Headquarters 1st Army Corps,
Camp at Warrenton, July 30, 1863.
Dear Father, — I received your letters of the 27th and 28th inst., and am very much obliged to you indeed for the trouble you have taken to obtain that position for me.
On receiving the letter, I went to General Newton, and told him that I expected the commission as lieutenant colonel, and that as soon as convenient to him, after receiving the commission, I would like to go home. I also told him that I was sorry to leave him, and that I was much obliged to him for his kindness to me. He said that he was sorry to lose me, but that he congratulated me on my promotion, etc. He was very kind to me indeed, and told me the best way to get my discharge. As soon as I receive my commission, I will start for home. I shall take James and both of my horses with me. The box of clothing I luckily received last night. I shall endeavor to get that bundle sent by Lieutenant Corcoran, but I am afraid that I stand a poor chance of obtaining it.
We are encamped close by the spot that General Porter was, last year. His not moving when ordered to, was one of the charges against him. Our position here is not very pleasant. We are on low ground, which gets soaked every time there is a rain, and yet decent drinking water is impossible to get hold of. It is convenient on account of being so near the railroad, but that is its only advantage. I saw Charlie Horton and Motley yesterday. They were both well. General Gordon, on whose staff Motley is, is in the Eleventh Corps, much to his disgust. The corps has such a bad reputation that any good soldier feels himself disgraced to be in it. The best way is to disband it and mix it in with the other corps.
James has a letter from his wife which says that he is drafted. If so, he had better enlist in the regiment I am going into, and then let me detail him as my servant.
General Newton does not work his staff nearly as much as General Reynolds used to. I am rather sorry for it, as I like to have plenty to do out here. I am not at all afraid of having too much to do at Readville. I like the idea, and think that it will do me good.
There has been some sharp correspondence between Halleck and Meade. Halleck telegraphed that this army could not fight or march worth a damn. Meade immediately asked to be relieved, but this was not granted, and Halleck apologized. If you take into consideration our inferior force, every one must acknowledge that Meade has done all that a man could do. Even now, we do not number 50,000 infantry in this army. If we are compelled to cross the Rappahannock with our present number, we shall stand a fair chance of being soundly whipped. We shall have to wait here until we receive our conscripts. . . .
