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

           

[section cut out corresponding to address and date]

My very dear Wife:

                        I wrote you twice from St. Louis, once from Cairo, from Memphis,—and once before since my arrival in Helena, but have got no letter from you yet. I have no doubt you wrote me before you left Alton, but the mail was lost when the Steamer "Ruth" was burned last week; and I presume I lost a precious letter from you. I want you to write me another sweet one, dearest, in place of the one I lost.

 

            We are encamped on a level piece of ground, between the river and the levee thrown up to protect the town from high water—so you can see we are not on a / very high spot. It is dry, though, and we have fine cool nights. I have slept first rate since I have been in

                                                                        my state room on

[section cut out of paper]                                have been few mas-

                                                                        rrival—on account of

                                                                        I suppose.

            Lieuts. Smithson and West sleep with me. We have four blankets, and keep very comfortable. I caught a little cold the first night, but am in excellent health notwithstanding—in fact we are devouring large quantities of bread, pork and beans, which we buy from the Post Commissary. We got nothing else, and of course it cost us but little—though we expect some green corn and potatoes on the march.

 

            It is still believed the rebels will not give us a pitched battle, though the country is full of small scouting parties, and they came close enough to Helena last night to get into a little fight with our pickets. / It would be fun for us if they would come here to fight—but they won't.

 

            Gen. Steele commands the expedition (16^th Army Corps) Col. Rice of the 33^d Iowa commands our Division and Col. Kittridge of the 36^th Iowa commands our Brigade. Gen. Steele watched us while we had Dress Parade last evening, and seemed much pleased with us. We have been highly complimented since our arrival. I think ours the best regiment at Helena, and is as large as any of them I guess.

 

            Capt M^cNaughton and I went to all parts of the fortifications yesterday, and we think them impregnable if properly defended.

 

            You will remember the papers (or some Abolition corresponts rather) stated that the negro soldiers here fought bravely on the 4^th of July, when this place was attacked. The fact is, they did not fire a shot. All the officers here agree that this is so. After all we have heard of them, there are but six Companies—probably 300 in all— / of these negroes, and they cost the government ten times as much as they will ever be worth to it as soldiers. They will do to make fortifications, but I think it bad policy to arm them, as I have always thought. I believe the President thinks so too.

 

            The Alton and St. Louis papers puff us highly on our leaving Alton. We feel somewhat proud of our good name.

 

            Lieut. Scott got a letter from his wife this morning, written last Sunday. She said you were at her mother's, and that she slept with you the night before. I presume you were well or she would have said something of your illness.

 

            Kiss the darling children for me, love. I would like so much to see you all. I shall look forward anxiously to the good time coming when I shall be at home with you.

 

            I am looking so anxiously for a letter from you. I know you won't fail to write often. Emma and Frank will write me, also. You can tell me what Lee and Lynn wish to say. My little pet will not forget me will he? Or does he still think "Pa—teet—tars—way"!

 

            Oh how dear you all are to me. A thousand kisses.

                                                           

Yours, dearest, as ever

A.W. M^cCormick

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