Throughout the winter McClellan overestimated Confederate forces between Washington and Richmond and the strength of their defenses at Manassas. When President Abraham Lincoln pressed for movement by Washington’s Birthday, McClellan proposed an alternative route that supposedly would circumvent the bulk of the Confederate army. He would ship Union troops down the Potomac, through Chesapeake Bay, up the Rappahannock River, and then lead them overland to Richmond. This move, however, was so poorly concealed and executed so slowly that the Southerners were able to reposition their regiments. McClellan was forced to adjust his flanking maneuver to involve advancement up the James or York and Pamunkey rivers.
Camp near Alexandria, Va. March 20th, 1862
Dear Parents and all the family:-
I will improve a few leisure moments by writing to you once again.
I have not heard from you for about two weeks, though I have written every week promptly. I am well, though I feel somewhat uncomfortable from cold recently taken from exposure and fatigue.
When I wrote to you last week I was with the Division at Hunter’s Mills, When it was ascertained that the enemy had evacuated Manassas and Centreville, McClellan’s plans were frustrated and new arrangements had to be made. The order was given to commence shipping troops down the Potomac as fast as possible, so we were ordered to report at Alexandria for that purpose. We marched two days and traveled nearly thirty miles to reach our present site which is not more than ten or twelve miles from Hunter’s Mills. The reason for the long march was that the bridges along the Leesburg and Alexandria turnpike had been burned. Last Saturday was the day we started and it rained all day very hard and a greater part of the night. We were wet through and had no tents but had to lie on the ground around fires made of rails, etc.
It seems hard to stop on a nice farm, well fenced and tidy and burn every rail on it, but yet it is a necessity. It would not be a difficult matter to trace the army in its progress along the country. It leaves a perfect desolation in its trail.
As you know, the Army of the Potomac has been divided into four grand divisions or corps, commanded by McDowell, [Brigadier General Erasmus D.] Keyes, [Brigadier General Edwin V.] Sumner, and Heintzleman. McDowell’s Corps is composed of about 40 or 45 thousand troops, being the Divisions of McCall, [Brigadier General] William B. Franklin, and [Brigadier General Rufus] King. Everyone seems to be satisfied that we are in McDowell’s command as he is considered the best of the Generals in this army, General George B. McClellan excepted.
We have been since last Sunday and still are lying about four miles from Alexandria waiting for transportation. We do not know our destination but some think it is in the neighborhood of Norfolk or up the James River. Troops are being shipped every night and our turn will come soon.
It rained all last night and is still raining to-day; it is quite cold and disagreeable; my fingers are so cold I can hardly write. The men have no tents here but have lived under little brush huts which do not shed rain. The “sick list” will certainly increase.
I wrote to you last week that I found Uncle Jerry’s son, Everill [pictured with James in the heading of this blog]. He is well and has been detailed to drive an ambulance in the “Bucktail” Regiment. I saw Rev. Steadman in Alexandria last Sunday. He sent his love to you all. His regiment, the 105th, has since left on the fleet so he is gone, too. I met John Barr, Jim Troutner, and Sam Willson yesterday. They are well as all the rest of the Rockland boys in the 4th Cavalry. I saw Harvey Jolly yesterday also. He looks very hearty and stout. His Corps, Signal, is stationed in Alexandria but they will soon be scattered with the different divisions of the army.
I happened to find a son of Rev. George Reeser the other day. He is in Company E, 10th Regt., Capt. James Knox. He is a very puny frail boy to be in the army, in his nineteenth year. As he had but one blanket, having lost one, I gave him one of mine—one of those which Mother sent.
Everill told me that Uncle Francis’ son, Penrose was in Col. Murray’s regiment in western Virginia.
I can not tell you where to direct your letters as I do not know where we will be, but if you direct them as heretofore I think they will no doubt be forwarded. For the present, I will close, I am,
Yours affectionately, James D. C.
Next posting: April 9, 2012
Jonathan E. Helmreich
College Historian
Allegheny College
Meadville, PA 16335