Letter from New York 152d Regiment
Chenango American, November 27, 1862
Camp Marcy, Nov. 28, 1862
Eds. American: One would think from the manner it has rained during the past two or three days that the rebellion would soon be crushed by a deluge as vast in extent and as terrible in destruction as the one of old. The rain pours down in torrents and the hills around look like mighty cataracts with their resistless floods, all rushing with a roar akin to that of Niagara down the sides of the mountains into the dark bosom of the Potomac. Several times I have found myself involuntarily yet anxiously looking around to see if some modern Noah was not constructing an ark that would survive this dread accumulation of waters. But I could see none, for all, whether soldier or civilian, was forced to seek shelter from the raging storm. Our camp which is situated on a side hill presents a scene of mud and slosh that "beggars all description" The soil here is mostly clay, and I leave it to your own conjectures as to the usefulness of the material in manufacturing mud. Frequently an individual starts to go down hill, when his feet slipping from under him, he will suddenly be thrown into a most desirable attitude for sliding.
Our employment thus far has been mostly confined to digging rifle pits, making roads and building bridges. This kind of work does not add much to the contentment of the regiment. The men feel as though they were sent down here to fight and to assist in re-establishing on a firmer basis than ever the principles of our forefathers, but when instead of drilling with the musket they are obliged to practice with the pick axe and shovel, and instead of learning battalion movements they are merely taught to "fall in line" for ditch digging it is not to be wondered at that they should be disappointed and chagrined at the manner in which they are assisting to "work out the salvation" of our country. Yes, today, should we be attacked by a band of rebels we could do more towards resisting them by the use of the agricultural implements I have mentioned than by the use of our rifles, for in the use of the latter we have received scarcely any instruction whatever, while we have been drilled in the utility of the former until we have reached a standard of perfection which would be difficult to excel.
There has nothing particularly exciting transpired among us since I wrote you last. There are some feelings of indignation among some of the old troops on account of the removal of Gen. McClellan. They are very vociferous in their condemnation of this last act of President Lincoln. They insist that the abilities of McClellan as a Commander far exceed those of any other General in ancient or modern times, but when questioned as to the rate of speed he marched to relieve Harper's Ferry, or the unmolested evacuation of Yorktown by the rebels, or the manner in which his army was decimated in the Chickahominy swamps by the most malignant fevers and diseases, or the great loss of life his army experienced when he executed his much ridiculed strategy of "changing base" to the James river, or of his signal and disastrous defeat before Richmond, or of the drawn battle of Antietam, they, like the boy who tore his pants, have nothing to say. I am one of those who believe his removal to be one of the most encouraging "signs of the times" that has happened since the war began. His inactivity and utter disregard of the wishes of the people for an "advance movement" had well nigh discouraged the loyal efforts of the north and provoked the intervention of foreign powers. His removal is what the interests of our Country long since demanded, but which the people have hardly been prepared to receive until now. His successor is a man who earned the confidence of his countrymen before they bestowed it upon him. With his name is indissolubly connected the glories which cluster around the battles of Newbern and Roanoke Island. He has incorporated in his disposition a certain "goaheadativeness" which predicts the ultimate triumph of the army of the Potomac. Of late everyone feels encouraged, and nearly every soldier is laying his plans to eat dinner at home on New Years, but in this I think many will be disappointed.
We are for the present detailed with one or two other regiments to guard "Chain Bridge" which is about three fourths of a mile from our encampment. How long we shall continue to perform this service I am not able to say, with certainty, but I should judge all winter as we have been ordered to "log up" our tents for winter. The Division of Gen. Abercrombie whose Headquarters are near here, is now under marching orders and they are making every preparation to move at a moments warning. Trusting that you will soon hear of Richmond's capture, I remain,
Yours in haste, J.L.T. of Co. F
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