Camp near New Bridge, June 5, 1862.
Dear Father, — . . . As an instance of the advanced state of civilization and refinement in these regions, and to show the progress the F. F. V.’s make in the treatment of insane people, let me tell you the following true story. Captain Locke and some others of our staff went off to ride on one of the numerous side roads which abound in this country, the other day, and in the course of their ride stopped at a house by the way. Here they found a crazy man, the son of the man who owned the place, who was confined in a small out-house or den separate from the house. Here he was chained naked, and with no furniture but a small quantity of straw to lie on. His food was conveyed to him on the end of a stick which was thrust through the window. Just imagine a human being chained like a wild beast in a cage, and this in the middle of the nineteenth century. They said his howls and shrieks were terrible, and made them shudder to hear them. A fair sample of most of the poor whites and farmers. Ignorant, and as superstitious as the people of a hundred years ago. No idea in their head, but that of secession, and this slowly dawning on them as a humbug, and meaning ruin to them and advancement to the rich.
I am glad to hear you say that you have confidence in McClellan. You may think him slow, but remember, he is sure. He is hampered by Stanton, whose orders and commands have delayed, worried and retarded McClellan, and lengthened this war. McClellan had the whole campaign arranged in a most perfect manner. He would have had a large force in New Mexico, threatening Texas, and keeping the rebels from carrying on a protracted warfare there, which they threaten to do, if he had been let alone. Richmond also would have been ours some time ago. But hampered by the want of troops, he is compelled to advance cautiously and slowly. General Porter thinks now, however, that the rebels are on their last legs, and that the rebellion will be speedily closed. With the exception of _____’s division, which ran in the most disgraceful manner, our troops behaved splendidly and have given our generals great confidence in the result of the impending battle. I feel sure that we shall whip them, and that thoroughly. Casey lost ten guns in the fight, but we licked them well afterwards, and drove them at the point of the bayonet. The prisoners say that they expected to bag 30,000 of our men, who had no bridges to cross the Chickahominy, but that after the fight they thought we had 200,000 men and plenty of bridges. General Porter is as brave a soldier and as good a general as any in the army. He is modest, but will make his mark in this war. He has made himself many enemies on account of his sticking by McClellan, and this prevented his confirmation by the Senate until near the end of the Yorktown siege.
