EQUIPAGE IN THE MORNING. THE IDEA IS THAT OUR DESTINATION IS FALLS CHURCH, EIGHT MILES FROM THE POTOMAC. THE TROOPS
ON THAT SIDE THE RIVER HAVE ALL MOVED FORWARD, AND WE WILL TAKE THEIR PLACE. THE CHANCES ARE THAT WE ARE TO HAVE AN ACTIVE CAMPAIGN TILL WINTER SETS IN. THE SOONER WE GET AT OUR WORK, THE SOONER IT WILL BE DONE. TOM RODGERS HAS BEEN UNWELL FOR TWO OR THREE DAYS, AND TAKING MEDICINE. IT DID NOT OPERATE TILL TODAY, AND THOUGH HE WANTED TO GO, THE SUREON FORBID HIM. HE IS AT A HOTEL IN TENNALLYTOWN TONIGHT. I THINK HE WILL BE BETTER IN THE MORNING. WE HAD OUR ELECTIONS YESTERDAY. STUART HAD FORTY MAJORITY IN THE REGIMENT. I AM SHORT OF PAPER AND MUST CLOSE. GIVE MY LOVE TO ALL. KISS OUR DEAR CHILDREN FOR ME. DIRECT LETTERS AS USUAL, AND THEY WILL REACH US SOMETIME. I WILL WRITE OFTEN AS I CAN. EVER YOUR OWN. TOM
