This well written letter – wonderful handwriting, in nice dark ink – was written by Joseph J. Bartlett’s A.D.C. Mathew E. Richards.

Here are some of the quotes from this interesting letter: 

                • “‘All is quiet in the Army of the Potomac’ with the exceptions of the Irish regiments of 
                    Meagher’s brigade, who are said to be celebrating the day of their patron Saint in a 
                    number of ways, of which I have had no particulars, but which you will no doubt duly 
                    see in the newspapers. I would like to see the fun, but as I am the only staff officer in 
                    camp today it is out of the question, and I have taken advantage of the lull in business 
                    to write this letter.” 

                • “Genl. Bartlett has not yet been confirmed that I hear. He started to Washington this 
                    morning, and I have no doubt if not confirmed, he will be reappointed. He took with 
                    him the recommendations for promotions in the 96th Penn. Vols. in which list I am put 
                    down for Lieut. Colonel. I do not know whether his influence alone will be sufficient to
                     procure the commission from Gov. Curtin, but he will be assisted by the influence of 
                    Wm. H. Sessig (now Major of the Regt.) who is down for Colonel, and that of Capt. J. 
                    W. Haas, who is named for Major. I do not know what influence you or father could  
                    bring to bear on the Governor, but if you have any available, let it be used for that 
                    programmed, viz Sessig, Colonel – Richards Lieut. Col. and Haas Major – as that 
                    was agreed upon between ourselves and they are working that way for me.” 

                • “I do not feel very sanguine of success, as I have nothing positive to encourage me,  
                    but it is a very pretty position, and worth taking some trouble to get – I have the 
                    satisfaction of knowing that I am  choice the and unanimous wish of the men and 
                    offices of the regiment at any rate, and it will be no fault of them if I do not get the 
                    sanction of Gov. Curtin. Of course I am endorsed by the General who is anxious for me 
                    to be in the position as he thinks I can bring the regiment to his standard of efficiency.
                    I can if necessary get the endorsements of as many Generals as he wants, but Genl. 
                    Bartlett did not think it necessary. I have launched the ship, let her float! If she reaches 
                    her haven properly and brings the commission, I shall take my position with thanks to 
                    all hands and a chuckle – if wrecked, I still have the satisfaction of knowing that I am 
                    still as an A.D.C. in a very pleasant and honorable position in the army, and in which 
                    I have earned on the field some little reputation, so that I will fall back on my 
                    constitutional philosophy, and chuckle because it is no worse – so you see I am 
                    prepared for either contingency – with a chuckle on hand”

#L145 - Price $155

             

                Transcription: 

                                                                                                                                      Head Quarters, 2nd Brigade 
                                                                                                                           Camp near White Oak Church, Va. 
                                                                                              “St. Patrick” Day in the morning” March 17, 1863
 
                        Dear Brother: 

                                     Yours of the 11th has been received – also the one previously received in relation 
                        to Sophie, which I destroyed as it contained matter that I wanted nobody to see by any 
                        chance, and it is a general rule with officers in the field to destroy all letters which 
                        contain anything that they do not wish seen, as we are always liable to lose our 
                        baggage or have it pried into. 

                                    I am glad to hear that the matter has terminated so well. I feared it would 
                        occasion her a great deal of unhappiness. If she had possessed my philosophical 
                        temperament. I would not have had any fears on the subject. In my case, when I would 
                        be satisfied that the object was unworthy it would leave no scar, not even a scratch or 
                        dirty spot. 

                                    Dr. Wilson the Act. Asst. Agjt. Genl. of this Brigade has been absent on leave for 
                        the last ten days, and his duties have devolved on me. And have kept me very busy, so 
                        that when I would get through my work late at night, I would feel so tired that I would 
                        have no spirit left to write a letter. You can not write much of a letter in the daytime 
                        when you are interrupted at every line to attend to business. Genl. Hooker has been 
                        allowing and still allows ten enlisted men and two officers from each regt. a leave of 
                        absence for ten days, and you may be sure every one gets a leave that can – five 
                        regiments make sixty leaves and furloughs the applications for which pass through  
                        the office and come back which together with a great multiplicity of general orders 
                        in relation to our preparations forth spring campaign have kept me circulation very 
                        lively. 

                                    Genl. Bartlett has not yet been confirmed that I hear. He started to Washington 
                        this morning, and I have no doubt if not confirmed, he will be reappointed. He took 
                        with him the recommendations for promotions in the 96th Penn. Vols. in which list I 
                        am put down for Lieut. Colonel. I do not know whether his influence alone will be 
                        sufficient to procure the commission from Gov. Curtin, but he will be assisted by the 
                        influence of Wm. H. Sessig (now Major of the Regt.) who is down for Colonel, and that 
                        of Capt. J. W. Haas, who is named for Major. I do not know what influence you or 
                        father could bring to bear on the Governor, but if you have any available, let it be used 
                        for that programmed, viz Sessig, Colonel – Richards Lieut. Col. and Haas Major – as 
                        that was agreed upon between ourselves and they are working that way for me. 

                                    I do not feel very sanguine of success, as I have nothing positive to encourage me, 
                        but it is a very pretty position, and worth taking some trouble to get – I have the 
                        satisfaction of knowing that I am the choice and unanimous wish of the men and offices 
                        of the regiment at any rate, and it will be no fault of them if I do not get the sanction of 
                        Gov. Curtin. Of course I am endorsed by the General who is anxious for me to be in the 
                        position as he thinks I can bring the regiment to his standard of efficiency. I can if 
                        necessary get the endorsements of as many Generals as he wants, but Genl. Bartlett did 
                        not think it necessary. I have launched the ship, let her float! If she reaches her haven 
                        properly and brings the commission, I shall take my position with thanks to all hands 
                        and a chuckle – if wrecked, I still have the satisfaction of knowing that I am still as an 
                        A.D.C. in a very pleasant and honorable position in the army, and in which I have 
                        earned on the field some little reputation, so that I will fall back on my constitutional 
                        philosophy, and chuckle because it is no worse – so you see I am prepared for either 
                        contingency – with a chuckle on hand – 

                                  “All is quiet in the Army of the Potomac” with the exceptions of the Irish 
                        regiments of Meagher’s brigade, who are said to be celebrating the day of their patron 
                        Saint in a number of ways, of which I have had no particulars, but which you will no 
                        doubt duly see in the newspapers. I would like to see the fun, but as I am the only staff 
                        officer in camp today it is out of the question, and I have taken advantage of the lull in 
                        business to write this letter. 

                                    We are preparing quietly and thoroughly for work in the field, but in which 
                        direction, or in which manner, or when the work will be done everybody seems to be 
                        completely in the dark. We have great confidence in Genl. Hooker however, and have 
                        no doubt when we commence, things will be very likely and satisfactory. 

                                    I get the press pretty regularly, and the perusal affords me a great deal of 
                        satisfaction. It seems more like home, than reading New York papers. I rather think 
                        somebody else in the P.O. Dept. somewhere is fond of reading the Press also as 
                        occasionally I miss a number or two, which never afterwards turn up. It is one of the 
                        chances of war however, and I suppose I must not grumble as long as I get my letters 
                        straight. 

                                                                                    Give my love to all – 
                                                                                                    Your affect. Bro. 
                                                                                                                                Mat 

                            Tell Sophie to send me a few of those cartes de viste I had taken in Phil. 
                            For distribution and exchange with my friends here.