Savannah, Tenn, March 13, 1862.

 

My Dear Wife

                        I wrote you on our departure from Paducah, Ky., and enclosed a check on the County Treasury for $50. I hope you got it. If not, call at the Treasurer's Office without the check, and you can get the money.

 

            I am in excellent health—have not been sick an hour since I left home—and am "getting fat" on Soldier's fare. I was very glad to get your letters and the pictures. It is so nice to have your picture to look at (and kiss) when I cannot have you with me. Several of the Officers who have seen daughter's picture think she is "Some". I don't know but some of them will want to marry her when they get home—especially Lieut. Fisher of Beverly, who belongs to Capt. Chandler's Co. Lieut. Burris and M^cNaughton—(two of the best officers in the Regt.)—are also of the opinion that she is a fine looking little girl. I wish I had the boys' pictures here. They are good little fellows, and I think will pass for the best on the job any where. I hope you and the children will all keep in good health.

 

            I don't know where we will go from here. we are right in the midst of the Secession forces—almost on a line between Manassas and Memphis. We are still on board the Steamer Ohio No 3. There are some sixty regiments here—all on board of the fleet of steamers, ready to go wherever ordered. Only think of eighty of the largest boats on the / Ohio and Mississippi rivers lying at the landing of a small town, every one of them crowded with troops. The boats all keep up steam constantly. At night it is a grand sight, as the fires are all burning brightly, and the red and green lights at the top of the chimneys look fine.

 

            Maj. Sanger, of Gen. Sherman's staff, says there are large bodies of secession troops at Tuscumbia Alabama about 25 miles up the river, at Corinth, Tennessee, about a dozen miles across the country, at Grand Junction, on the Chattanooga railroad and at Jackson, Tenn. It is said Beauregard is in this vicinity, but is not generally believed by those best informed. We learn that Gen. Buell's army, 100,000 strong will soon make a junction with us in Alabama. I have no fears but that we will whip the Rebels whenever we meet them; but things indicate a big fight, unless they find us irresistable, and surrender.

 

            We got mails from Paducah yesterday, and expect to send mail matter to Paducah and from there home to-day. We will still write, and the letters must take their chances of getting through. Don't fail to write me a letter every four days I am always so glad to get one from you. I have had none since the note in Mr. Williams' letter. Tell his wife he is well.

 

            I wrote a letter for the Republican, which I think will be in to-day's paper. If so, get a few copies and send to me—Say three or four. I will write again soon, if the boys set my letters up correctly. I get the news if any one can. I am O.K. at Head Quarters, and our Col. commands a Brigade, you know—composed of the 77^th, 53^d and 57^th Ohio Regiments. /

 

Give my respects to Gus, Sue, Mary, Lizzie, Hattie and all the other pretty girls who inquire about me. I like nice young ladies, who look some like my own sweet Alice, especially if they are anything near as good as she is. But there are few such. I am proud and happy to think I married the prettiest and best girl in the Union. God bless her and keep her in good health and comfortable circumstances till I return to her.

 

I hoped to send home money enough to pay R.P. Iams my war risk on my life insurance, but owing to the high prices of living and the uncertainty of another payment for a month or so, I find it impossible, unless I can borrow it. If Mr. Ohle or anyone else will advance it to you, and you will pay it to Mr. Iams, I will pay ten or fifteen per cent for the use of it.—The government now owes me some $300, which I will get before long. I wish you to pay my taxes to WB Thomas, and say to E.W.T. Clark that I will pay him out of next pay for the house rent. We cannot well pay till Govt. pays us.

 

            Dr. Ross has been promoted to Lieutenant in Capt. Fouraker's Co. Gordon B. West, having lost his Lieutenancy in the 63^d, came here and joined my company yesterday. I went to the Col. and asked him to appoint West Sergt. Major, since the promotion of Sergt. Maj. Ross to a Lieutenancy. Col. H. said he intended the place for W.B. Richner, (who was elected a Lieutenant in Fouraker's Co. but could not get a commission, because he resigned one since the war commenced) but that he would give it to West. The other officers think I can get anything I wish done at Head Quarters. / Lt. Col. De Hass has never yet been with us since we left Marietta. It is now believed he never will be with Regiment. If this should be the case, Maj. Fearing will be promoted to Lieut. Col., and there will be be a Major to appoint. In that case, it is said the Captain of Co. G. will stand a very good chance for the position of Major. That wouldn't hurt your feelings would it? The Regiment is lettered as follows.

 

A—Capt. Stearns, Clarington                         F—Capt Lutgen, Winsor

B—Capt. Mason, Marietta                             G—Capt. M^cCormick, Marietta

C—Capt Sisson           "                                  H—Capt Fouraker, Union tp

D—Capt. Blasdel       "                                  I—Capt. Robinson, Matamoras

E—Capt. Smith, Belmont Co.                        K—Capt. Chandler, Lowell.

 

            The "Goody Friends" is here, Commanded by Capt. Drown. He and Capt. Burch, the Pilot, called to see me at Paducah. Yesterday I met G. Cris Best the Clerk, and Charlie Knox, 2^d Clerk. The insisted on me coming to their boat and eating dinner. Cris was exceedingly friendly and took pains to get to shake hands with me. He afterwards met Lieut. M^cNaughton, and told him he had been to see me—that I was a first rate fellow, &c. M^c told him he knew that all the time; and now that there was no Auditorship to fight about, and the Country was requiring all our services, he thought the past should be forgotten. He expressed still more strongly his good opinion of me, and told the Lieut. he had a good Captain.

 

Lieut. Ross feels grateful to me for aiding him in getting a commission, and will do all he can any time to aid me. He has been acting like a true soldier, and to use his own language, he just "freezes to Capt M^c". I like Lieut. Thomas much better than I expected to when he was attached to my Co. He is attentive to business, and I get along with him very well. Since we got our arms, we are making rapid improvements in drill. I saw Coon Leckliter the other day. He is in Capt. Wiseman's Co in the 46^th Ohio, on one of the boats here. He says James is in the 3^d Ohio Cavalry. Wm. W. Hurley, of Pomeroy, is a Lieut. in the 75^th Ohio, Col. M^cLean, in Western Va. All our sick men left at Dennison are getting well and will be here soon. There are but about a dozen of the 77^th sick at Paducah, and none here. The entire regiment has not lost but six men by death since we left Marietta—3 of them from Capt. Blasdel's Co. A.J. Duvall and GB West arrived here yesterday. A thousand kisses to you my darling AWM

SOURCES