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Did I tell you the old Reserves had subscribed fifteen hundred dollars to present me with a sword, sash, belt, etc.? It is expected they will be ready about the close of the month, when I am to go, if possible, to their camp near Washington to receive them.
Falmouth, Va., March 21, 1863.
I had seen in the papers a glowing account of the ‘Merry Wives of Windsor,’ which must have been a great treat.
There is nothing I feel so much the deprivation of as hearing good music, and I was very sorry that there was no opportunity to indulge myself while in Philadelphia.
We have literally nothing new or exciting in camp.
Averill's brilliant cavalry foray has been the camp talk.
The enemy, through Richmond papers, admit they were whipped and believe it to be the commencement of Hooker's campaign, and already talk of the probable necessity of Lee's having to fall back nearer Richmond.
This confirms what we have suspected, that their force opposite to us had been much reduced, and that when we pressed them they would retire.
There is not much chance of doing this at present, however.
Yesterday it snowed all day, and to-day it is raining, so that our roads are again, or will be, in a dreadful condition.Falmouth, Va., March 29, 1863.
I received yesterday your letter of the 26th.
The same mail brought me a letter from Franklin.
It is evident from Franklin's letter that my surmise was correct, that he had taken it into his head that I had been talking to Burnside and furnishing him with data for the controversy.
I don't intend to quarrel with Franklin if I can help it, because I feel that in all this war he has shown more real regard for me and appreciation for me than any other man. I have never had any official relations with Franklin, till Fredericksburg, and I know that he has on numerous occasions referred to me as one who has not been advanced in proportion to his merits.
Besides this feeling, selfish to be sure, my judgment is that Burnside is making a mistake in holding Franklin responsible for the disaster at Fredericksburg.
Franklin may be chargeable with a want of energy, with failing, without reference to orders, to take advantage of a grand opportunity for distinction, with, in fact, not doing more than he was strictly required to do; but it is absurd to say he failed 