Hall’s Hill, Va., March 9, 1862.
Dear Father, — We start certainly to-morrow at six A.M., and advance directly to Centreville. Our division proceeds to Fairfax Court House by the “dirt road.” Colonel Averell with a regiment of infantry and two of cavalry pushes a reconnoissance beyond Centreville, supported by McDowell and Heintzelman in reserve. I shall let you know the result of any encounter which may take place as soon as possible. All the rest of the divisions move on by different routes into Virginia. I have just copied the order of the routes for the different divisions and so speak from what I know to be true.
Theodore Colburn is here from Cambridge. He will spend the night here and can probably give you an account of our departure. . . .
P.S. We shall have no fighting at Manassas, so I hear. The rebels are evacuating it.
McCl. is a failure. Don’t say a word about this to any one as it would bring me into trouble, but still I know it to be a fact.
