Norton, Levi W. to wife

Writes from Camp Caldwell. In the morning, he received a blue overcoat that has a state of NY button. They received the usual orders again today, so he concludes that the orders they received last night only need to be ready if any important attack is made on forces on the other side. He tells his wife that if she knew how many troops the Union had, her fears would diminish. The Federal force stretches from Alexandria Well to Harpers Ferry. Troops have been improving daily and the average for ten days has been 2220 and about 10 rifled cannons. He writes that if the Union succeeds in the next few battles, he hopes to be home with his wife soon as many believe the war will be over shortly. However, this theory will depend on the success of their arms. He thinks that Jeff [Jefferson] Davis is dead because his private ship was wrecked off Florida a few days ago. If Davis is dead, the only Confederate military generals left are P.G.T. Beauregard and Robert E. Lee. Norton believes that George McClellan, William Rosencrans, Benjamin Franklin Butler, and Nathaniel Prentice Banks can crush the rebellion and the war will be finished. He believes that the Confederacy is rising up against a Government that has never oppressed them. He mentions the "good and glorious victory" at the Battle of Hatteras Inlet Batteries (August 28 - 29, 1861) and that he hopes and thinks there will be more victorious news to come for the Union. He writes that if he and his wife do live to see the war over, it is certain that they will "read the doom of abolitionism." They no longer see any slaves because the slaves know that they will be sent back to their masters or to the Headquarters. Writes that it does not seem like dire war conditions in the North. However, "over in Rebeldom the blood flows now and then and death writes up its record of the casualties of this war."