Huntsville Ala

Jan 19^th/65

                                               

Miss Mollie Wood

Upper Alton Ills

                                                                       

Friend Mollie: I received your letter of Nov 14^th Dec 26^th and you cannot imagine the good it did me just at that time

 

            The fact is they came near marching our Div down Christmas day and as we remained in camp and had nothing to do the 26^th a letter from home gave me something to think about and made time fly faster

 

            Mollie I expect you had a nice time Christmas wished us a merry time and lots of good thing for dinner. Well I'll tell you about our dinner. Well our mess consisting of four viz Lieut Smith / Nim Dorsey John Culp and myself had foraged for that particular occasion something less than a dozzen nice chickens but then as the old saying has it "there is many a slip twixt the cup and the lip" and it was verified on this occasion, for just as they were being brought into camp the Provost Guards spied them, and had halted the bearer and had him to deposit them in a pile with various other barnyard fowls, pigs, salt hams &c. &c. This to as the bearer was imagining them already served up and thinking of the piece he would have on his plate. Well such is the fate of war. But chicken we must have for Christmas dinner and the one intended for supper (which had been successfully brought in by another forager) was saved for that purpose. But again are we cheated of the / the dinner for we march early, all day, and late in the night. We hope for a better time one year from that date. Hope that friends may be reunited the war at an end & peace and plenty in our land.

 

            We arrived at this place the 5^th and had orders to put up good quarters, which we have done. We thought a few days ago that we would be ordered away; But now we think the indications of a long stay in this camp very favorable.

 

            The health of the Regt. was never better. The boys from our neighborhood are all well. John Culp was promoted yesterday to Drum Maj. Maj Bates has come up and is now comd'g the Reg't. As soon as he found out how Culp had been treated he reduced / Capt Cunningham's favorite and promoted Johny to Drum Maj. So much for his being tied up if he had not refused to obey the Captains order he would never been tied up ordered to the Co or promoted. I had intended to apply for a furlough when we came to this place. But after writeing my request I gave it up to give others a chance who have not been home There are only two in our Co and if their furloughs are not approved I think I shall try for one.

 

What do the folks think if the 300 000 call. I have not heard whether they accepted volunteers or intended drafting all. How is it? I hope they will clean Shurtleff College of their extra young men. Well Mollie I have nearly spoiled this sheet of paper and and feel as if there was nothing worth reading on it But its the best I can do this time. Please write again & I will be prompt in replying. Yours Respectfully            W^m H. Clayton

SOURCES