Joseph R. Anderson to Irvin McDowell, May 19, 1862

Maj. Gen. IRvin McDOWELL, Commanding U. S. Forces:

GENERAL: Your communication of 18th current was duly received. .

I beg you will excuse me for troubling you further upon this subject. In my brief note of yesterday I omitted some delicate details of the case, supposing that the usages of civilization would guarantee to the widow of a fallen citizen a passport to the home of her kindred. It is, however, proper before you make a final disposition of the application that I should make you acquainted with facts which I think invite to it the sympathies of our humanity. ;

The lamented Scott was not connected with the military service of his country, but was, as I am informed, quietly residing on his farm, when he was called to unite with his neighbors of like status to defend their domiciles from the depredations of an unauthorized marauding party from your army. In a conflict with these assassins he fell in defense of all that was dearest to him. I say this party was unauthorized, because I am sure such a warfare on non-combatants would never receive your sanction, and am satisfied you will cause an investigation to be made and the guilty parties to be punished if the facts have been correctly reported to me.

But to my immediate subject. By the death of her husband I learn that Mrs. Scott 1s left alone with her children, the family of her husband having fled from that section. She expects soon to give birth to a child, who will never be privileged to behold the manly form of its gifted, murdered father.

It ie natural, general, that this gentle, refined, deeply bereaved lady would anxiously desire to return to her native city, to receive the consolation and friendly offices of her family in the day of her deep tribulation.

I respectfully leave the case in your hands, adding an extract from a letter just received from her father :

“‘T received yesterday a few lines from my poor child, begging imploringly for relief.”

I have not yet been able to communicate the arrangement proposed in your letter of yesterday to the family, but think I would be safe in saying it. would be impracticable: First, because the important point with the afflicted lady is to be restored to her family, whilst in Fredericksburg she would be among sirengers, Secondly, it would seem that her brother would not be allowed to return to his home through your lines, though I don’t think you design that construction to be placed upon your letter.

This letter will be carried by one of my aides-de-camp, Captain Worthington.

I have the honor to be, general, your humble and obedient servant,