Camp Dennison          03

Jan 29, 1862

 

My Dear Wife:

                        I received your very welcome letter yesterday, and was glad to hear that our little ones are out of danger. Oh, how anxious I shall be to hear from you again to learn that they have entirely recovered. I am now in excellent health myself, and feel that I can stand the service "like a Major", and hope you and the children will keep in good health during my absence.

 

            Rev. Wm Pearce, our Chaplain, goes to Marietta to-day, and I send this letter by him, so as to be sure it will reach you. I guess you have got all the letters I have written you, though not so many as I intend writing in the next twenty days.

 

            We have heard nothing from the Paymaster yet, except that he says he will pay the 77^th first, when he is ordered to pay the Ohio Regiments recently organized. When we are paid off, there will be no money sent home by mail,—or, if any, not much. It will either be sent by Express, or by some officer of the Regiment. I may be sent with it, or the Colonel may go home himself. If I send it home by Express, I will write to you at the same time, so you can know where to get it. I hope, however, to get leave of absence to go home when paid off. 

 

I have spent ten of the happiest years of my life with you, and would gladly stay at home all my days—did not my duty to my country call me to the field. You wrote me in one of your recent letters that the man who would not fight for his country in its hour of peril would be unworthy to enjoy its blessings. I entirely agree with you, and hence I am in the service, much as I should enjoy life at home with my much loved wife and children. I often dream of being at home, wrapped up in the nice round arms of my love, enjoying such kisses as she alone can give me. Oh! how I long to realize those dreams. I have had such sweet times with you, it goes rather hard to be deprived of your society, no matter how well I may like my position in the Army. I am well pleased, here, but the camp isn't Home. I have such a sweet, good family, it makes life away from home somewhat tiresome. How do you manage without me?

 

            I borrowed a little money to-day, from one of my men, and have now the means of paying postage, and buying little things I must have. I have have a dollar or two I can send to you, if you are out of money. If I am not paid off soon, I will write to a friend at Marietta to advance you some money till pay is received from government.

 

            Mr. Pearce is off, and my letter not finished—so I will send it by Lieut. Thomas, who will call at our house, and take tea with you. He is going to-morrow to Clarington, O., to visit his family, and will have time to take / supper at our house before he goes to the boat to-morrow night.

 

            I am glad Emma and Rev. Leonard's little girl have become associates. I want daughter to keep good company, when she has any, and Hetty has been well raised. Tell her to try and always be just the best-behaved girl in the company. She is as intelligent as any of them, and as good a girl—tell her to study to be as good a woman as her ma.

 

            Say to Frank that if the Paymaster don't come soon he shall have that cent, if it breaks Marietta Bank. And Lee and Lynn shall have a nice present too—worth at least as much as Frank's cent. They will all be good boys, and I will come home and bring them something nice as soon as I can. I was glad to hear from Father. I will write to him again. I wrote him since we came to Camp Dennison. If he will write and tell me when he can come to Marietta, it will be an additional argument with the Colonel for a furlough. I don't think it will be long till I will get one.

 

            I must close, as Lieut. Thomas is ready to go. When you write me address your letters:

 

Capt. A. W. M^cCormick

77^th Regt. OVI

Camp Dennison

O

 

Believe me, as ever, most affectionately, your devoted husband

AWM^cC.

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