Roswell Farnham to [Mary Farnham]
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The seventh of June! Time hurries on, & almost before we know it our time will be out. In about twenty days we probably shall start for home & if nothing happens I shall again be by the side of my dear wife.
I have now two letters that I have not answered - one written May 25th. & one June 1st. - both came the same day.
Yesterday & day before I was very busy sitting as president of the Court of
Inquiry into the conduct of Lieut. Hartshorn and the circumstances attending the
destruction of the train May 30th. The court is not yet closed. It will take us
at least one day more. This court has prevented my going on picket yesterday
& today. We now have to furnish six commissioned
officers, about forty non-commissioned officers and two hundred & fifteen men, two
days out of four, and the line now extends from
Blackburn's Ford up near Centreville to
below Woodyard's, where you
went. So you can see we have enough to do.
Almost all of the cavalry of the Army is now on the R. R. below us and a good deal of artillery & some infantry. It was reported last night that Hooker had crossed over to Fredericksburgh again & that Lee had left. I dont know what truth there is in the rumour. Col. B. has gone down the R. R. with Genl. Stannard today. I suppose troops are massing on the R. R. to be prepared for any move of Lee's.
The paymaster is out here & we are to be paid again tomorrow. The 16th. now out on the R. R. is to be relieved this week & some other Regt - not ours, is to go out to take their place.
When I was in Alexa. the other day there was a great deal of excitement there. They are including all that part of the city next the river within a barricade, to keep out geurrillas & incendiaries from among the rebel citizens there. They are also digging rifle pits all about the city. At Wolf Run Shoals, two nights ago, they worked all night digging. Col. Nichols is there with the 14th. & Capt. Sterling & his battery. There are several ladies now with the battery. Two of them were up here the other day.
Col. Randall & the 13th. are still at Accoquan.
We are having
delightful weather campaigning. No rain. It has not rained since we were at the
Rappahannock.
I had a letter from Charlie Harding last night & rec'd one from Mr. Strickland the same day I rec'd your two last ones. Tell him I am very glad to hear from him. He wrote me a very long letter. Give my best regards to him & his whole family.
Sunday Evening. I did not finish this in season for the mail which leaves at noon. Since writing the above I have rec'd your letter written Tuesday & Wednesday 2d. & 3d. & also a letter from Laura written the 4th. I am glad to hear from you both. I suppose you have returned from Washn. before now & have got the very foolish letter I wrote you last Monday as Laura says that she has rec'd one & cannot hear from me till you get back. Write me whether she opened it or not & also whether there was anything in the one she did open while you was in Boston that she ought not to have seen. Write me particularly. Tell Laura I will answer her letter at once. It is very cold or I should write several letters tonight. It is the coldest night we have had for some time.
Nelson & I rode out about four miles just before supper & had a fine ride. We went up in sight of Centreville.
Monday Morning. You see I have not finished this letter yet. It is pleasant this morning but cool. I shall be busy today after ten o'clock, as our Court of Inquiry sits at that time & will last thro' the day. It will be several days before I shall be on as Field Officer of the day & by that time a road will be made thro' the whole line as fatigue parties have been sent out to make a road.
My health continues good & I am glad to knwo that you are so well tho' I was sorry to hear that you was sick when you was. You must not work too hard. I dont see what you can have to do to get so tired. You will worry yourself whether you have much or little to do. I am glad you have learned not to be so much affected by the opinion of people & I hope you will continue in the same state of mind.
I am sorry that we cannot have the whole house when I get home. I have forgotten how it happened that the house was let at all. I wish you would write me. But I suppose we can get along for a few months if they should stay. But I suppose they will do more damage than the rent will amount to. Write often.
Your affectionate husbandRoswell Farnham
We can get no passes into Wn. without the consent of Genl. Heintzelman.