Columbus, O., Dec 16, 1862

 

My Dear Wife

            I now have "marching orders" and transportation to Alton; and I start to-night at 1 o'clock. I will be in Cincinnati to-morrow morning, and in Alton probably next day. I hope to see you there soon.

 

            I went to Worthington on Saturday and on Sunday I went to church at a school house near Peter's. Chris and his wife and baby were there, and came with us to Peter's for dinner. They are in good health, and doing well, I believe. They call their little girl Williamette. I stayed at Alfred Grim's Saturday night. Hannah calls her little girl Alice.

 

            I am sorry you misunderstood my letters so much as you do in thinking I was not satisfied because you did not come to Worthington. I was only disappointed, and felt lonesome— / I had contemplated your coming and thought how happy I should be when you would arrive, and you cannot think strange that I felt lost when I found you had not come. But I did not blame you. I am so sorry to hear that you have been sick, and hope you are better now. If it is on account of over exertion in making preparations to come, I am probably to blame for it, and I hope, love, you will forgive me for coaxing you to come. Be assured I would do nothing to give you pain or trouble if I knew it. I don't know when I felt so badly as I did when I read your letter this morning, in which you state that you cried all night after reading mine. I ask ten thousand pardons, for saying so much in favor of your coming. But I could not help wanting you here, and I overlooked some of the difficulties in the way of your coming. But I am glad now you did not come, as I stay here no longer, and as you speak of coming to Alton. I entirely concur with you that it is better for you to go there than to / have come to Worthington on a visit.—You ought to have seen how blank your brother James looked when I told him you were not coming, and read him the sentence in your letter where you say if you come "it would be to see me alone, as you did not think you owed any one here a visit". He made no reply at the time, but had studied up an answer before I left. He told me to say he could think just as little of his relatives as they did of him. But he looked plagued whenever the matter was mentioned. Ann said they were not fixed to come and see us or they would have come long ago. Mary said she thought you might have excepted her, as she had come to see us. Mary went on Saturday to her school. Her address is Pleasant Corners, Franklin Co., Ohio. I hope you will write to her as she will be lonesome. You want to know what I think if your coming to Alton. I think it an excellent idea, and that your suggestions on the subject are right. But do not understand me to wish / you to come simply because it would please me. If you would rather not come, I do not feel like urging you much as I should be delighted to have you there. I feel that your pleasure should be consulted as much as mine. If you could get ready in time, I would like to have you come with Mrs. Hildebrand. But I guess you cannot be ready by Friday. If Capt Drown will take you to Cincinnati free, I would go that way. I have done some favors for him, and I suppose he would carry my wife and children that far without cost. Guess you had better ship your goods by him any way, if you come. He would have them reshipped at Cincinnati. I suppose our regiment is likely to stay at Alton all winter, as all the officers wives are going to them. And it will suit you to come, I think, as well as any of them.

 

Tell Emma I was very glad to get her letter, and that I will write her to-morrow morning from Cincinnati.

 

Kiss all the little darlings for me, a hundred times. Tell Emma her little cousin Josephine, Uncle James youngest daughter, kissed me dozens of times for her. she says "I like Uncle Mac"

 

I send my darling wife a photograph and a thousand kisses. Ever your loving husband

                                                                                   

A.W. M^cCormick

 

Direct your next to Alton, Illinois

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