[place, date, and salutation missing; probably Camp Pierpont, VA, c. Oct. 23, 1861]
[The cam]paign has at last commenced. General McClellan went out with our boys today. He is very active; it is said he sleeps only five hours per day.
I was down at the city [Washington, DC] day before yesterday and saw Buck Brawley. He is a clerk in the census Bureau. I saw Wils Davis, “Old Gum”, and Cyrus Christy of Clintonville and formerly a pupil of mine. They are in the 1st Dragoons and quartered a mile and a half from us.
This is a beautiful country here, but looks dreary and desolate as the inhabitants all have fled, some one way and some the other. There are some fine fields of corn standing in the shock, but the fences are thrown down and there is no one to see to gathering the grain in.
You have reason to be thankful that no desolating armies disturb your peaceful home and destroy your property, and that, too, in such a way that it can not be restored. I have seen beautiful large orchards cut down, and shade trees that have stood for years around the door-yards of fine residences felled to the ground in order that batteries might be erected and that the guns might have full command of the surrounding neighborhood. *But then you know its a “military necessity.”*
You will see by Mary’s letter of my happy meeting with Sylvanus Freeman.[1] He is using as a hospital and is now quartered in a fine large house owned by an officer in the U. S. Navy. It had been left in such a hurry that all the household furniture is still there. It is finely furnished with chairs, tables, bureaus, mirrors, beds and bedding, and some of the rooms are richly carpeted. The sight was somewhat odd—to behold a crew of those hardy brave lumbermen and backwoods boys, all have a deer’s caudal appendage stuck in their caps, occupying velvet-cushioned cared hairs, all seeming merry and in good spirits.
I had a good visit with Sylvanus—he says to tell Mother he still recollects and always will the pair of ”Dutch” mittens she presented to him once. He told me the circumstances. [The original copyist suggests “This was probably a box on the ears.”]
I see him every day or so and feel that I am not altogether friendless now. I have been within a half-mile of him for over a month and did not know it. His brother, Francis, was in the same regiment, A Lieutenant, but has gone home on account of his inability to march, as you know he had a lame leg when we were in McKean County. I think Sylvanus would like to hear from you and Ma. I found out more about the McKean County folks in the short visit I had with him than I ever knew before. Sylvanus is first-rate company, as you know he is a good talker.
We are having fine weather here now, though the nights are quite cold indeed. There was frost one morning last week. The leaves are turning purple and golden yellow, making the hills which skirt the impetuous, dashing Potomac present that appearance of autumnal beauty which you admire as also every lover of Nature’s lovliness and granduar. Soon the leaves will fall and with the Heaven only knows how many brave hearts and manly forms.
Whether our troops will again try to take Manassas, I can not tell, but if we make the attempt, it will be done, no matter what it may cost.
The rebels have almost got the lower Potomac closed as they have batteries erected all along there and fire into our vessels whenever they attempt to pass up or down.
Col. McCalmont is still acting Brigadier General and I guess will continue. He is well liked by all. En passant, he dearly loves a drop of ”old rye” which he keeps most always on hand. I presume, however, he only takes it as a preventative of Ague and such like Malaria. I have heard that Mr. Green had been known to take a small touch of the “critter” with Col. before he left. I have it from an eye-witness, but maybe it was only to see what it tasted like. The officers nearly all indulge in this way a little, but the soldiers cannot get it, as none is allowed to come over the River.
I must now draw my letter to a close. If there is any merit in length, I am sure this letter has it, for it is surely long enough.
I hope you and the rest of the family will write and return the compliment.
Hoping that Heaven may protect us, I am, dear parents,
Your affectionate son, James
Next posting: October 26, 2011
Jonathan E. Helmreich
College Historian
Allegheny College
Meadville, PA 16335
[1] A surgeon, Freeman would be appointed to the rank of major on October 4, 1862.