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

Memphis, Tenn, Mar 7, 1864.

 

My very dear Wife

                        We arrived here this afternoon, on the Steamer B. J. Adams, and are still on board, at 10 P.M. All well.

 

            General Buckland has given us an order for transportation by steamer direct to Little Rock, via Arkansas River, and we will probably start in the morning.

 

            I have received no letter from you since we left Camp Dennison, nor for a couple of days before. I'm sure they're coming, however—and I hope to get some before we leave here—in the morning mail perhaps.

 

            A splendid sword,—gold hilt and silver scabbard—with superior belt, was presented to me yesterday by Company G. I feel very proud of it, and some of the other Captains talk like they envy me in getting so fine a present. It is a superb blade, beautifully inlaid with gold /

 

All the Officers of the Regt present, except Capts. Morris and McKitrick and Lts. Jones, Mitchell and Marlow to-day signed a recommendation for me to be "a Field Officer in our Regt." They all said they desired my promotion, but felt a delicacy in signing a petition to put me above officers who rank me. Those absent would all certainly sign for me—except Capt. Sisson and Maj. Stevens themselves. Col. Mason says he will do all he can to have me promoted. I said to him, "it would probably be much easier to get me the Majorship than the Lt. Colonelcy". He said "Yes, but I prefer that you get the Lt. Colonelcy". Capts. Robinson and Chandler, the only other officers absent, are both my warm friends.

 

            Col. Mason said to-day, in the presence of all the Officers, that his determination is, to serve this campaign and resign. So I am sure of a promotion this summer; if I do not get it now. I feel proud of the endorsement I got to-day from the Officers, and I am sure the men of the Regiment endorse me with equal unanimity. /

 

Maj. Warfield is here with us. He arrived this evening from home, where he had been to see his wife, who has been sick, but is better. He says he is going to Little Rock to resign.—

 

            You only know, dearest love, how anxious I am to be with you; and how much I enjoy your sweet society. I hope to come home, inside of a year, the war over, and not without the credit of having done something for the Union.

 

            I am Officer of the Day, and as we are lying at the wharf at Memphis, I wear my new sword—"to make a sensation", as the girls say—or rather to do honor to the 77^th.

 

            Lieuts. Smithson and West and Capt M^cNaughton seem about as well pleased at my general endorsement by the Officers as I am. The Col. says, "well that's good enough".

 

            I hope you will write all the folks, as I have been too busy recently. I will write them also soon.

 

            Tell the girls—Augusta and Maid—I will soon write them the letters I owe them.

 

Lieut. Scott says for you to get two of his pictures at Cad's and send one to Mrs. Smithson. /

 

Quartermaster Pearce says we will probably go to Little Rock on the Steamer "Commercial". He does not know, certainly, as the Genl. did not give him the order till after the Post Q.M. left his office to-night. She is a large side-wheel boat. So if you see a "telegram" from Little Rock that the Commercial has arrived, you can guess we are "there or thereabouts".

 

            Say to Mrs. Hildebrand that I will find time soon, I hope, to attend to that business for her. I trust she has got her pension before now.

 

            Well, love, I hope you are having a comfortable time with the dear little ones. I love them so much, and will do all I can to make you and them happy. They will be good to ma I know, while I am gone.

 

            Say to Saida Scott that I will send her the facts about our Regt. soon, which she desires. I will make some inquiry about her friend Col. Jas. W. Landrum, or "James B. Mazantha" as he called himself in Marietta.

 

            Gen. Sherman's forces are back to Vicksburg. They destroyed about 100 miles of railroad on the Mobile & Ohio R.R. on both sides of Meridian. I am living cheap going to Little Rock. The boat could not board us, so we board ourselves at good prices.

 

Write me often, darling. I prize your letters so much. My love to you and the children, and my kind regards to friends—Hattie and the other girls included.

                                               

As ever yours,

A.W. M^cCormick

SOURCES