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18 January 1862
Dewey, Orville S.
to Mary "Mollie" McLean
He was worried for Mollie since he hadn't heard from her in a while. But she was fine. He predicts Major Whittany will go far in his profession. He likes him a lot.
GLC02161.015
14 February 1862
to [Norman R. Dewey]
Wednesday they marched through Centerville. Centerville has the strongest position the Rebels ever had. He has been to Manassas and Bull's Run.
GLC02161.017
21 March 1862
One day he ran into a Doctor Coventry who persuaded him to stay with him. They went to a church now used as a hospital. He met Will in Alexandria.
GLC02161.018
10 April 1862
McLean, William
They are advancing with an army of 100,000 men. He expects their there to be a "dreadful battle in a day or so". He applied to be on Gen. Smith's staff. There will be terrible slaughter sioon,
GLC02161.020
11 May 1862
Last night they crossed the Rappahannock, marched through Fredricksburg and camped. He talks about how the Rebels treat their dead horses and mules. Fredricksburg is described as a filthy place.
GLC02161.021
21 May 1862
He has just read his his commission. Col. Albergers' Regt. is at Williamsburg with McClellan.
GLC02161.022
26 May 1862
McLean, R. J.
GLC02161.024
9 June 1862
to [Harriet W. Dewey]
He has been receiving compliments on his work. They are camped on the battlefield and as he writes the Rebels are throwing shells into their camp.
GLC02161.025
13 June 1862
Some new officers in his company wrote a scathing letter to the paper attacking him. The primary culprit is someone at a country paper. Capt. Alberger and Capt. Cluney recommended him for promotion.
GLC02161.026
16 June 1862
He got a letter from Will who has picket duty. Their sharpshooters killed or wounded every gunner that attempted to use their artillery. There will be no more picketing on their end.
GLC02161.027
There was a cavalry fight described as one of the fiercest. Will was wounded. 31 were killed.
GLC02161.028
20 June 1862
He heard that Will was captured at Old Church. He is not that worried and feels he will be released unharmed. He himself is doing well.
GLC02161.029
21 June 1862
Her husband informs her he has been taken prisoner. He assures her, however, that he is very comfortable.
GLC02161.030
23 June 1862
to Norman R. Dewey
Not only is will a prisioner, but so is the asst. surgeon, so he won't lack for proper medical care. Charles Bidwell had to resign because of poor health.
GLC02161.031
8 July 1862
He thinks McClellan could have cut his way through Richmond a month ago. But there would have been drawbacks. The North needs to come down to the South and just fight. But he thinks they are currently outnumbered.
GLC02161.032
11 July 1862
He prefers hand to hand combat instead of getting shelled. He also thinks Will must be a full fledged captain by now.
GLC02161.033
14 July 1862
If anything bad happens, he has arranged it so that she will hear it in a telegram first and not in the paper. He got paid and is sending money home.
GLC02161.034
18 July 1862
Accomodations are not good. They have had no regular meals and anything good is very expensive. He asks her to send fruit and vegetables. There will be a general exchange of prisoners soon and he hopes Will will be among them.
GLC02161.035
20 July 1862
He has news about her husband. His wounds have all healed and he has been moved to the officers' prison. He will most likely be among the first of those exchanged.
GLC02161.036
22 July 1862
He requests photos of mother and father. He is also enclosing a sketch from an illustrated newspaper depicting the cavalry battle that Will fought in. Not included here.
GLC02161.037
23 July 1862
He wants his father to stop working so hard. He should be as comfortable as possible. He warns his father it may be a year before he can visit him.
GLC02161.038
25 July 1862
He sent money to father and told mother to send him some things. Capt. M.went down to Fort Monroe. It is hot and uncomfortable.
GLC02161.039
28 July 1862
He has been working hard in the hot sun. He is looking forward to Will's release. She should go to Michigan to visit an uncle of theirs.
GLC02161.040
30 July 1862
He admonishes her for worrying too much about everything. He says she is too imaginative and envisions the worst about everything.
GLC02161.041
1 August 1862
The Rebels attacked the night before and he describes how the sky lit up because of the flash of the artillery. His theory as to why is that the attack drew their gunboats out, thus allowing the Rebels to follow them.
GLC02161.042
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