Head Quarters 77^th Regt. O.V.I.

Alton, Ills., Feb 11, 1863

 

My very dear Wife

                        I have received two letters from you, since I wrote my last one, but both came so nearly at once that I did not get time to write between them.

            I am so glad to get such sweet letters from you, love. The Sergeant Major (who is Postmaster for the Regiment) thinks I am very anxious for letters—and he is right. When he gets one in a white government stamped envelope, he has learned to know it is from you and he hunts me up mighty quick to deliver it—and see my "eyes dance", as he says.

 

            You speak of Mrs. Hildebrand's praise of you in a very modest way. You are not "plain" in the sense the word is sometimes used (that is homely) by any means, in the eyes of anybody; and I know Mrs. H. meant all the compliments she paid you. Dearest love, you know I always thought I married the prettiest and sweetest lady I ever saw, and I have never had any reason to change my opinion. Don't say you are "plain", dearest, you know I can never agree to it.

            I was at a gay party last night at City Hall, which was attended by the elite of Alton—"the beauty and chivalry" of the city—and I did not see one lady among the belles of the evening, who to my eye came near equaling in charms my darling wife—who's the same Sweet Alice I learned to love so devotedly a dozen years ago. You write me that the neighbors say you never looked better than you do this winter. I have no doubt they are right; for you looked as sweet as a peach when I left home in November, and your health has improved since. 

 

I love my darling wife so much, and would give anything to be at home with her. If I could have my darling children and you with me, I would be entirely satisfied here. I am very comfortable, and never had better health; so I ought to enjoy myself. But it is not like being with you. Still it is "not my style" to "borrow trouble" and be miserable.

 

            The advertisement of John W. Thomas must have been put in the Commercial by some one as a joke He certainly would not have made it so bold, if done by himself. He may get a wife by it, however. I believe there is nothing like advertising. Hope the girls will answer it, and see how interesting a correspondent he will be.

 

            If Frank and Lee get valentines from Sis. Harte or any other little girl, with pictures of small young gentlemen with large heads and tall hats, I hope they will not be offended at the little girls, but "give them as good as they sent". I feel quite sure my sweet pet daughter will get one, as she must be a favorite I think among the nice young men. Her ma always was, and she is getting to look considerably like her. Several of the 77^th boys have been admiring her picture, and I would not be surprised if she gets one from Alton.

 

            Mrs. Hildebrand has fitted up a room at Head Quarters, (the Warden's former residence when the military prison was a penitentiary, very much like the sheriff's house in the jail building at Marietta) She has it nicely completed with carpet very much like your new parlor carpet; and had nice furniture. Maj. Mason and Adjutant Burris also expect to fit up rooms in a similar style at Head Quarters. If the Small Pox abates a little, I think I would risk having you and the children come to Alton, after all being vaccinated again. What think you of it? Mrs. Hildebrand says to me, almost every day, that she would like so much to have you here. "I too, J. W. Thompson." /

 

Mr. Biddle, who boards those who room at Head Quarters said some time ago that he would write to my wife if I didn't quit gallanting the girls. I took one to the party last night,—Miss Lettie Hayes, a little girl who looks very much like Rose Trevor—and to-day he says he has written to you that I will be married soon. I told him I was glad he had written to you; and he said he guessed he could not make anything teasing me. When I took Miss Graves to a party some weeks ago, her mother said she guessed she would have to write to you, and I said "Do so, by all means", and told her your address is Marietta, Ohio. I tell them you have too much confidence in me to be made jealous by anything they can write. If they knew, dearest, what good letters I get from you, and how much satisfaction you express at my going into society—especially that of the ladies—they would think you too sensible to be made jealous. I told some of them that you wrote me that I might go with the ladies of Alton as much as I pleased, and that I was a good boy and knew how to behave myself. That's the way a wife talks who thinks her husband a gentleman, and who feels that she is worthy of him, and possesses his love.

 

            George Francis Train, the great peace orator, made a speech in Alton on Saturday night, and created quite a sensation. He thinks if the people's voice could be heard, north and south it would not be "Still for War", but for peace and the Union, on the basis of the Crittenden Compromise. He has been debating with "Gen." Cash. Clay—brave abolition hero who has been drawing some five thousand dollars a year—the pay of a Major Genl; and has never yet done an hour's duty. Cassius goes for the Proclamation, and for giving negroes all the rights of white citizens, and an equality with them. Gen. Curtis would not let Mr. Train speak in St. Louis Saturday night; some suppose because he was severe on Friday night on cotton speculating Generals—of whom Gen. C is accused of being one. /

 

            I have intended to write to Mr. Scott for some time, but have not done it yet. I am not sure but I may write him a letter to-night. He is not correct in supposing Lieut. Scott was discharged for absence without leave. The Lieut. applied for a discharge while he supposed himself permanently disabled by his wound received at Shiloh; and it was granted on that ground alone. It was a most honorable one of course. But there was much delay in making out the papers, and before he got them, he had recovered, and was fit for duty. So the Governor has promised him a commission again, whenever the Colonel's recommendation reaches him. Col. Hildebrand has sent the strongest kind of recommendations recently, and every officer of the regiment, and every man in his company have asked the Governor to re-appoint him.

 

            I see the Republican and Register are sparring some again. I think they had "better let her be". If they each succeed in making apportion of the people believe that one is secesh and the other abolition, it will not do much good, but make the people feel more bitter than usual.

 

            The editor of the Democrat, of this city, has asked me to write anything I choose as editorial, and he will insert it. The Statesman and the Marietta Republican both want me to write to them, but I have been waiting to see if the 4^th of March—the expiration of this radical Congress—would not bring a policy which I could endorse. I do not feel much like writing, while I am in the army, unless I could uphold the policy of the Administration in regard to the war. Up to May of last year I believed there was to be no interference with slavery by the army, and I hope after the 4^th of March there will be a return to that policy. We shall see.

 

            I see there is some probability that Gen. M^cClellan will be placed in command of the army of the East again. I hope so. I have more faith in him than in any General in that army.

 

            I think Frank Gaitree and Mrs. Williams have made quite a suitable match. I predict they will be popular as host and hostess at the National. It's a good joke to think of Jo. Reckard being married. I always thought he would blush if a lady looked at him.

 

            I am on duty today; and will not get to go to bed till towards morning. As I was up till 1 last night at the party, I guess I will sleep well when I do get to bed. I find I can stand loss of sleep much better than I could when working in the printing office. I think it because my health is better.

 

            My regards to all the friends. You know who to give them to among our neighbors, and if Mr. Scott or any of my political friends call, say to them that I send them my respects. Write me lots of good letters, like you have been sending, enclosing any amount of hugs and kisses. I am, dearest, yours as ever.               

A.W. M^cCormick.

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