Alton Military Prison,

Head Quarters, 77^th Reg't. O.V.I.

Alton, Illinois, Jan 28, 1863.

 

My very dear Wife

                        Your very welcome letter of the 23^d is received, and I sent a line in reply by Mr. Jas M^cCarty, promising to write you again last night. I did not get my letter finished in time for this morning's mail, so I now write you a new one—the half written letter being at my room on State Street and I at Head Quarters, watching with Col. Hildebrand, who is sick.

 

            I am glad to hear that the children have got well, and are able to go to school again. I would so much like to see you, dearest, and the darling little ones; and it makes me happy to hear that you are well.

 

            You write that you learn we are having a serious time with the Small Pox, and fear we are very much exposed to it. Do not be alarmed, love, about any reports of the kind you may hear. I enquired of the Surgeons to-day, and they tell me there have been but few cases of Small Pox (only thirteen of Small Pox and varioloid together) and that the late cases, since vaccination has been performed on almost every man in the Regiment, are only varioloid, in the 77^th. I have been vaccinated again, and think I am entirely safe whether it takes or not. I had it done many years ago, again last spring—and now a third time. The Doctors say there is no danger of my taking it. 

 

The ten companies are in two large brick buildings—six of them on Second Street, and four on Bluff—in very comfortable quarters. The commissioned officers board where they please—some at Head Quarters, some at hotels and some at private boarding houses. So you see the report that we are confined in camp is not correct. We visit the Company quarters or Head Quarters when we wish, but can do all our business at either in a short time each day—except when acting as Officer of the Day or guard—and can stay at our rooms most of the time, as snug as you please.

 

            Col. Hildebrand has been rather unwell for some days, and yesterday he took his bed, with a billious attack. He is not dangerously ill I hope, but is a pretty sick man to-night. I called to see him last evening, and when I found him bedfast, I offered to stay with him last night, but Mrs. Hildebrand said she would watch with him last night, and that she would be glad to have me come to-night. He is asleep now, resting well.

 

            Capt. Sisson has the varioloid, but is getting along finely, and will soon be well. Capt. Blasdel got a certificate from the Surgeon that it was necessary for him to have leave of absence to save him from permanent disability, and has got a furlough for twenty days. I doubt whether he will ever be fit for duty again. His disease is an affection of the liver. Capt. Chandler has command of his company, and Capt. Kinkead expects to get a special order to raise a company of Sharp-Shooters to be attached to the 77^th. Capt. Smith is still absent on sick leave. As Kinkead is acting Prison Adjutant, you / will see that there are but few of the Captains for duty as Officer of the Day, and of course we are on duty three or four times to a Lieutenant's once. Still we can stand it very well. I never had better health in my life.

 

            Lieut. Col. De Hass has not yet got here from Washington city, where he went on business; so I have not seen him yet. I am a member of a Court Martial, to be held as soon as he returns, to try deserters and others against whom charges have been made.

 

            Maj. Mason is in command of the Post while the Col. is sick. He don't like to take much action on any case, and so the business of the Post is more limited: that is, it is laying over as much as may be till the Col. recovers.

 

            Capt. Trible, of one of the Illinois regiments, died on Sunday, from wounds received at the Battle of Arkansas Post. He was a resident of Upper Alton, and just got home Saturday. His funeral took place on Monday, and was very largely attended. He was buried with Military Honors by the company and the Officers of the 77^th, and the Masonic Lodge of this city, of which he was a member, also turned out. His wife had a babe born the day of his funeral. She has two children, but she has plenty to support her self and them. I got very cold while waiting on the ceremonies at the cemetery, and feared I would be sick, but I stood it first rate. I guess I can stand almost anything now.

 

            It is now nearly morning, Thursday the 29^th, and the Col. is much better. He has rested well, and thinks he is doing very well. Tell the girls about him. I don't suppose Mrs. Hildebrand has had time to write to Henry since he has been sick. 

 

I am so proud of my darling wife, and of the letters I get from you. You write like a sensible lady, who knows she possesses her husbands love, and is not jealous whenever she sees another lady look at him. You know my social nature, and how lost I am when I cannot have good company, and also that I know how to treat other ladies as becomes a gentleman without having my affections estranged from you. You are also conscious that you are worthy of all my love, and that I am not likely to forget you when in the company of others. It is so nice to have such a darling sweet wife to love. The ladies sometimes sing for me and other officers, with piano accompaniments, a number of popular pieces of music—among them a song entitled "No One to Love". When they sing the line: "No one to love—none to caress", I think of my darling at home to love; but feel that while from home I must have "none to caress". Oh, how happy I should be to have you with me, that I might enjoy your sweet caresses. "There's a good time coming", I hope, when I can be at home with you.

 

            I took tea with Mr. Ryan, one of the wealthy merchants of Alton, a few evenings since. He is a leading Democrat, and has taken quite a fancy to me. His family is just the size of mine—a wife and four children, I beat him one on boys, as his are two and two. Mrs. Ryan asked her little daughter, about five years old, if she would not kiss the Captain, and as Bitha said, she "kissed me just as pretty". She is a sweet pretty little thing, and it reminded me of the way Emma kisses me when I am at home. Tell her to send me lots of kisses, and the boys also. You will not of course forget to send me a hundred or two. I send you all any number you can name.

 

            I was at a cotillion party last night and had a gay time. Tell Belle I have been taking lessons and can dance with her now, when I get home. I want Emma to go the first school there is in Marietta, and acquire this graceful accomplishment—and her ma too, if she will.

 

            There is a rumor that Col. Hildebrand is promoted to Brig. General—If it proves true, it is believed by many that somebody may become Major. Of course this is "strictly private and confidential", as Ramsey would say, but I "know a thing or two if I could only think of it". I will write Emma soon.   As ever yours,             A.W. M^cCormick.

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