Camp Near Little River
Alabama Oct 27th 1864
Dear Uncle
I now improve this opportunity to write to you.
We have had a hard march this time and on short rations. We get once pound
of bread for four days that is only one hard tack a day. We get corn and
wheat and everything we can eat I have raw corn in my HaverSack all the
time. We have been here five days now. We expect to go soon. I don't know
where we will go. It is rumored that we are going to Memphis Tennessee.
I hope it is true for I feel at home on the Mississippi River.
We don't know where the Rebel army is now but
I suppose we will find out soon. They did not hurt us any with their raid.
This army will never fight us again. They dare not throw themselves where
we are they will run over the country and bother us all. They can and if
we stay in this Department we will have to run after them. The Department
of the Cumberland and Ohio are now laying still. While we are tramping
around after the enemy, we are used so because we are not in our own Department.
I received a letter from you containing on dollar
in stamps. They came in time as I was and there is no show for pay now.
There soon will be a year's pay due us. Our nonveterans had gone home and
with them went Colonel Bryant our best friend but I am in hopes we can
all go home soon if you fellows does the voting right. We can do the fighting.
I received a letter from Malcom Black in which he asked me if I was not
going to vote for McClelen and get home soon He said Mc. was his man. I
suppose he would like peace so as not to be taxed so heavy, but we don't
want any such peace. We want them to acknowledge it. I think the people
ought to be satisfied as long as we are. We have endured all kinds of hardship
this summer, yet there is no solider that will vote for McCellen. We are
living on corn and fresh beef now we have no salt. I never enjoyed better
health. Write sa and don't neglect to write even if you didn't hear form
me for I am not have a chance to write again this winter as we will soon
be away from all communication. I have not time to write any more now.
Give my love to all the family. Tell mother to write too.
We are now about 40 miles form Rome Ga.
Goodbye. I remain yours truly
John McCallum
Co. A 12th Wis.
From the Wisconsin Historical Society
AUTHOR McCallum, John.
TITLE Letter, 1864.
: MAD 4 /14/File 1864 October 27
CALL NO. File 1864 October 27
