Court Martial Rooms,                                    

Arsenal Buildings                              

Little Rock, Ark., Dec 15, 1863.

 

My very dear Wife

                        I still have no letter from you since the 19^th of last month—an age almost to me. I know not why, but no newspapers, and only part of the letter mail came through the last time we got letters.

 

            I have written on an average more than two letters per week, but from the way I fail to get yours, I fear many of them do not get through. Still I keep writing as usual, and trust you will.

 

            Our Regiment seems to be going into the veteran service as a Regiment. More than three-fourths of all the companies, except C, F, I and K have agreed to go, and as this will take my company, as now organized, I will command it in the Veteran Regiment awhile, unless promoted before the organization is complete. I told Col. Mason I / I did not wish to re-enlist for three years as a Captain, but would go on with my present commission. He said, "There is now a vacant field office, to be filled when the Regiment fills up, and I am favorable to you". He said Capt. Lutgen could not go, and that Capt Sisson is not a military man, did not keep good discipline in his Company and was not properly qualified for a Field Officer. Besides Capt. Sisson's company will not go, if he goes, so he cannot, as he will not be allowed to go unless three fourths of Co C. goes. As the Col. says Stevens shall never get above his present rank, and as Gov. Brough is an old Marietta editor, it is not impossible that "yours as ever" may wear a silver leaf in Marietta in less than a month. Of this you will say nothing to even intimate friends at present, if you please, love. It would suit the Regiment, I know, as the men have always been my friends, and all the officers are now my friends, or appear to be at least. If I go in at first as a Captain, my Co. will be letter "A" and then when we are filled up, I will get the vacant field office, I feel confident. Men from several other Companies say they will go into mine, and / not one of my men will go in any other. Only a dozen of Co G expressed a willingness to go in again for the first two or three days, as they thought that I would remain here, but when I told them I was going along, it ran up to 33 very soon. All the Washington Co members of my Co, except Ira and Henry Nowlen, have already gone in, and I think they will go. I do not believe the war will last longer than our first term of enlistment, or but little longer at any rate, and each of the privates on re-enlisting get $400.00 bounty, so it will pay them well.

 

            I think the 77^th except such privates as do not re-enlist, and the officers of such companies as do not three-fourths re-enlist, will start to Marietta in a couple of weeks.

 

            Now, dearest, do not get alarmed, and think I have agreed to serve longer than my original term. If I do not get the promotion promised, I will be mustered out at that time, if you desire it. Col. Mason says that I have served long enough without promotion, and as he is a brother of the "Mystic tie", I believe he means what he says. /

 

George W. Ross has had his case acquitted before this Court, and Len. Haught and Sol. Tice will be tried this week. The Court agrees to try all the 77^th cases as soon as possible, so we can take all our men with us.

 

            "They say" I am in better condition, at least look better, than at any time since I came into the service. I hope you will see how I look in two or three weeks, or a month at latest. How glad I shall be to meet my darling again.

 

            Now dearest, love, do not cease writing to me as usual, even till I get home, or at least till you see in the papers that the 77^th have reached Cairo on the way home. Lest I might not be along, or the Regiment not come as soon as expected, I wish you to still address me here. The letters will be re-mailed to me at Marietta. But do not put anything very private in the letters, as some one might open them after we leave. Some of those left, might have some curiosity to know what I had written to you, and think they could guess it out by your reply.

 

            I have some hope of a mail when I go to dinner.

 

2 P.M. Well a fleet came to Duvall's Bluffs yesterday, and no mail! What a bitter disappointment. Three-fourths of the Regt, and more have re-enlisted. So we go. F, C and K are the only Companies not up to the point. You may look for us soon. Kiss the children for me. I will soon be at home to kiss all of you myself. I send this to the Depot by Lieut. West. He is in for the V. service two chances. Lieut Smithson is not anxious to go I guess. He says he will serve out his 2½ years in it. Well that's longer than I expect to serve.

                                                                       

yours as ever               Mac

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