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

Little Rock, Ark., Oct 6, 1863.

 

My very dear Wife:

                        My heart was gladdened last night by the receipt of two letters from you, dated the 19^th and 21^st of September. I was especially well pleased to hear of your continued good health, and that you were getting along so well.

 

            We are still encamped in the suburbs of this city, and having Battalion drill regularly—though we are already sufficiently drilled, I think, for all practical purposes. Still I like the drill, and we have but little else to do.

 

            I am in fine health—have had no symptoms of a chill for more than a month—in fact not since the 28^th of August. I have no fears of the ague now.

 

            We are having quite cool weather now. Yesterday morning we had a heavy frost, and it is cold and rainy this morning. But we have pretty plenty of blankets, and a man gave us cotton enough to fill our bed tick, so we sleep warm and comfortable. It is not like sleeping with my dear sweet love, at home, however. Well, I hope it will not be long till I can enjoy that luxury; for if the war does not end, I will get a furlough. Besides, the 77^th is now in its third year, and the boys say they are "working by the month" now, and not by the year. Col. Hildebrand got his appointment Oct 5^th, 1861, and this is on the supposition that the Regiment will be mustered out in three years from the time. If so, it would not be very long till we would come home to stay. But it is my opinion our time does not expire till a year from Dec 31^st. 

 

            Our blankets, overcoats, dress coats and other clothing left at Helena, arrived to-day and the boys will be better able to keep comfortably warm. They seem to be much pleased.

 

            Col. Mason is fit to return to duty, and moved from the Hotel—where he has been boarding—into camp. The boys rejoice at that, too, as they like him much better than Maj Stevens.

 

            Levi Haught, who used to be a Sergeant in Co G, did not come with us when we left Alton. He was arrested by the Provost Marshal arrested him as a deserter, and sent him after the Regiment in charge of Lieut. Fisher. He told Fisher that the Captain gave him permission to stay back "to get married"! That was a likely story, as he has a wife and nine children in Ohio. Still Fisher did not know that, and he took Haught's word of honor that he would not attempt to escape, and gave him the liberty of the boat. So when he got to Cairo, he ran off, and went back to Alton, where he is said to have actually married the washerwoman who used to wash for Co G in Alton. A man must be lost to all sense of self-respect who can do such a thing.

 

            Isaiah Cline, of my Co., died in the hospital at Memphis on 8^th of September. George Ross, who went home on furlough from Alton, never returned. So I have lost two by death and two by desertion since I saw you—leaving my aggregate 48. Still I have more men for duty than any other Capt. in the Regt. I have appointed George Meyer a Sergt. since the death of Sergt. Hoover. He is much pleased, and I guess that new wife of his will be glad too. I have another vacant Sergeancy, but I do not care about filling it till we get our recruits or till we have passed through a fight. / I want to give it to some one peculiarly qualified for it, or to some one who wins it by gallant conduct on the field. Corporals Carpenter, Keene, Thornton, Stukey, and Thomas are of course candidates for it. Who do you think will win? You know them all I believe.

 

            I wrote you to send me some postage stamps, some time ago, but as you have not sent them, I fear you did not get the letter. I cannot buy one here at any price, and I have begged and borrowed till I am almost ashamed to say "stamp" to any of my liberal friends any more. Send me some, darling, in your next, if you have not.

 

            Lieut. Scott told me today that his cousin Nancy Scott was to marry L. P. O'Neal, a merchant of Belpre on the 18^th. He said there was to be a grand wedding. I would have liked to be present. She sent him an invitation, but it arrived three weeks after the day

 

            Col. De Hass and Capt Ross are both still absent. If they are not dismissed without pay it will be strange.

 

Lt. West is well, but Lt. Smithson has a chill almost every day. Capt. M^cNaughton comes to camp almost every day. He looks quite well, and says "I can't complain", "with his usual ability". He gets letters from Lillie Bennett and from Virgie Brooks, but I guess he wont marry either of them. I don't think he will lose his heart soon, do you? He thinks about as much of Mollie Gray, of Upper Alton as of any other woman. Capt. Robinson's resignation has not got through yet, because he has not got a reply from the Ordnance Office, certifying that he is not indebted to the U.S. for arms. Capt. Chandler expects to resign in a few weeks, so he says. 

 

            I agree with you that the Marietta Republican has not the right tone. I am sorry to see my old paper taking such a course. But things will right themselves some day. Your advice in regard to the political contest now pending in Ohio, so far from being considered out of place, comes so near my own views that I am glad to hear you express yourself as you do. You know how I feel on the subject. I am for the Union always, and for a vigorous prosecution of the war till the rebels sue for peace and promise to behave like loyal citizens of the United States. Yet I am not willing to believe the Democratic party so far under the control of men who favor an armistice, or any other means not compatible with the interests and dignity of the nation, that it cannot be steered in the right channel. Time will tell, however, and for the present I am content to say that neither of the candidates for Governor of Ohio occupies the position I would like to see maintained.

 

            I am glad Lee goes to school so willingly, and is getting along so well. The girls say he is going to be "the pretty boy", and you know that he can be smart, whether he is pretty or not. I am sorry Frank has such a time with the chills. I hope you will get him entirely cured, so he will keep up with the best of the Marietta boys. Mr. Fisher, their Alton teacher, praised our children very much, and I want them to deserve the praise of their Marietta teachers. Emma should pay particular attention to her penmanship. There is no accomplishment more becoming in a young lady than being able to write a good letter in a neat and regular hand. She is improving, and should practice more, and take greater care.

 

            How I would like to see my little pet boy, who wants to "huggy and kissey pa". He must be a little darling, if he has improved much since we left Alton. I do hope, dearest sweet love, that I will not have to stay away from my "loved ones at home" much longer. I will enclose you Melissa's letter. I will write to Emma soon.

           

As ever my sweet good wife             

 

Devotedly yours

Mac.

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