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

Little Rock, Ark., Oct 28, 1863.

 

My very dear Wife:

                        I have received a letter from you since I wrote, dated Sept. 27, and you can guess how much I was pleased to hear from my sweet one again. Oh! how I wish the mails were regular that I might get your letters twice a week as you write them.

 

            I see by the papers that Meade has fallen back to the Potomac, and also that it is reported he took 8000 prisoners recently. If this is so, he has done well.

 

            The elections resulted as I expected. The Democracy of Ohio can blame themselves for their defeat. I told many of the leading men of the state last spring that Vallandigham was not the man for Governor—that his policy was not right—and that he could get no votes worth counting in the army. But they nominated him, and must abide the result. If Brough has 50,000 at home, he will have 75,000 including the soldiers' vote. 

 

I have excellent health, and am heavier, I think, than when I saw you last. I intend to get a picture taken for you, that you may see how "the whiskers" look. My moustache is pretty heavy, but I think I could get a kiss if I could come and see you. Don't you think so?

 

            By the way, President Lincoln has made a call, I see, for 300,000 more volunteers, to fill up the old Regiments, with notice that if not raised before Jan 4, there would be a draft. As a bounty of $300.00 is offered for recruits, I think it would be good policy for the Colonel to send me home to recruit this fall. I mentioned it to him to-day, but he says the men sent will have to be Sergeants, who must raise enough men to entitle them to a commission—and that they must be for Companies which have less than three officers. So D, E, and H are the only ones entitled to send men to recruit. I hear that the Colonel thinks of going home himself to recruit. It will be decided soon who goes, and I will send / you a package by whoever goes, if I do not. I think I could raise more men for the 77^th between now and the 4^th of January than "any other man" in the Regiment. I got them faster before than any of them. You think I ought to come, don't you, love? It would be so nice to be where I could see you and the children every few days this next two months.

 

            I took the first Degree in Masonry last night—and now belong to that ancient and honorable fraternity sometimes called the "Brethren of the Mystic Tie". I have often heard men who were both Odd Fellows and Masons say they preferred the Masonic fraternity, but I never heard one who was a member of both say he liked the Odd Fellows best. So I think if Masonry is better than Odd Fellowship, it is well for me to be a Mason, and I am sure you will think so too. I like it very much so far. The fact that one vote against a candidate prevents his admission will prove that I / am respected by my fellow Officers of the 77^th, who are the members of Shiloh Lodge. Col. Mason, Maj Stevens, Capts. Sisson, Chandler, Garrett, and Morris, and Lieuts. Fulton, Smithson, Scott, Mitchell, and Berry are Masons, and perhaps others. Maj. Warfield is one, and I think Dr. Wall.

 

            I will write you soon again. I do not expect to come home recruiting. If I can I will get a furlough some of these days. Col. Clayton had a fight at Pine Bluffs, fifty miles down the river from here on Saturday night—or rather Sunday morning last. He had his own Regt (5^th Kansas) and 1^st Ind. Cavalry, with less than 600 men. He whipped Genl. Marmaduke and Cabell, said to have had 4000 rebels under them. Bully for Clayton. Guess the "rebs" won't strike about here soon again.

 

            Give my regards to the friends, and kiss the children for me

 

            My love to you all.

                       

As ever, dearest, yours.

A.W. M^cCormick

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