Letter from Humphrey Marshall to William D. Stuart

Scope and content:

Written from Lebanon. Letter regards previous orders.

Language:

English .

Other descriptive data:

Lebanon, 31st March 1862

Col. Stuart,
Of so much of your order of the 28th as proposes the formation of a camp near Abingdon by the unfurloughed officers, non-commissioned officers, and privates of "Floyd's Brigade", I shall express no opinion at this time. I presume your halt at Abingdon, for instructions from Richmond, was in pursuance of your duty under the direction of Major General Smith. I am glad he has force to spare.

The others parts of your order I cheerfully approve and will sustain. I know of no vice so fatal to our soldiery as intemperance; and, independent of the loss of many genial fellows to the cause in which our swords are drawn, their fall is the gain of the meanest and the most heartless men in community. The vigor of authority shall not be wanting on my part to sustain every effort to limit the pernicious vice.

I enclose an Order, which please hand to Maj. Fisher that he may have a few struck off and sent after such of my men as have left Abingdon.

Your vindicatory note has been successful I imagine in proving that you did not delay marching last winter intentionally, but the failure to join me was a great misfortune to this command.

I am ready however to look forward and not backwards, and hope our acquaintance may be as agreeable in its continuance as it has been awkward in its beginning.

Yours Respectfully,
H. Marshall
Brig. Genl. Comd.

Subjects:

United States—History—Civil War, 1861-1865—Personal narratives—Confederate
Correspondence

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