Headquarters Third Brigade, P. R. C.
May 21, 1862
Dear Father:-
I write again. We are still at Falmouth but will cross the river soon, in a day or two, perhaps, as the bridge is now finished and the cars ran over to Fredericksburg last night.
There has been a change in the Third Brigade within the past week. General Ord has been ordered to take command of a division in this corps, composed of Generals Rickett’s, [Brigadier General George L.] Hartsuff’s and Bayard’s Brigades. He left us last Sunday. Every man in the Brigade felt that they were losing an Officer and a friend. He called the regiments up in line and bade them a formal “good-bye.”
General Truman Seymour has been assigned to the command of this Brigade. He is a good officer, graduated at West Point, is 37 years old, was an officer of artillery in the regular army and was one of the “70” who fought within the walls of Sumpter last spring. He is very much of a gentleman and I think we will like him, though not better than Ord.
When General Ord left he gave me a very flattering recommendation to General Seymour. I can continue in the office as long as I wish. It is just nine months since I entered this department to-day. I think I have gained much from being here as I have acquired something of a knowledge of business transactions. I am almost a necessity, having got the run of the papers and other affairs pertaining to the office.
Thomas Ross is driving the headquarters wagon for the General.
Joe Ross, Jesse Pryor, Dave Lovell, Brad Wilson and the rest of the boys are in the company and all are well. I saw Hen Hughes, John Maitland and others of the 4th Cavalry boys—they are all well.
Our Corps consists of three Divisions now—Ord’s, King’s, and McCall’s. [Brigadier General James] Shields’ will soon be with us also. The 84th Penna. Regt. is in his Division in which Merrick Housler and Penrose Chadwick are. I am glad they are coming down so I will get to see them.
I expect we will have a fight when we cross the river as the enemy are said to be in force only a few miles from us. When Shields gets with us, we will have an effective force of nearly 50,000 men. The enemy can send reinforcements in a short time, however, from Richmond. Nous verrons. [Fr.: We will see.]| Hoping to hear from you all, I will close. In great haste,
Yours affectionately James
I send a fig leaf to mother. Strawberries are commencing to ripen.
Next posting: May 28, 2012
Jonathan E. Helmreich
College Historian
Allegheny College
Meadville, PA 16335