General Court Martial Rooms,                      

3^d Division Army of Arkansas,         

Little Rock, Ark., Dec 22, '63.

 

My very dear Wife:

                        Your kind letter of the 8^th was received yesterday—coming through in 13 days—the best time yet from Marietta to Little Rock since our arrival.

            I am glad to hear that you are all well, and getting along so finely. I hope to be with you in a few days after you get this—as it is probable I shall carry it to Cairo myself, on our way to Columbus, O. We will report to Columbus to be mustered out and mustered in again—then I hope we will be furloughed for thirty days, to rendezvous at Marietta at the end of the time. So, dearest, you will not have to stay alone this winter, and as I hope the war will end before the next, I trust I will be with you then too. /

 

Steamer Bertha, on White River

Dec 25, 1863.             

 

Well, dearest, I did not get to finish my letter at Little Rock till we got orders to start for Ohio. Oh, how glad I am that I shall meet you so soon. We will probably go by steamer all the way to Cincinnati, and as I shall mail this at Cairo, you will get it before I reach Cincinnati. We will probably be some days in Columbus—possibly a week or two—and if the weather were good I should like to have you meet me there, so we might make a short visit to your brother, while we are at Columbus. You must be the judge of the propriety of coming, as I do not know how long we will stay yet. I may telegraph for you. If I do, you will know I think we will stay there long enough to make it advisable to come. Twelve years ago to-day, darling, we commenced a new life—to me one of true happiness, and I trust you have never / regretted uniting your destiny with mine. How quickly the time has passed, and how pleasantly.

 

            I think I am a lucky man in the choice of my wife. Few couples have lived together a dozen years without at some time having a "family jar", but ours has been an exception. Now we have four of the sweetest children in the world to bless us, and I hope we shall pass the balance of our lives together, after I get out of the Service, with as much happiness as we have lived heretofore. Oh, love, I never knew what life was worth till I met you, and every year only makes me love you the more.

 

            Our boat has stopped for the night, and will go on to Memphis in the morning, where we will reach day after to-morrow. I hope we will get some mail there, as I want to hear how you are getting along now. If you do not come to Columbus, I shall expect lots of / letters till I come home. Just direct them, "Capt. A.W. M^cCormick, 77^th O.V.I. Columbus, O."

 

            We have the whole Regiment with us, except Capt. Robinson and 65 soldiers who didn't re-enlist. I should have excepted Capt. M^cNaughton and Lieut. Fisher, as they were not relieved of their duties as Provost Marshal and Supt. of the City Military Prison in time to leave Little Rock with us. They (M^cN & F) will follow us soon.

 

All my Company re-enlisted except Henry Nowlen and two sick men—Geo. Meyer and J. Erlewine.

 

            I wrote you in my last how the officers come to Ohio. The men re-enlist, and the officers come along with them. If I get promotion, I take a new commission—if not I will be allowed to command my Co in the Veterans Regiment till next December, and then be mustered out.

 

            I expect to see you soon love and it will be so nice to get my accustomed kisses and hugs from you.

                                                           

As ever dearest yours

Mac.

SOURCES