October 16, 1863

By October 16th 2013

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       Fairfax C. H. Va.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 October 16th, 1863 

Dear Father:

                Again we are within the defenses of Washington. We started from Culpeper on Saturday evening and reached our present position last night. We have had one of the hardest marches we ever made, our Division having marched 25 miles yesterday, wading Broad Run twice and Bull Run once. They were attacked by the enemy on the way and five killed and eleven wounded, but the 2nd Corps coming up captured the whole of the enemy’s battery and took six hundred prisoners. The whole Army has fallen back to this position. What is on the tapis we cannot tell—maybe another campaign into Pennsylvania is contemplated by Lee. It is rumored that he has been reinforced by a great portion of [Confederate General Braxton] Bragg’s Army and intends to attack Washington or invade the North again. He has evidently been reinforced since we crossed the Rappahannock. We look for stirring times here soon. They cannot take Washington but they may make trouble for us for a time by crossing the Potomac. A new General has been assign to our Division—Genl. King—I do not know what his antecedents are but think the Division will like him better than Crawford. Genl. Crawford has been “playing off sick” for some weeks and is lying around Philadelphia or New York—this is the supposed reason for his removal. I hear this morning there is to be six new Regiments put in with our Division and I guess the report is correct. I will give you the particulars of the changes made when I learn how it is. I forgot to say I received your and Ma’s letters last Sunday. We received word yesterday that Brough and Curtin have been elected, which gladdened the hearts of many thousands of weary soldiers. [1] It is good as a great victory to the Army.
                I know of nothing more to write this morning.
                                Yours affectionately,

                                                Jas 

Next posting: October 30, 20i13

Jonathan E. Helmreich
College Historian
Allegheny College
Meadville, PA 16335

[1] John Brough won the governorship of  Ohio on a pro-Union ticket, defeating Copperhead Clement Vallandingham.