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

1^st Brigade, 3^d Div. 16^th Army Corps.

Arkansas Expedition             

Helena, Ark., Aug 10, 1863.

 

My very dear Wife:

                                    We leave here to-morrow at 3½ o'clock, for Little Rock, I suppose—though of course the destination is only guesswork. It is said we will have no fighting, but we will go prepared to meet all the rebel Generals Holmes, Price, Marmaduke, Parsons, Kirby, Smith, and all their forces, if they make a stand. I will write you again as soon as I get an opportunity to send, if it is only a few lines. Do not be uneasy about me, we know more about the science of war than we did 20 months ago when we were at camp in Marietta. I have no fears of rebel bullets, and we can take care of our health, I think even in this hot climate. 

 

Aug 11. I kept this letter, unfinished, till this morning, in expectation of receiving one from you from Clintonville. But the mail is opened, and no letter from you. I do not think it your fault, love, as you are always so good in writing me. It is such a disappointment, though, to get no letter from my darling before leaving the river. We may get another mail from the north when we reach White River, or soon after we cross it. Be sure, dearest, that you write me twice a week, even if but time to write three lines. It is my greatest comfort in camp to get letters from you.

 

            I got a letter from Col. De Hass this morning. He was in St. Louis on the 6^th, and says he will be here soon. Capt Sisson returned this morning. Lt. Moore is out of the Service. Capts. Ross and Garrett who went to Columbus with the drafted men, have not yet returned. Neither have Lieuts. Eagler and Province. Capt. M^cKitrick's time expires soon, but I guess he will be here. Lieut. Smithson has been sounding the Col. on the Lt. Colonelcy, should Col. De Hass leave the Regt. He says the Col. / is favorable to me, and that he made the remark "political friends are not always the best men to rely on in time of war". He interprets that to mean that the Col. thinks I would make a better field officer than any of the others who are looking for such promotion, and that he is willing to waive political friendship as well as anything else, and recommend me. I have never spoken to him about it. I think Col. De Hass will be back. He writes me, however, that he has a position promised from Gov. Boreman that he shall have command of a West Va Regt. and that Gov B. partly promised me a field officer. I think I will be all right here soon. The Col. says Maj S. shall never be Lt Col. with his consent. He told Lt. Smithson so last night. He says I am one of the best Division Commanders in the Regt. I command Cos B and G in all Battalion movements.

 

            Well, I shall expect a bushel of letters from you all soon. Tell Emma I think she might write her pa a letter every few days while he is "way down South in Dixie". / Frank and Lee and Lynn will remember pa too, if they don't write so much. Talk to Lynn about me, and tell me what he says.

 

            We start at 3½ P.M., and it is now dinner time. We go light. The Officers will not have more than half their usual amount of baggage. The men have little shelter tents, one India rubber and one woolen blanket each.

 

            Helena is an awful place. I have not spoken to a white citizen since our arrival. I have seen about a dozen white women in all,—as ugly as sin, most of them. "When this cruel war is over", is sung by the boys daily and nightly. I believe all of us would like to get into a civilized country again. But I do not feel like leaving the service while the Government needs soldiers—and I am thought to be of importance as an Officer. You know on what conditions I would come home: when I could do more for the public service there than in the army. I am quite hopeful of "a long life of happiness and usefulness"—though it may be my fate to fall in the first battle—possibly in a week. I am in excellent health now.

 

            I will write you soon again. Teamsters will be coming to Helena for the next few days, so we will get letters, I hope.

 

            Give my kind regards to all the friends at Clintonville and vicinity—and also at home, when you get there. Kiss the dear children for me. I would like to be with you, to kiss you all myself.

                                               

My best love to you, dearest.

A.W. M^cCormick

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