Fredericksburg Tuesday evening Augt 26 Dear All, Ellen's nice long letter of 22d recd this evening. To day was our regular day for picket but late last night we recd orders to cook one days additional rations, (with rations cooked for picket making two days,) & we were up & ready at day light this morning & have been waiting for marching orders all day but they did not come & at Dress Parade to day we were informed that that expedition, - what ever it was, I dont know, possibly to escort Genl McClellan to Pope's Hd Qts. was given up & that we would go on picket tomorrow as usual. Genl McClellan arrived here night before last & has been in consultation with Genl Burnside since. Left this PM was serenaded last night by the 4th R.I. Band & a glee club from the 8th. I was round while the Band was playing & liked Genl Mcc's appearance much. while the Band played he would attend & during the pauses would turn to the table in the tent & applaud away with Genl B. The difference between the two Genls was quite surprising. Genl Mcc in full dress (that tho' plain enough) even to patent leather boots while Genl B wore a kind of rough & ready suit, his favorite knit shirt over everything, rather the fight- ing dress of the two. Genl McClellan is quite small & trim while Genl B is fast assuming the goodly proportions of a N Yk alderman, he is a splendid looking man & the contrast in the appearance of the two was I think, in his favor. I have much more confidence in Genl Mcc than I had before seeing him, why I can hardly tell. I was Officer of the Day the day I had the secesh officers in my charge. I thought I wrote to that effect. They were in the care of a guard from our Regt. Good night. Chas.