Head Quarters 77^th  O.V.I.

Little Rock, Ark., Nov 10, 1863.

 

My very dear Wife

            I have received two letters from you since writing my last, dated the 18^th and 21^st of October. They were most excellent letters, and of course more than welcome.

 

            I wrote you on the 17^th, I think, enclosing a check on the U.S. Treasury at St. Louis, Mo., for two hundred dollars, signed G Maj. George A. Mitchell, Paymaster U.S.A. Did you get it? As you do not mention the date of letters received sometimes, I am not sure but you miss some I write you. If the check is lost, get Mr. Benedict to write to the Treasurer for you, stopping payment to any one else. Or Mr. Waters at the bank, would write for you if asked. It was drawn to the order of Mrs. Alice J M^cCormick. As it had not been time for the check to reach you on the 21^st, I have no fears but it will get to you. / I wrote you a letter the first of last week, which I sent by Sergt. Wm E. Smithson, when he went home on recruiting service, and another short one dated Friday the 5^th inst.

 

            I was somewhat surprised to hear of the return of Mrs. Hildebrand and Cynthia from Washington. I supposed they would stay with Eliza this winter. I hope Cynthia's fears are groundless.

 

            It is an odd way Col. De Hass takes to get out of the service. Instead of going to Washington city, he should come here if he wishes to resign.

 

            You speak of the temptations of that new dress. Better wait till I come home, don't you think so? I like to be around when anything nicer than common is on hand.

 

            Hattie's resolution to wait till "this cruel war is over" before she marries, is a good idea. I read an extract from each of the last two letters from you, for Gordon's benefit, when he was here to-day. He is highly elated to hear that Hattie admits she cares for him. He laughed immediately at your suggestion of "coffee for two and pistols for none"— / and seconds the suggestion. I guess we'll settle it that way. I told West some weeks ago that I would have an account to settle with Hattie for calling you an old woman. He wrote to her about it, and she says she is ready to settle it at any time when she sees me. So I told him he could say to her that if she would "take it all back", I would forgive her, as I wished to have the matter settled in time for me to dance at her wedding. (I might have said, "at their wedding", but I feared he would not tell her, if I said that.) You know Lieut West is detailed to command the guard at the Little Rock Depot, across the river. So I only get to tease him when he visits us.

 

            We have been building a log house 12 by 14 feet square for Head Quarters of Co G. It is now complete, and "something living in it", two chaps about the size of Capt M^cCormick and Lieut. Smithson.—It is snug and comfortable—in fact so well put up that some of the other officers have been envying us. We paid $1.00 for four pounds / of nails to put the roof on with, and other little things in proportion. But health and comfort are worth more than money so "who cares for expenses"?

 

            It will soon be a year since I passed some very pleasant days and nights in the Brick where you now are. How I would like to come home and pass many more such.

 

            Lieut. Scott now gets his letters addressed "Capt." Wm. W. Scott, and it is supposed he wrote to his wife that Capt Robinson had resigned, and that he was to be Captain "in a few days". As Capt R's resignation did not get through, it is a joke on Scott. When Gov. Tod told me to put on the Major's equipments I did not write to my friends to address me as Maj. A. W. M^cCormick. I preferred to be considered a Captain until I got a Field Officer's commission. When that will be I do not know, but I do not wish to wear honors before they belong to me.—Even then, I should be disposed to wear my "blushing honors meekly".

 

            I am in excellent health still. I hope to hear of Frank's entire recovery, and that you and Emma and the two youngest boys are as well as ever.

 

            My regards to the friends—Hattie in particular. She sent her regards to me and her love to another man in the 77^th. I send you my love and her my regards. Won't we be even now?

 

            Tell Augusta and Mary that I am a negligent fellow, and have been very busy, is why I have not written in answer to their last letters—and not that I do not appreciate their favors—for they were very welcome. I will now write soon, as I am through with building quarters.

                                               

As ever, dearest, yours most affectionately

Mac.

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