Head Quarters 29^th Regt Iowa Infty

Helena, Ark. Feb 14^th 1863.

 

            Friend G. Your interesting letter of Feb 1^st has been received and you may rest assured it was welcomed by me as a joyful visitor and the contents thereof read with much pleasure. I am well at this time and in as good spirits as any one can very well be, (although it is not whiskey spirits nor yet the spirits of sod corn for we are not allowed very large rations of such articles as that) We are now in the vicinity of Helena, Ark. and have been ever since our return from the White river expedition which has been about three or four weeks. We are camped on a large plantation which some say is the rebel General Pillow's farm, others say it is adjoining Gen. Pillows So I am not sure which of the two is his. They are both very large farms and look as though it took quite a number of slaves to do the work that must necessarily be done to keep so large a place in repair and do all the work too. You are quite right in your conjectures in regard to our going into active service. When we enlisted in the service we done so with the intention to aid in the putting down of this rebellion And in order to do this we expected to be led to where the enemy were stationed, but a few months has apparently changed the feature of things. It seems that there is not the energy and exertion put forth, and as vigorous prosecution of the war that there should be, to bring this war to a speedy close But it may be that it can all be attributed to the southern sympathisers residing in the north. What a shame it is just to think that men who have been always living under the glorious old stars and stripes and have been protected by this the best government that has ever existed upon the face of the earth, should now turn against it and seek to overthrow it and especially those living in the northern states, what interest can it be to them? do they expect that by overthrowing this government they can establish a better one in its stead? No surely it cannot be. For my part my motto is let traitors suffer the traitors doom where ever found whether north or south. I think, next to George Washington, that Abraham Lincoln is the man to fill the Presidential chair Never since the war of the revolution has any president been placed in so critical a position. Yet, notwithstanding all this, he has held the reins of government and conducted the old ship more steady and nearer in the proper course than any other man could have done I think his course of procedure is almost without a fault with the exception / of one and after a little I will tell you what I think that fault is As I said before he has conducted things nearer in the proper course than any other man could do under the existing circumstances and I think it deserves the approval and approbation of all true sons of America, even the most rabid Sesesh of the South. And now I will tell you wherein I think he erred in one instance. It is this. I think he placed too much confidence in the democratic party and in order to show them the confidence he confided in them and hoping by this means to insure their aid in enforcing and executing the laws, he placed too much power in their hands by assigning certain influential democrats positions of trust and honor, very responsible positions too, such as Sec of war, and to Generalships in the army. To be sure some of them were good loyal men and true patriots and have rendered their country much invaluable service and deserve credit for it, but there are others who to day are holding high and responsible positions in the Army and elsewhere that are traitors to their country and ought to be hung on the highest tree that can be found in the whole of the southern confederacy But I am not a politician, never was, and dont expect to be after I return home again from the war, and dont expect you are either, therefore, do not think it prudent to occupy any more space in writing about these things, although the interest of every American citizen is at stake in the present contest. I think myself it is almost time our old friend Ambrose is getting married if he ever intends to do so. Yet I think if I live to be as old as he is without marrying I shall content myself to live the remainder of my days in a state of celibacy. I think it very strange that he and Ezra are both so curious into their dispositions from most persons, they both possess talents sufficient to carry them in the sphere of life in which I dont think they ever have, or ever will move I have hundreds of times thought of our old friend Charley Stag and wondered where he was and what he is doing. He was always an ambitious scholar, and I have pictured out in my mind a bright future for him I always thought he would make a good and useful man were I correct in forming that conclusion or rather opinion of him? If so please tell me in your next. also tell me his occupation if you know what it is. I like the mode that has been adopted for spending your time of evenings and can hardly see why such things have ceased to be of interest to you, especially since the society is graced with the presence of such a dashing young widower as the one which you spoke of seems to be, for are you not young too? (and handsome also, that is if you retain the looks of former years) I dont think I gave you any reasons to think that I was in such great earnestness as you seemed to think I was from what you said in regard to my sweetheart. true we are firm friends and I have years ago learned to look to her as one of my best friends and just so on the other hand. but it may be that we may both have half dozen sweethearts before we find the one that beats in unison with our own. Yet we are neither of us very fickle minded

 

but there was one remark which you made use of that I dont think is appli to my case and am a little surprised at your making use of it in the place you did The remark was this, that bachelors are capital lovers when they take the notion Now I dont consider myself a bachelor by several years yet and was never considered such in the circle in which I moved at home So dont take that hint as meant for me, by any means I think this war will come to a close some time this summer and if it does and I live to see the close of it, I shall take a trip back to old Pennsylvania to see my sister and brother in law of late I received letters from them tolerably regular They are very well satisfied there and are enjoying good health My folks at home are well I received a letter today from sister Mary She is teaching school this winter. I have not received a letter from brother Will for a long time Neither have I seen your cousin since we have returned to this place although the regt is quartered about three miles from where we are. Well I have nothing more of importance to write about. Therefore hoping this may find you in the enjoyment of good health I will close by requesting you as a friend to write soon and oblige me very much.

G.C. to G.C.

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