Headquarters Eleventh Corps, near Brooke\u2019s Station.<\/p>\n
Dearest: I received a letter from you Sunday afternoon, and felt sorry indeed that seeing your friends had proved so bad for you, but I hope after a little quiet you and yourself again.\u00a0 I am not so sure that my coming might not excite you even though I belong there.\u00a0 I do not think I can go home now.\u00a0 I will tell you my reasons.\u00a0 My Corps did not do very well at Chancellorsville.\u00a0 Now everybody who is to blame tries to shift the responsibility upon somebody\u2019s elses shoulders.\u00a0 The Germans and the Americans are many of them against me.\u00a0 It was my first trial with them.\u00a0 Now I must drill & discipline my command & get it in hand.\u00a0 I must work to get good officers in the command of Brigade and regiments.\u00a0 I must be here to head off wire-pullers.\u00a0 I want the command to learn me and I wish to learn it.\u00a0 Again I rather apprehend an attack here, after the affair at Vicksburg which is so disastrous to the rebels.\u00a0 They will try some game to retrieve their hopes.\u00a0 Most probably will accumulate a very large force against Rosencrantz.\u00a0 In that case we should not be attacked, but perhaps now something desperate will be attempted and Lee will cross above us & attack us hoping to crush this army now that we have lost so many two years & nine month regiments. \u2026 I am under a little cloud, tenderly excused but yet unsuccessful, and I have not been accustomed to succumb under difficulties. \u2026<\/p>\n