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

Little Rock, Ark., Sept. 30, 1863.

 

My very dear Wife:

                        I wrote you day before yesterday, on the receipt of yours of the 8^th; but we were then 8 miles from this city, guarding a mill. We have been relieved, now, and I will be in camp at Little Rock, with the Regt. hereafter. The reason of our being relieved is, that our Brigade no longer furnishes the guard for the mill—the 2^d Brigade being required to do the guard duty and get part of the lumber. I am well pleased to come to camp, but the boys are disappointed, and the citizens don't like the change.

 

            I am so much pleased with the dear sweet letters that I get from my darling wife, that I can hardly be patient till another mail arrives. Boats come up the White River every two or three days, I hear, and the cars run regularly from here to White River (Duval's Bluffs) yet the mails are slow.

 

            We have St. Louis papers of the 16^th, but the news of the capture of Little Rock had not reached there then. I know you all felt relieved when you heard of its capture without a fight.

 

            I have been recommended, I am told, to Gen. Steele as the right man to publish the National Union—the order allowing Capt. Demby to publish / it being revoked. I have made no move in the matter. Capt. M^cN. says Col. Mason is anxious that I should get control of it. He thinks it would be a good thing for our Brigade to have one of its officers in charge of the "Union".

 

            I took dinner with Capt M^cN. yesterday. He is quite well.

 

            Col. Mason is better. All the Marietta boys are well, or nearly so. Billy Ohle is in fine health—and is growing rapidly since he left Alton.

 

            Tell all the friends you see from the country that I will be back again among them before long, and that they will find me what I was when I left home. I do not change my opinions for "light and transient causes". I am a Union Democrat—a war man—and in favor of white men doing the fighting and voting. I have no confidence in the negro as a soldier and do not fellowship him as a citizen.

 

            We get plenty to eat out here, and have easy times. It is not as hard work for the men as at Alton. I believe the 77^th gets the praise on all hands for neatness and order.

 

            I have had no letter from any of our folks since I left Alton, except you, only one from sister Melissa. I don't know why they don't write to me. Tell me the news, if you get letters from them. 

 

            The mail is just going, so I must close soon. If I get anything of interest I will write you in a day or two. I write at least twice a week. So do you I hope, but I get one a month. They will all come up some of these days I hope. I mention the date of all I get from you.

 

            Don't forget to send me some postage stamps. I cannot buy them here, and I have been borrowing from my friends, till I owe a dozen.

 

            Lieut. West sends his respects. Also Capt. M^cNaughton.

 

            Give my regards to Hattie and Mary and Sue, also to Augusta and her mother—as well as all our other friends. You can say to them that I still wish to be remembered to them.

 

            I will get a furlough before long, if we stay here I think. I learn Gen. Grant gives furloughs for thirty days from the time a man reaches Cairo till he reports to Cairo again—and transportation to that place. If I can get such a one, I will come home, if we garrison this city long.

 

            Col De Hass and Capt Ross are both absent still. I am surprised at this, and fear they will be dismissed for absence without leave. 

 

            Capt. Chandler talks of resigning, and Capt Robinson has sent in his resignation. All the officers of the Regt appear to be my devoted friends, and I believe them truly so. They have more respect for me than if I had professed to believe in the resolutions which I refused to sign. It is my opinion they now more than half agree with me, on many of the points. Lieut. Scott says my hit at the negro soldiers suits him exactly.

 

            Dearest love, I hope to hear from you soon. Kiss the "babies" for me

                                                           

Forever yours

A.W. M^cCormick

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