Headquarters 1st Rifle Regt.
My dear Sister;
Our Brigade was ordered to take post here four days ago. We are on the Orange and Alexandria rail-road about seventeen miles from the latter place and four from Fairfax Court House, where we have been up to this time. This change, in connection with other things, looks as though the Reserves would not get out of the "Defences" for some time. The prospect of another campaign, such as we had last year, it is true, is not very delightful; yet as these warm days come on, I cannot but feel restive and long to be with one of the great armies East or West.
I wrote you from Washington the other day, where I went to be mustered into service. I also sent a note to be thrown into Bank. I waited until the last minute, hoping to be able to send the money, which I could have done had I been able to get mustered back as I expected. I trust the note was discounted. I shall be able to pay it all at maturity. My pay is materially increased, while it costs me no more to live than as a Captain. I have lived more economically since my return to the Regt. than ever before and have spared no effort to save every possible dollar. I have paid from my salary as Captain from Nov. 1 to Feb. 28(,) $465(.) $250---money borrowed last winter, which I sent to you, have lived during that time and have enough to last me until May 1st six months, making an average expenditure of $35 per month for my personal use.
It cost me much more than this last year. I might, in fact, have saved more than I did in some respects, yet I did not waste any in dissipation.
Now during the ensuing year I agree to send you $1200---which I know you shall need. I will still have ample to live upon.
I would like above all things to get home for a few days; but have not made application as yet and unless it is very necessary I will not at present. At my age, the Colonelcy of a Regt., which has the reputation throughout the country that mine has, is a great honor and at the same time a great responsibility. There is probably no Colonel in the service so young. A great many young men, since the war began, who were very good company officers, have made sad failures as commanders of Regts. I have accepted the position knowing very well what is expected of me and feeling quite sure that it is possible for me to earn an honorable reputation as Colonel or even fill with credit a still higher position. I say this with no vainglorious feeling. I am not unduly ambitious of promotion. I think I have shown this before, but I am ambitious of a high reputation as an officer in the Army, and, in order to deserve that my utmost energies and whatever ability I may have will be required. A newspaper reputation and a substantial reputation in the service are very different things, as the history of this war has shown.
I have not written you very frequently of late, because some one has been going from here nearly every week and our life here has been without incident. We have been trying to catch [John S.] Mosby,but our foolish cavalry have always disturbed our plans.
I never was in better health. In fact during the whole winter, although I have lived in a tent without [a] floor, I have been perfectly well. I pay great attention to my living. My cook has learned to prepare a capital dinner out of such plain supplies as our commissariat affords. We get milk, butter, eggs, and apples from the farmers and from the commissary ham, pork, beef, rice, beans, potatoes, onions, sugar, coffee, etc. So we have rice puddings, bread puddings, omlettes, apple pies, charlotte, natur-geochichte, etc. Of course we have roast beef and potatoes in every imaginable way. Now can you suggest anything else that could be prepared from the articles I have enumerated[?] We have had no mail for some days, but one will be in today. I hope to have a letter from home. It is a long time since I have had one.
If you have had such weather as we have had here, it has been impossible to do much spring work as yet.
I have an opportunity of sending this to Washington today. Why don't you send me Bayard's letters when you get them? When do you look for him at home? I saw Genl. Cameron the other day in Washington. He said he had written Bayard lately and had advised him to come back [from Furopel. He also said he and Mrs. Cameron were going down soon to see you.
With love to all,
I am ever affectionately
Chas. Frederick Taylor ,