MONDAY MORNING SEPT. 30, 1861
DEAR RACHEL –
CONTRARY TO ALL OUT EXPECTATIONS, WE WERE NOT CALLED OUT LAST NIGHT. THERE WAS NO FURTHER FORWARD MOVEMENT ON THE PART OF GEN. McCLELLAN YESTERDAY, BECAUSE IT WAS SUNDAY. TODAY OUR REGIMENT HAS TO GO ON PICKET DUTY, SO THAT IF A GENERAL ADVANCE IS MADE, THE 10TH WILL BE LEFT BEHIND. I WILL WRITE TO YOU EVERY DAY DURING THE PRESENT EXCITEMENT, UNLESS THE BAND HAS TO GO WITH THE REGIMENT ON PICKET DUTY. WE HAVE NEVER GONE WITH THEM. IF WE GO, I CANNOT WRITE TOMORROW.
TOM RODGERS HEARD COL. McCALMONT TALKNG YESTERDAY EVENING OF THE PROBABLE POSITION OUR DIVISION WILL HAVE IN T HE PRESENT CIRCUMSTANCES. HE THINKS OUR CAMP WILL NOT BE MOVED FROM HERE TILL WE GO INTO WINTER QUARTERS. THE TROOPS MAY BE ORDERED OUT ON TEMPORARY DUTY OCCASIONALLY, BUT NOT FOR MORE THAN A FEW DAYS AT A T TIME. I THINK HE IS WRONG, THE PENNA RESERVE IS TOO GOOD A BODY OF TROOPS TO BE ALLOWED TO BE IDLE.
I WILL WRITE AGAIN TOMORROW IF WE DO NOT GO UP THE RIVER ON PICKET. MY LOVE TO ALL. YOURS AFFECTIONATELY TOM (OVER)
LATER – 10 O’CLOCK A.M.
THE MAIL CARRIER IS LATER THAN USUAL IN GETTING ROUND THIS MORNING.
THE REGIMENT HAS JUST STARTED BY AN ORDER FROM GEN. McCALL, FOR THE WHOLE DIVISION TO TURN OUT, AND GO TO GREAT FALLS. OUR REGIMENT WAS READY IN HALF AN HOUR, AND OFF. THE 4TH AND 12TH, ON EACH SIDE OF US ONLY STARTED A MINUTE AGO. OUR BOYS WENT OFF WITH WILD YELLS OF DELIGHT, ON DOUBLE QUICK TIME. ALL THE BAND REMAINED, BY ORDER OF COL. McCALMONT, TO ASSIST IN GUARDING THE CAMP.
THE IDEA IS THAT THE REBELS ARE TRYING TO FORCE THE POTOMAC AT GREAT FALLS. I WILL WRITE TOMORROW.
TOM
