Huntsville Ala

Feb 13^th/65

                                               

Miss Mollie Wood

Upper Alton Ills

                                                                       

My friend Mollie:

I received your kind favor of the fourth this morning. I expect you would laugh were you to see me employed as your letter found me this morning at the wash-tub.

 

            Either Jake Deek or I does up our washing regular every Monday morning. It is something I dont like to do but it is too essential to be neglected. 

 

Mollie we soldiers are having a very easy time now. Nothing to do beside keeping the camp clean but to drill two or three hours each day when the weather is pleasant.

 

            Today is such an one as to remind me of the pleasant days in April or May. All are doing something either on drill at work or at play. The parade ground is covered with troops on drill. Our Adjutant Jas. B. Newman drills our Reg't most of the time as the Maj Lieut Col Bates is not well enough to be out very often.

 

            The Maj was not well when he came up, and I am afraid that he will not be able to stay long; but he sais that he will stay with us as long as he can. Since comeing up he has rec'd a commission as / Lieut Col. We had a grand time the 30^th ult. The Regt presented the Col with a splendid sword. The Chaplain made the presentation speech and the Col reply was very good. He never talks without saying something good.

 

            Oh! What a difference there is between him and the coward, Rodgers. Both will ever be remembered by the Reg't Bates as our Beau Ideal of an Officer and a gentleman Rodgers the one of all others who should have been the last man to desert will be met and passed as an object only worthy of contempt.

 

            Mollie I wish you could hear our Brigade Band playing once. It is far beyond anything that I ever heard about Alton. The snare drummer is Genr'l Prentisses son a mighty good drummer and a very peacock / in style. I know you would love to see him beat his drum. He likes to have the ladies about when the band is playing and the prettier and more of them the better he can play.

 

I heard that a protracted meeting was going on at the Union Meeting house. How is it progressing? Who preaches and who have become members. And who have been discharged.

 

            Well Mollie the time mention of my being free again is only little over six months from now. I hope I may be sensible enough to stay free and above all not be foolish enough to volunteer in the service of some Queen or Angel, that might prove worse service than Uncle Sams. And it mightent. My respects to the family and others that may inquire. I shall be much pleased to hear from you again soon

 

            Respectfully Your Friend W^m H. Clayton

 

[margin]

 

Please do not affix any title to my name

SOURCES