CAMP TENNALLY, D.C.
SEPT. 29, 1861
DEAR WIFE – THIS IS MY THIRD SUNDAY IN CAMP, AND LIKE THE OTHER TWO, IT IS A BEAUTIFUL BRIGHT DAY. LAST SUNDAY I SPENT IN THE CITY, BUT TODAY NO ONE IS
ALLOWED TO GO OUT OF CAMP UPON E ANY PRETEXT. THE GREAT AND DECISIVE MOVEMENT OF THIS WAR IS NOW BEING MADE, AND EVERY SOLDIER ABOUT WASHINGTON IS HELD IN READINESS TO MOVE AT A MOMENT WARNING. THEN PENNSYLVANIA RESERVE CORPS IS ALL HELD IN THIS CONDITION, AND HENCE ALL PASSES, EVEN THE CUSTOMARY PASS TO CHURCH ARE DENIED.
YESTERDAY GEN, McCLELLAN MADE A POWERFUL MOVEMENT FORWARD, THE REBELS RETIRING BEFORE HIM WITHOUT ANY ATTEMPT AT RESISTANCE. WE HAVE NOT THE LEAST IDEA WHERE WE WILL BE ORDERED TO. YOU, WILL KNOW ALL ABOUT IT FROM THE PAPERS LONG BEFORE THIS LETTER REACHES YOU. YOU WILL MOST PROBABLY KNOW, ALSO, WHAT HAS BEEN THE RESULT OF THE MOVEMENT. WE HAVE YET ONLY PREPARATORY ORDERS, BUT WE EXPECT TODAY TO GET ORDERS TO STRIKE TENTS, AND CROSS THE POTOMAC. THE BAND WILL MOVE WHEN THE ORDER COMES, AND I CANNOT GUESS WHAT OUR MAIL FACILITIES WILL BE WHEN THE ARMY MOVES INTO VIRGINIA. MOST LIKELY WE WILL BE ABLE TO SEND LETTERS REGULARLY, BUT POSSIBLE NOT. WHATEVER THE OPPORTUNITIES MAY BE, I WILL SEIZE EVERY CHANCE OF WRITING HOME. SHOULD YOU NOT RECEIVE LETTERS REGULARLY. I BEG YOU NOT TO FEEL ANY NEEDLESS ALARMS. MY POSITION IN THE ARMY WILL NOT AT ANY TIME BE AN ADVANCED OR EXPOSED ONE, AND I HAVE TOO MANY DEPENDING UPON MY SAFETY TO RISK MY SELF UNNECESSARY . WHATEVER DUTIES I HAVE TO PERFORM, I WILL DO, BUT YOU MAY MAKE YOURSELF EASY AS IT IS POSSIBLE TO BE, UNDER THE CIRCUMSTANCES, WITH THE ASSURANCE THAT I WILL NOT EXPOSE MYSELF NEEDLESSLY.
GEN. McCLELLAN IS MOVING FORWARD WITH WHAT I BELIEVE TO BE AN OVER WHELMING FORCE. I DO NOT BELIEVE HE WILL ATTEMPT TO STORM THE BATTERIES AT MANASSAS, BUT RATHER THAT HE WILL OUTWIT THEM IN SOME WAY, SO AS TO SAVE HUMAN LIFE. THE ARMY HAS UNBOUNDED CONFIDENCE IN HIM, AND FROM THE SHORT VIEW, I HAD OF HIM, I BELIEVE THAT CONFIDENCE IS NOT MISPLACED.
THE BOYS OF THE 10TH ARE PLEASED WITH THE IDEA OF AN ADVANCE, BECAUSE THEY ARE TIRED OF THE DULL ROUTINE OF CAMP LIFE, AND BECAUSE THEY THINK THE SOONER THEY ADVANCE, THE SOONER THE WAR WILL BE ENDED.
I GOT A LETTER FROM YOU YESTERDAY EVENING. I WAS VERY GLAD TO KNOW THAT YOU WERE ALL WELL. MRS. WARNER AND HER LITTLE BOY WERE IN THE TENT WHEN THE LETTER CAME IN, AND THEIR PRESENCE HELPED ME TO APPRECIATE ALL THERE WAS IN THE LETTER ABOUT HOME ANDTHE DEAR ONES THERE. THE LITTLE BOY IS WITH US YET, AND THE COMPANY ARE MAKING MUCH OF HIM. MRS. WARNER WENT DOWN HOME YESTERDAY EVENING. SHE COMES OFTER TO SEE US, AND I THINK IT HAS A GOOD EFFECT ON US ALL.
YOU ASK WHO ARE IN THE MESS WITH ME. CAPT. WARNER, LIEUT. RODGERS, AND ES. SHIPLER. WHEN WHISTLER COMES HE WILL BE WITH US. WE GET ALONG VERY COZILY. THE WEATHER FOR THE LAST FEW NIGHTS HAS BEEN QUITE COOL, ALMORT COLD ENOUGH FOR FROST, BUT WE HAVE HAD NO FROST YET. WE SLEEP WARM ENOUGH. THE DARKIES JAKE AND FRANK HAVE JUST TAKEN THE TABLE FOR DINNER, AND I MUST DRAW TO A CLOSE. JUST NOW THE TWO HORNS WE ORDERED FROM HOME HAVE COME TO HAND, AND GREAT IS THE REJOICING OF THE BAND. TELL NEWT McDONALD ABOUT IT. THE BOYS ALL TAKE A GREAT INTEREST IN THE BAND AND WE HAVE MANY PRIVILEGES NOT COMMON TO THE REST. I MUST CLOSE NOW WHATEVER MAY BE THE RESULT OF THE GREAT MOVEMENT, I WANT YOU TO GIVE YOURSELF NO NEEDLESS ALARM. I WILL TRY AND KEEP OUT OF HARMS WAY, AND CONFIDENT THAT AN OVERRULING PROVIDENCE WILL DO WITH ME AND YOU AND ALL OF US AS HE SEES BEST. I SEND MY KINDEST LOVE TO ALL, AND KISSES TO YOU AND THE CHILDREN, AND REMAIN TILL DEATH YOUR AFFECTIONATE HUSBAND
TOM
