Near Alexandria, April 9th, 1862
Dear Father:-
Your letter dated the 2nd ultimo was received yesterday and I will respond to-day as I may not have an opportunity of sending it to the postoffice for a day or two afterwards. As I wrote you last week the destination of the 1st Corps d’Armee has been changed. I think I also told you that all of Corps except McCall’s Division had been ordered beyond Manassas and that we were expecting orders soon. They have at last come—one Brigade moved to Manassas to-day and the others will go to-morrow. The infantry go by rail and the Artillery, Cavalry and Baggage Train go via Fairfax Courthouse and Centerville, I gave you the list of regiments composing McCall’s Division and the different Brigades several months since but we number more now than then. I will give you a synopsis of King’s Division – – – –
King’s Division—
[Brigadier]General [Christopher C.] Auger’s Brigade—
24th Regt. Brooklyn;
30th N. Y. Volunteers;
22nd “ “
24th “ “
2nd Regt. Borden’s Sharpshooters.
[Brigadier] General [Marsena R.] Patrick’s Brigade—
21st Regt. N Y. Volunteers
23rd “ “ “
35th “ “ “
20th “ “ “
Col. – – – – – – – -‘s Brigade—
2nd Regt. Wisconsin Volunteers
6th “ “ “
7th “ “ “
19th “ Indiana “
Third Regt. N Y. Cavalry;
“ “ N. J. Cavalry;
Five Batteries of Artillery.
So you see his Division numbers not far from 15,000. I do not know the strength of Franklin’s Division exactly, but it is between 15,000 and 20,000. I intend to find out if I can and will then give you the regiments composing his command. Such news as I can write to you would of course be contraband in the newspapers.
It is now quite clear that we are to move on toward Richmond while McClellan with the rest of the Army of the Potomac will operate on Norfolk and vicinity and meet us in the rebel capital. En passant, General McClellan remarked to General McDowell’s lady the day of our last grand review that “the next review we have will be in Richmond.” It is not improbable.
You asked a week or two since about paying a visit to the army here in Washington. I forgot to give you an answer on that subject. I will say now that it would have paid you well if you could have been here before the move. I would be very glad indeed to see you now, but you would doubtless have a great deal of trouble in following us up as there is no knowing where we will be in a week from now. I think it would not be time or money foolishly spent, however, in paying a visit to Washington, especially during the sitting of Congress. You would find much to admire, and perhaps much to condemn, also, in the “City of the Magnificent Distances.”
It has snowed and sleeted for the past thirty-six hours (8:P.M.) and there is now three inches of snow on the ground, more than at any time last winter, but to-morrow will be a fair day and the roads will soon be as dry and dusty as they were a few days ago.
I suppose you have received those pictures of some of our Generals which I sent last mail to the children.
I see by the Philadelphia Inquirer of to-day that the Investigating Committees in the Pennsylvania Legislature are bring[ing] to light a number of instances of bribery and corruption in regard to the repeal of [words missing]. . . . is now going down into obscurity. Save me from being suddenly elevated to a position of honor and renoun, but let me work my way up, step by step, and never get above my true level.
You need not fear that your letters will not reach me for they will all be forwarded from Washington.
You will have heard of McClellan’s attack on Yorktown and will know the result a day or two after it is known here. We have heard nothing from them since yesterday when they had laid siege to that city where Washington captured Lord Cornwallis. [Confederate Major General John B.] Magruder will find it as untenable as Cornwallis did, I think.
I have several acquaintances in that engagement, Steadman and the Richland boys are there and also John Compton who is in [Colonel John W.] McLean’s [McLane](Erie) Regiment, [Brigadier General Daniel] Butterfield’s Brigade, [Brigadier General Fitz-John] Porter’s Division. [1]
I can think of nothing more that would interest you. I suppose by to-morrow evening we will be encamped on the plains of Manassas.
News just received that the most bloody fight that has yet been fought has just terminated at Corinth—not far from No. 10. [2] For the present, Good-bye, James.
Next posting: April 23, 2012
Jonathan E. Helmreich
College Historian
Allegheny College
Meadville, PA 16335
[1] Col. McLane was killed at the Battle of Gaines’ Mill, June 27, 1862. He was posthumously promoted to the rank of brigadier general by the General Assembly of the Pennsylvania legislature on April 4, 1961.
[2] This reference is a bit confusing. Chadwick may be referring to the Battle of Shiloh (April 6-7, 1862) or the much less bloody Union taking of Island 10 in the Mississippi River on April 7. The Confederates abandoned Corinth at the end of May.