April 20, 1863.
My dear sister:
I have not heard from you for several days, so long that I
began to fear that something had happened to prevent your writing. We are still
stuck in the mud, and to-day is one of the rainiest of the season. All the
streams are up, and no move can take place for a few days. Yesterday the
President, Secretary of War, and General Halleck met General Hooker at Aquia
Creek; what the subject of the conversation was of course no one but themselves
know. A little piece of good news came this morning from Suffolk, which you
will see in the papers. I hear they are making demonstrations to draw supports
from this army, as they did last year by sending Jackson into the Shenandoah
Valley; I hope the plan may not succeed. Many of our oldest and best regiments
are soon to be discharged, as well as the nine months' troops. I am afraid the
measures taken to secure their reenlistment will not prove effective. No troops
with but a few days to leave are going to risk much in a fight.
I send in this mail two books directed to myself; please lay
them aside.
I believe I told you that Mr. Heine had resigned. I received
from him to-day a beautiful gold and silver box, for either snuff or tobacco. I
liked him very much; he was very true and faithful in the discharge of his
duties. I send his photograph, also one of Colonel Batchelder, another very
good friend. With love to all,
I am, as ever,
J. S.
SOURCES: George William Curtis, Correspondence of
John Sedgwick, Major-General, Volume 2, p. 90-1
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