"LEE'S MEN ARE OUT OF HEART AND THEY WILL MELT AWAY FROM HIS COLUMN BY THOUSANDS ON A VERY LONG MARCH."
"LEE'S MEN ARE OUT OF HEART AND THEY WILL MELT AWAY FROM HIS COLUMN BY THOUSANDS ON A VERY LONG MARCH."
(Civil War - North Carolina - Ohio) McLean, Nathaniel. Manuscript civil war letter written from the headquarters of the 2nd Division, 23d A.C. Camp near Monseley Hall, NC on 27 March 1865. 4 pgs bifolium. Original transmittal envelop. Very legible and in very good condition.
Ohio General Nathaniel McLean was the son of United States Supreme Court Justice John McLean. He was a Harvard educated lawyer, organizer of the 75th Ohio Regiment and became its colonel in September 1861 and was involved in most of the battles of the Virginia campaign.
In full the letter is:
Headquarters, 2nd Division, 23 N.C.
Camp near Moseley Hall N.C. – March 27 27 / 65
Again another day has pafsedd dear wife and no mail. I fully expected a letter from you today but have been disappointed. I read today the New York Herald of the 20th inst and if its news and comments can be which are the end of the war is near at hand. I cannot understand how the rebels can much longer prolong the contest unless we meet with some great and unlooked for disaster. If you will take the map, you will see the Sherman’s army at Goldsboro is distant not over one hundred and fifty or sixty miles from Genl. Grant’s pickets south of Petersburg. Now if Lee remains at Richmond we can start from Goldsboro and allowing five days for fighting and detentions in crossing streams and in fifteen days easily reach Genl Grant. Without detentions of any kind, we could make this march in less than ten days. With both Sherman and Grant Lee cannot hope for a moment to fight a successful battle and would be compelled to surrender. If however Lee should evacuate Richmond and get the start of Grant as to avoid being destroyed in the attempt his status is equally as hopeless as in the other case with the difference that his fate is only postponed for a little while. Should the retreat toward Danville an the railroad Sherman would undoubtedly strike lines on the left flank whilst Sheridan would come on his right and Grant in the rear. He could not pofsibly march away from us forever ____ ____ but few places to go then. Should he attempt to strike acrosf the mountains into Tennefses the same story would happen. There is another great difficulty which Lee would have to contend against in the increased desertion from his army. Whilst in the defences of Richmond he can keep his men together much more easily than on the march and from all the indications, I believe that any march he may attempt to make from Richmond with our forces pursuing, will prove equally as _____ as the tofs of a battle. Lee’s men are out of heart and they will melt away from his column by thousands on any long march. Do you not agree with me? At home you get the news from all quarters, and can judge better than I who only have one question. I am a little afraid that this army may be delayed longer than we anticipated in refitting. Sherman expected to be ready by the 10th of April, & if we our by the last of the month we will be able to get into positions to test the strength of them while in the last ____ if they ____ work or stand ____ I shall expect to hear from you dear wife & with love to Lindy & the children will say good night sending warm and loving kifses to my darling. Mclean