TENNALLYTOWN D.C.
SEPT. 13, 1861
DEAR RACHEL- I GOT HERE YESTERDAY NOON, BUT WAS TO BUSY ANSWERING QUESTIONS AND SHAKING HANDS TO WRITE. I SUPPOSE WHISTLER GAVE YOU NOTICE THAT WE HAD LEFT HARRISBURG SAFELY. WE GOT TO BALTIMORE AT 6 O’CLOCK IN THE EVENING, AND FOUND NO TRAIN WOULD LEAVE FOR WASHINGTON TILL DAYLIGHT NEXT MORNING. THE UNION ASSOCIATION OF BALTIMORE FURNISHED US WITH A GOOD SUPPER IN THE DEPOT, AND WE TOOK UP QUARTERS FOR THE NIGHT IN AN EMPTY CAR AND SLEPT SOUNDLY ON THE BENCHES. AT DAYLIGHT WE STARTED FOR WASHINGTON WHERE WE ARRIVED AT 8 O’CLOCK. AFTER LOOKING AROUND A LITTLE WE STARTED FOR CAMP WHERE WE ARRIVED SAFELY.
ALL OUR MERCER BOYS ARE WELL. I BELIEVE I HAVE SEEN EVERY ONE OF THEM. THE 10TH REGIMENT HAS BEEN EXTREMELY FORTUNATE, ONLY ONE DEATH HAVING OCCURRED IN IT AS YET, AND THAT ONE, A CASE OF ACCIDENTAL SELF – SHOOTING. GEORGE GRAHAM LOOKS STOUT. FRANK GIBSON, JIM HOWARD, TOM RODGERS, AND, IN FACT, EVERY ONE OF THE BOYS LOOK FIRST RATE.
THEY ALL ENJOY THEMSELVES VERY MUCH. ALTHOUGH THEY ARE EXPECTING TO BE CALLED OUT EVERY DAY AND NIGHT, YET THEY ARE AS JOLLY AS CAN BE. THE WHOLE REGIMENT APPEARS TO BE COMPOSED OF EXCELLENT MATERIAL, AND A STRONG REGIMENTAL PRIDE, OR , AS THE FRENCH WOULD SAY “ESPRIT DU CORPS,” WILL MAKE THE 10TH GIVE A GOOD ACCOUNT OF IT SELF IN THE TIME OF TRIAL.
OF THE MILITARY MOVEMENTS, STRENGTH AND DISPOSITION OF TROOPS ABOUT HERE, YOU KNOW MORE THAN WE DO. MY IMPRESSION THAT THE CONFEDERATES WILL NOT ATTACK US IS STRENGTHENED BY THE GLIMPSE I HAVE HAD OF THINGS, HEREABOUTS. STILL, THEY MAY BE COMPELLED TO DO IT. I ALMOST TREMBLE FOR GEN. McCLELLAN. THE CONFIDENCE IN HIM IS UNBOUNDED, BUT A MISFORTUNE MAY TUMBLE HIM DOWN IN A DAY, AS GEN. McDOWELL WAS.
I FEEL MUCH PLEASED WITH CAMP LIFE THUS FAR, AND BELIEVE IT IS JUST THE THING FOR ME. I MESS WITH THE OFFICERS, AND HAVE AS GOOD ACCOMMODATIONS AS POSSIBLE. I HAVE NO COLD YET, ALTHOUGH THE EXPOSURE ON THE ROAD MIGHT HAVE GIVEN ME ONE.
COL. McCALMONT RECEIVED ME VERY CORDIALLY, AND, IN FACT, I FIIND MYSELF IN THE MIDST OF MULTITUDE OF FRIENDS.
YOU NEED NOT FEEL NO UNEASINESS ABOUT ME, FOR I FEEL PERFECTLY SAFE, OR AT LEAST AS SAFE AS AT HOME. I FORGOT MY MUSIC BOOK IN THE OFFICE UNDER MILLIRON’S CASE. I MISSED IT WHEN I GOT TO NEW CASTLE, AND SENT WORD BACK BY McMURRAY TO HAVE IT SENT TO ME BY MAIL. PERHAPS HE FORGOT TO TELL YOU. I WANT YOU TO TAKE OFF THE COVER, ROLL IT UP TIGHT, AND DIRECT IT TO ME HERE.
BREAKFAST IS READY AND I MUST QUIT. GIVE MY LOVE TO ALL, KISS THE CHILDREN FOR ME, AND TELL THEM TO BE GOOD, OBEDIENT CHILDREN.
I WILL WRITE AGAIN SOON. IN THE MEANTIME BELIEVE YOUR AFFECTIONATELY,
THOS MCKEAN
