CAMP TENNALLY, D.C.
SEPT. 26, 1861
DEAR RACHEL –
THIS BEING A FAST DAY, THERE IS NO DRILL IN OUR BRIGADE, AND I TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE CHANCE TO WRITE YOU, ALTHOUGH I WROTE LAST NIGHT. THIS MAKES THE FIFTH LETTER I HAVE WRITTEN TO YOU SINCE I CAME HERE, AND I HAVE ONLY RECEIVED TWO FROM YOU. YOU MUST NOT GET TOO MUCH IN DEBT TO ME, FOR A LETTER FROM HOME IS A REAL TREAT.
LAST NIGHT WAS ONE OF CONSIDERABLE ANXIETY IN OUR CAMP, BUT IT PASSED OFF WITHOUT ANY ALARM FROM THE MOVEMENT OF CAVALRY AND INFANTRY PAST OUR CAMP TOWARD THE CHAIN BRIDGE, AS WELL AS ORDERS TO HOLD COL. McCALMONT’S BRIGADE IN READINESS TO MARCH AT AN HOURS NOTICE, THE IMPRESSION WAS GENERAL THAT AN IMPORTANT MOVEMENT WAS ON FOOT BUT IF ANY WAS INTENDED IT IS NOW ABANDONED. I SUPPOSE THE REBELS WERE MERELY MAKING MOTIONS TOWARDS US, TO SEE IF WE WERE READY TO MEET THEM, AND BEING SATISFIED WE WERE, DID NOT MAKE A DEMONSTRATION. IT IS GENERALLY BELIEVED HERE ABOUTS, THAT THERE 200,000 MEN WITHIN TWO HOURS MARCH OF ANY POINT OF OUR WASHINGTON DEFENSES. I THINK THE GUESS IS VERY NEAR THE TRUTH, FROM OUR HIGH POSITION, WE CAN SEE OVER A LARGE EXTENT OF COUNTRY, AND AS FAR AS THE EYE CAN REACH, IT IS WHITE WITH TENTS. ENTRENCHED FORTIFICATION, SHOW THEMSELVES EVERY HERE AND THERE, AND HEAVY FIRING THAT AT TIMES STARTLES US WITH THE IDEA THAT A BIG FIGHT IS GOING ON SOMEWHERE, IS ONLY ARTILLERY PRACTICE.
THE COUNTRY AROUND OUR POSITION REMINDS ME VERY MUCH OF HOME, EXCEPT THAT PERHAPS IT IS A LITTLE MORE HILLY. THE TREES, SHRUBS, WEEDS, FLOWERS AND ALL THOSE LITTLE MATTERS ARE NEARLY THE SAME AS AT HOME. A STUNTED SPECIES OF CEDAR GROWS EVERYWHERE HERE, AND THE BOYS USE THE TOPS FOR BROOMS, AND MANY OF THEM COVER THEIR TENT FLOORS WITH SMALL BOUGHS, MAKING A VERY COMFORTABLE, HIGHLY PERFUMED CARPET OR BED.
MARION PROUDFIT AND SAM McWILLIAMS ARE UNDER THE SURGEON ‘S CARE, THOUGH NOT SICK ENOUGH TO GO TO THE HOSPITAL. I DO NOT THINK THEY WILL BE SICK LONG. I THINK OUR SURGEON IS A VERY GOOD ONE, AT LEAST HE IS VERY ATTENTIVE TO HIS PATIENTS.
TELL FATHER TO WRITE ME, AND TELL STANAHAN THAT I THINK VERY WELL OF HIS EDITORIALS. THEY ARE JUST THE THING.
PEDDLERS ARE THRONGING OUR CAMP SINCE THE REGIMENT WAS PAID. THEY HAVE EVERYTHING TO SELL, BUT THOSE MOST PATRONIZED HAVE PIES, HOT APPLE DUMPLINGS, AND HOT PUDDINGS, ETC. I LOOK FOR AN INCREASE IN THE SICK LIST FOR A FEW DAYS.
DINNER IS READY, AND I MUST QUIT. ON THE TABLE BESIDE ME, I NOTICE A DISH OF BOILED MUTTON, SOME SWEET POTATOES, SOME BUTTER NOT SO SWEET, SOME PILOT BREAD, SUGAR, SALT, PEPPER, AND TINS FULL OF COFFEE. THIS IS A PRETTY GOOD BILL OF FARE FOR A FAT DAY, IS IT NOT?
I HAVE EATEN MY DINNER, AND CONCLUDE TO WRITE SOME MORE. WE YESTERDAY DREW OUT TENTS, BLANKETS OVER COATS, KNAPSACKS, HAVERSACKS, ETC, ETC, AND TODAY THE BAND COMMENCED HOUSEKEEPING. I WILL STILL STAY WITH CAPT. WARNER’S MESS.
TELL THE CHOIR, IF YOU SEE ANY OF THEM, THAT I OFTEN THINK OF THEM. MR .MONASMITH WAS OVER HERE DAY BEFORE YESTERDAY, AND WE HAD A LONG TALK ABOUT THINGS IN GENERAL, AND THE MERCER M.E. CHOIR PARTICULARLY. MONASMITH IS GETTING WELL. HE HAS BEEN VERY SICK IN THE GEORGETOWN HOSPITAL.
I HAVE NOT SEEN MR. RICHARDSON.HE IS IN LEASURE’S REGIMENT, ABOUT THREE MILES FROM OURS.
I CAN THINK OF NOTHING MORE TO WRITE AND SHALL THEREFORE STOP. MY LOVE TO ALL, AND KISSES TO THE CHILDREN, AND REMAIN TOURS AFFECTIONATELY
TOM
