Letter #21

Napoleon on board                                                                           

Steamer Tecumshe     Jan 17^th 1862 [sic]

 

My Dear Wife

                                    I must write you a line tonight for I am fearfull I shall not have another chance to send a letter for some time. This place is situated at the mouth of the Ark. River. We came down here last night how long we shall stay I know not but I think not long, no one can tell (At least no one but the Gen) whare we shall go. We get no papers and know nothing of what is going on in the world. We have been looking for a mail for 2 or 3 days but it has not come yet. I am waiting with impatience for your kind letters. I shall never get the letter of Mr Campbell's that you wrote a line in (You spoke of it in your last) for the Rebels captured a mail steamer when we was down on the Yazoo and took it up the Ark River to the post we have just / captured and I am sure that letter was on her as there was several letters found there for our Regiment. I found one for Lieu. M^cDill. they wer all torn open and scatered about. they told us they had lots of fun reading our letters, but if they wer not more decent than many we found of theirs I am very sorry. I will tell you about one that was found if I live to see you I shall say no more about the battle for I do not like to talk or think of war, but of peace love and good will towards all. I hate war it is wicked my dear little wife you know not how bad and fearfull it is and I hope you never will. I have lost all hope of the Government it has always been to late the proclamation was put off so long that it will not accomplish much, and our Generals do not enforce it but dam the Nigger and care less for him than they do for our team mules, and when they are allowed to go with the armey / they are treated worse by many of the soldiers and officers than they are on the plantations, and many return if they can get a chance. then his enemeys howl and say he is better off and prefers his proper position, when he never has had a taste of freedom and you cannot wonder that I am discouraged. I begin to believe that the union the world or the people in it is not worth saveing. Perhaps you think by the way I write that I am sick and blue, but I am almost well and feel better than I have done for 2 weeks. Our Chaplain has written a very good account of the battle which will be published in the Herald or the Miror and I wish you to obtain a copy and keep it. I dont know as I shall ever get the box you sent but shall try. do not send any more unless you can send by some one untill you hear from me. I think some of our / wounded will go home, perhaps M^cDill. if they do you must be sure and send me a box and have nothing in it onley what belongs to me. I want some sausage if you have it or can get it some butter some dried and canned fruits cake pies or any thing that is good. Whoever brings it must look out that it is not stale for many nice things that are sent the poor soldiers they never get, but I want a box bad if I can get. I hope I may get the one you sent. This letter is to Mr. Campbell and you. I am sorry the old mare is dead, but it is all right dont worey about it I shall never worey about such things as I used to but if I live to get to you and the children (Heaven bless them) I shall be a happy man and shall try to make every one happy while I live. I am acting 2^d Lieutenant I dont know whether I shall get the commission or not and shall not trouble myself either way but do my duty. I would not care for all the offices in the world if I could onley be with you my own good wife. Give my regards to Mrs Wagner and if her babe is a girl tell her to call it Tempa I like it much. I must write to Vina tonight and I must close or it will be late

 

Believe me ever your own true husband

Dorrity is well                         George

 

[margins]

 

All well from Gideon

 

I am obliged to send this without a stamp as I have none and cannot get any

 

Direct letters as before Kiss Ralph and baby and tell them they must be good

SOURCES