Annapolis, Md.
My dear Brother;
It is now nearly two months since my last letter to you was written and I am still confined to this place. I received yesterday from home, your last letter to mother (Sept. 24) You will have been somewhat encouraged, I trust, by the course of events in this country when this reaches you; but there is still great cause of anxiety for the future. At one time, the renewed vigor of the Government and a more determined policy seemed to promise important results, but the adoption of this policy must have been too long delayed. The North is again divided by party lines and the political campaign is as bitter this fall as I ever knew it to be. The Army, too, is demoralized. There is no use disguising the fact. We were shamefully, disgracefully whipped before Washington. The subsequent battles in Maryland, in a measure, washed away that disgrace, but we could not rejoice with the thought of Harper's Ferry and the bold and splendid raid of Stuart through Pennsylvania still fresh. Our armies of the East, with some few exceptions, have brought only discredit to our arms. If it were not for the Western Division, the record of the past eighteen months would be, to us, a humiliating page in the history of this war.
I am not much given to despondency, but the situation is dismal enough now, I can assure you. We seem to be verging every day more rapidly toward a war with England, revolutions at the North and a Military Despotism. Unless some thing decisive is accomplished before Christmas, and even then, I shall scarcely be surprised at anything.
Another great battle seems imminent between McClellan and Lee near Winchester. The fact that Lee is willing to give battle in that position goes to prove that his force is large and that he feels confident of the result.
Saturday, Nov. 1st While writing the above, I had a letter stating that Col. Ludlow (one of the commissioners of the exchange of prisoners on our side) would go to Aiken's Landing on Tuesday of this week and would effect my exchange at once and send me a certificate to that effect. I have, therefore, delayed sending this, hoping I might be able to tell you that I was on my way to rejoin my regiment. I have not yet received the certificate of exchange, but certainly will by Monday or Tuesday, so that when this starts by the steamer on Wednesday I will again be in the field.
You must have noticed in the papers the heavy losses of our regiment. It is now without a field officer and has been since the battle at Antietam. I did receive notice that I had been appointed Major, but I have heard nothing from it and conclude that the appointment has not been acted upon as yet. I am however the Senior Captain and will have command the moment I rejoin it. I shall insist upon receiving the Colonelcy. I have a petition signed by all the men and nearly all the officers present with the regiment asking that I may receive the appointment. The elective system has been abolished in the Reserve Corps by order of the Secretary of War. I do not deem it proper in me to urge the matter too strongly in my present condition; but as soon as I am at liberty I shall insist upon it as my right. I do not think there will be any great difficulty. The Governor is very favorable to me, also Reynolds, who commands the Corps, Meade, who commands the Division and [Truman] Seymour, who commands the Brigade. It will be a distinguished honor to command that old regiment and I would rather be its colonel than command half the Brigades in the Army.
I have spoken with several gentlemen in regard to your prospects for the sucession- [George] Boker, Mr. Smith &. At that time, three or four weeks ago, they thought matters looked badly for you. Mr. Smith thought you were too confident of Cameron's influence in your favor, saying that he (C.) only regarded personal obligations in so far as they might aid him in carrying out his own views. He told me to find out whether our members to the State Legislature were favorable to Cameron for U.S. Senator and if so, to indicate to them that they should require his whole influence in your favor in exchange for their support of him as U.S. Senator. I had no opportunity to attend to the matter but told Pap, who promised to see [Cousin] Frank [Taylor] as the fittest person to do any such thing. I understand [Cassius M.] Clay still says he expects he shall have to go back to Russia after all.
I shall write you soon again. I send much love to Marie and Lily.
Ever your loving brother,,
Chas Frederick Taylor