Galena March 22^d 1863

 

Maj J. C. Smith

           

Dr Sir

                        I am much obliged to you for you for your very interesting letter of 14^th inst. detailing the march of the 96^th after the rebels at Duck Creek. I have no doubt our boys were sorely disappointed because they could not catch them.

 

                        It gives me much pleasure that you so promptly and emphatically deny the infamous stories trumped up here by rascally busy bodies against my friend Capt Hicks. I think we can put a quietus upon them in short order. Sometimes such stories get started about officers in the army upon the slightest foundation imaginable, and go on spreading until they amount to something very serious to the person slandered. I am glad to hear you speak in such high terms of the line officers of the 96^th & that friend George is not behind any of them in the qualities that make up a good officer

 

            You have a noble regiment of men / and I have no doubt their future record will be bright and glorious, all that their most ardent friends could wish.

 

            I suppose your new Chaplain Mr Woodworth has reached you ere this I think you will find him a line man whose influence in the regiment will be for good. I like him very much as a talented speaker, and personally as a man

 

            Your friends here are all well We have but little local news

 

            Our Home Guards are flourishing, the Number 110 men are drilling with our arms now nearly every night getting ready for any emergency that may require our services

 

            The leading Copperheads here are becoming very quiet, below par. they dont like the distant rumbling sound that comes up from our brave loyal soldiers down in Dixie They would like to see you all annihilated & then they would peep again. Well they are strange specimens of perverse human nature and need strait jackets or halters, it is sometimes hard to tell which.                             

 

Truly Yours

S. W. M^cMaster

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