Helena Ark. June 4 1865 Dear Elizabeth I received yours of May 28 to day it found me well as also I hope this may find you. We are looking for Marching Orders every hour and if we get them to night it will not surprise me and if we did not get them for two weeks it would not surprise me eather. We are to keep our arms to take home with us. (I will discharge any revolver when I get nearly home so you may know I am coming) but we will probly stay at St Louis and Springfield 3 or 4 days you may look for me home in this month I think with some certanty you must have another acre of tabaco planted by all means you say you have given it out of planting more than 1 acre if you are don breking up if you will after geting yours planted run off & set out an acre for me you will oblige much for you are shure of my helth to hoe it if I live & so I must not plant a crop on that grounds if I was at home for the dangers of that is over Plant two acres any how if you can get the plants for I never was so tired of going nothing in all my life let me tell you what I do I get up of a morning eat brekfast walk about til tierd come in lay down & doz there and read till tierd get up go to some shanty get a paper that I have not read come back read it till I am tierd get up and do something else till tierd and I am glade when night comes to sleep off my now seaming long hours My work is don I am sick of Military afares sick of sholder straps & sick of any thing pertaining to the army give me work is my cry I must work or die with absence of mind you never seen a set of felows so home sick in all your life the boys speak of the 16 dollars a month as being insignificant. I am not going to bring home many clothes of the army blue socks is very hie now and I am out and I will not draw them at the price they are worthless you may make a pare for a present when I get home I am not spending money now only for some cordial to keep off the yelow fevor & small pox I am eating light diet to help I have no news times is dull all the armys have surenderd Smiths all together the town is alive with rebel soldiers who all express a strong desier of going home as soon as they can get there to go to work this is my last scrap of paper so I close hoping to here the same good news in your next letter Tel George I got his poetry yours M.A.H. Patrick J. Anderson http://worldconnect.genealogy.rootsweb.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?db=patanderson 9654 Baltimore Avenue, Laurel, Maryland 20723

Written on the back of a printed Civil War Song. The Song: "GAY AND HAPPY" We're the boys that's gay and happy, Though intented in the field, With our Nation's Banner o'er us, And its honor for out shield. Chorus: So let the cannons boom as they will, We'll be gay and happy still, Gay and happy, gay and happy, We'll be gay and happy still Friends at home be gay and happy, Never blush to speak our name, Should our comrades fall in battle, They shall share a soldier's fame. Chorus: So let the cannons boom as they will, &c. General Grant is gay and happy, Holds the West with his command, Seldom has a soldier's honor Ever graced a braver man. Chorus: So let the cannons boom as they will, &c. We're the gay and happy Suckers, From the State of Illinois, Waiting till our General orders Us to flog the Rebel boys. Chorus: So let the cannons boom as they will, &c. Rebels are not gay and happy, For their Scrip they cannot eat, Some like birds we keep in cages Living on hard-tack and meat. Chorus: So let the cannons boom as they will, &c. We're the girls that's gay and happy, Waiting for the end of strife, Sooner share a soldiers rations Than to live a coward's wife. Chorus: So let the cannons boom as they will, &c. Gay and happy, sweet the answer, None but fools get married now, Valiant men have all enlisted, Unto cowards we'll not bow. Chorus: So let the cannons boom as they will, &c. Girls at home, be gay and happy, Show that you have woman's pride, Never wed a home-sick coward, Wait and be a soldier's bride. Chorus: So let the cannons boom as they will, &c. For the gay and happy soldiers Were as constant as the dove, But the men that dare not soldier, Never con obtain our love. Chorus: So let the cannons boom as they will, We'll be gay and happy still, Gay and happy, gay and happy, We'll be gay and happy still (over) Helena Arkansas May 30th 1865 I am well no prospects of coming home now We are looking for orders every day I will let you know if we get orders soon Please preserve this song bill for me I am yours truly Remember me M A Hooker to Elizabeth Jane Hooker Patrick J. Anderson http://worldconnect.genealogy.rootsweb.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?db=patanderson 9654 Baltimore Avenue, Laurel, Maryland 20723

Helena Ark. May the 27 1865 Lizzie 5 Days have elapsed since I have written and perhaps you think I must tel you something new by this time one reason for not writing sooner has been the hopes of teling you when I am coming home as we have received Orders to be mustered out but owing to the short sightedness of our officers we are obliged to stay a while yet I am not going to write much for I am Mad & when I an Mad I cannot write worth a cent General Renolds of Little Rock sent orders here to the general to muster out all the cavalry at this post as all the men that belongs to the cavalry arms of the servis whoes term of servis expires prior to Oct the 1st 1865 must be immediatley mustered out and instead of mustering us out rite off they have sent a dispatch to General Renolds at Little Rock to know if the 87 was included in that order and hence you see we have to stay here til we get answer to the enquiry and the time required will be between 5 & 10 days & tho it frets us we have to bare it and we might as well do it cheerfully as otherwise I thinks we will get the returned order in 5 or 10 days and then 5 or 10 days we can get the property turned over and get started home and 4 days to go home & 5 or 10 days to stay at Cairo or Springfield to be mustered out and then a day to go from there home and hence 36 days if we have good luck we will get home Where as if we had got our just rights we could have made it in 10 days less This leaves me well. Hopeing that in my next letter I may tel you more about coming home Henry Gollihur is very sick, So I must close hoping that you may do well till I get home I am yours Truly M A Hooker Co A 87 Ills Vols Patrick J. Anderson http://worldconnect.genealogy.rootsweb.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?db=patanderson 9654 Baltimore Avenue, Laurel, Maryland 20723

Helena Arkansas May 22nd 1865 My Dearest Elizabeth this morning is warm and I feal lazy & stupid tho I am as well as I have ever been & hope this may find you well. I am confident that I will not write much for my fealings proves that tho it has been 5 or 6 days since I have writen on account of being on a scout down the river. Shurly I will be acquainted with the Mississippi River for I have traveled it over & over. Capt Anderson ( Major now) with 75 men went down to Friar's Point 15 milds below here and stade 4 days & nights to try to get Capt Stanly or a band of Gurrillers that was in that portion of the state of (Miss) but the Citizens saved us of the truble by capturing him and his men and shooting them. The citizens are worse than the yanks after the Gurrillas now for they have no mercy at all. Out of 15 they only took 2 prisoner and they was going to hang one of them but they sent them to us saying that if we did not well then they would. We went out from Friar's Point and out 6 milds we met some of them with guns and they told us that we need not go for they had cleand them out. Stanly was a notorious carectar and if you remember he killed 3 of the 87 some 2 months ago. While on a scout over there a citizen told me that they caught Stanly an took him up stares to gaurd him and he beged them not to kill him. They told him to pray if he wishd and he got down on his knees and tride to pray but could not and then he made a brake for the window and jumpt through it and he was shot 3 times befour he struck the ground and after he struck the ground they emted 3 duble barill shot guns in to him. They had 6 of his men and they made a brak to get away and they shot 4 of them and give us the other two. They are in jail now. The wether is warm the river is falling a litle. I am now detailed to go on duty. I went to ¦¦¦ some sinks Our duty is not hard atall I have not been on picket for a month we are laying around waiting on uncle sam to muster us out or keep us in one or the other. All the Rebels East of Red River has surenderd and are to come in here tomorrow or next day and deliver up there arms it is thought that they are 700 strong. There is big talk this morning of going home all is lively and one says that one sombody said that the company Sergent said that he herd the Chaplain say that he herd the post master say that the orders to muster the 87 out was then & thare in the office and there is an order in the "Commonwealth Commercial" for all troops in Grant's & Sherman's Army whoes terms of service expires prior to October 1865 is to be mustered out rite off but not the troops in the dept of Mo & Ark Commanded by General Pope. And you ought to here what a talk this gets up. Some will have it the way he wants it ever day. I must now close hoping that camp talk may be true this time and if so I will be home soon. I am as ever yours truly McAllister A. Hooker Co A 87 Ills. Vols Inft. Patrick J. Anderson http://worldconnect.genealogy.rootsweb.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?db=patanderson 9654 Baltimore Avenue, Laurel, Maryland 20723

Helena Arkansas May the 14 1865 My Dearest Elizabeth I seat my self to inform you that I am well hopeing this may finde wou well All is still in Camp to day nothing is going on of importance atall. Pickets do not stay out of a day time now only of a night The river has fell so as to leave us on dry land once more and renders our Boats a nuisance; Some of the boys try to amuse them selves by fishing some by hunting tho all very much desires to go home and every news paper is caught to see if it contains and order to muster us out but all in vain Uncle Sam got us cheep and he wishes to retain us I see that it is stated that there is an order to muster out all the one years men. Tho I have not seen the order and of corse do not know that it is so but hope not for some one has to stay to finish this war and if they go back home then of corse we have to stay but as there is no justice in it I do not think that it is true I see it stated in the St. Louis papers of the 12th that there is an order to muster all soldiers out whoes Term of Servis expires prior to Oct 31 1865 if so we come in but we wish to see the order its self then we will beleave not till then Whether we will get home leave our time is out is a mater of hand as yet and a thousand rumors is aflote concerning it. The {Charitys?] do not take steps so as to make us able to gess eaven they are waiting for the Army of the Potomac and James and Sherman to get to Washington and the some dessden[?] steps concerning the reorganizing the Army will take place Boys never was more desirous of coming home than we are but if they think we have not stade long enough we will stay 3 or 4 months longer 3 months from tomorrow our time is out A scout went out 50 milds and found only 3 rebels they brot them in. You must excuse me now for writing for I cant write to day my mind is musttee So I must close I have said all that is worth saying and I will write again on the receipt of yours next I am as ever yours M A Hooker Patrick J. Anderson http://worldconnect.genealogy.rootsweb.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?db=patanderson 9654 Baltimore Avenue, Laurel, Maryland 20723

Helena Arkansas May the 6th 65 My Dearest Elizabeth I am as well and harty as I ever was in my life I have just returned from town where I went after some rations and when I came in I went to my writing table & spread my little hose and found a letter from you knowing that the mail had come in since I left and that the boys allways put my letters there I took it broke it open and as usual looked at the 2nd & 3rd line to see if all was well there I sit down to peruse it with sech interest and feelings that does not accompany my reading any other letters. The smallpox is not as hard in the Regt now as it has been. Some have got it but they are campt some distance from here and we do not visit them. I was complaining some time ago of a hurting in my brest I stopt drinking coffee entirely and and eating meat and bought a bottle of McLeans Cordial and I take a dose every morning and it has cured one entirely that is the hurting in my brest left me and I feele much releaved tho I never reported to the hospital and of corse never stopt duty Sickness is looked for when the water goes down it has commensed falling soon and as this medison is recommended to keep of yellow fever chills & so forth I shall use some of it for a time Times is dull and the news unimportant and the excitement seames to have taken a lull Scouting is no amoung the things thats host drilling is unknown Fighting has stopt I hope it never be resumed Picketing goes on not as [torn] Dress [torn] has assumed a [torn] appearance. Officers lounge around there Head Qrs. with an occasional remark on the conduct of there superiors Soldiers are laying around in the little shantys and look as tho they are waiting for something to transpier. Papers are eagerly snatched and read from all parts from the Union Eagle to the New Orleans Times Cincinnatti St. Louis ternsbill Chicago Tennessee paper are all read over all the news closly picked out Little Rock papers and Texas papers is most called for now as in Texas and West La. is all the Rebel Army now under armes and they was negotiating for the surrender of all the confederate troops west of the Mississippi and we look daly yes hourly for a notice of that fact When that is don we are don Firing was herd the other day in the direction of Little Rock and the camp of the 87 immediately livened up and grate things talked of Oisters eatin whiskey drank and in fact a general stere and various speculation on the cause of the cannonading some thought it was a salute in honor of the final snags[?] of the Union Army (by the surrender of Curbee Smith to Hooker and others sent from Washington for that purpose. all Eys was turned up the river for news weretofour now they are turned aroun and all hands anxiously awate the results of the conference with Smith. Helth is not so bad in the Company now only 4 or 5 sick. the prospects of going home without another scurmish has cured some of us and makes us feel better it is the comon opinion that we will get home in June or sooner but when I have herd of the surender of all confederate forses west of Mississippi then I will say)(it wont be long till then) Prudy Mabery did not do as you told her tho she told one of it but you know teling aman does not sufice Lizzie I hope to be able to tel you soon something of coming home but at present you knows as much as I do about it you must juge of that by the signs of the times. for when the work is don then we are don I supose that there is to be seriesly thousands mustered out rite off but as our enemy is stll under arms I do not expect to be disbanded in that namely Shermans Army and Meads will be among the 1st to go home. They have done a good ¦est, but we have done our duty all we have been ordered to do and that is all that is required of us so we are intitle som sho as well as others tho I have not the least idier but we will get justis in the end When the Country is safe then we want to come home not till then as that is what we came for and not for honey. So the paper has plade out and I shall close for the present after subscribing myself yours M.A.H. Patrick J. Anderson http://worldconnect.genealogy.rootsweb.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?db=patanderson 9654 Baltimore Avenue, Laurel, Maryland 20723

Helena Ark. April the 21st 1865 My Dearest Elizabeth I seat my self to write you a letter this blustery morning I am as well as comon hopeing this may find you well I think my last letter was the 16inst The mail came yesterday bringing me a letter from Enoch Ashby he solved my enigma but I think he got the answer from the Central The river is still full & rizing the water is nearly all over our camp. The news from all points is encouraging except assassination which is disapointing (Mobeil) is ours and Talor is gon up the Alabama River with A J Smith after him and Willson in his front we captured at Mobeall and surroundings 6000 prisners & 60 peaces of artilery the news came here yesterday of Johnston having surenderd his army to Sherman but not confirmed yet we look for a dispach to day then we will know the truth of it General Laine come in to Paducha Ky & gave him self up with 400 men the other day Col Forrest came in to Memphis to see if he could make arangments to give up we soon look for General Forrest to do likewise. Some of the boys say they are going home in May but I beleave I shal wate to see how things work. as I am looking to see the end of this rebelion he pepal that is at home does not know how to take leave of them selves The army is coming home after a while and then cursing and abusing us as the army {will stop}[crossed out] and killing each other and assasinating the president of the United States such things as this will play out then The fier is out in front and soon we will turn to the reare. then they will call for rocks and mountains to fall on them to hide them from this mity Teste that we all as one man and divided not among them selves I have not herd from P. L. Hooker yet I sean a letter from Anna Parker the other day she is well but had been sick There is a power of rain here now we are flooded nearly. Lizzie I do not think that we will stay our time out hardly tho we may there is no talk of paying us now it is all died out but I think we will be paid off in a week or two there is no movements here now and no scouting I have no horse and do not expect to have any more. Our Cook has left us and now we cook for our selves some times one cooks and some times another What sort of a felow did Bety marey. R W Phelps died on the 19 of this month I was not with him when he died but it is said he died happy John Mabery is mending Martin Daly is still grunting I grunt some times but take it back afterwards We got up a big talk last night about what we was going to do if we got home in May Some said they was going to plant some corn & some was going to hunt for Squirls some one thing and some another and I said I would plant 2 acres of tobaco for to imploy my self during the sumer and all of it only amounted to just pass off the time while a thunder storm swept over the camp. grennet[?] mess No 1 is geting along very well the boys in camp are all in fine spirits but very angry when speaking of the deth of Lincoln we are otherwise to shoot down any man that smiles over the deth of the president the army is a hard place for a traitor you say that a man as a soldier is shure fier if he comes homes as I will (add that a soldiers wife just rite when he goes home as does not go against the grain any) I am as ever yours M.A.Hooker Patrick J. Anderson http://worldconnect.genealogy.rootsweb.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?db=patanderson 9654 Baltimore Avenue, Laurel, Maryland 20723

Helena, Ark. April the 16 1865 My Dear Elizabeth with a heavy hart & felling very much depresd I shal make the attempt to write to you. yesterday evening the steamer Sultanna Came down with the old stars & stripes at half mast after so much good news. then for to see such a sight is better to immagen our fellings than to describe them we run to the boat to know the mater when to our disgust & horor the sad news which you have all ready herd faces turnd pale & sighs could be herd on all sids the soldier took it the hardest & well he must for shurly he lost the best friend he had. yes our Father is gon the Father of the Nation the soldiers Friend and a friend to all. Oh Lord save this Goverment yet. alltho thoes demons of Hell try to ruin us oh that they may be yet bloted from the face of the Earth and aloud to live no more amoung men this is the fruit of Copperheads. they are shurly the most black hearted cowardly set of deamons that ever was aloud to live on this sid of Earth What a pity but the lightning of Heaven would kill them instantly There is some talk as there will be rejoicing in Hamilton. let me tel this much as give you a hint of this much that all men that rejoice there shouts will be turned into mourning this thing will cause them to lick out there tong and that is anough for us let us see who they are let us know them. for altho we have lost our Commander but we have a Commander who thoes demons cannot quite reach one that whoes seet is fare above the Earth he is on our side & we trust in him and the one we lost is only a In¦¦¦ment at best and the old ship will reel a little but she will stratun & yet we will go through Men are being shot down on all sids. The news got to Cairo & a man exprest some joy & he was shot in 15 different places at once and at Memphis there was 3 men kild for expressing there joy at the boat when she landed here I was there and it is said that a man exprest him self then and some of our boys hunted him all night and if we had seen him we would have kild him instantly The Army is all rite yet you may depend on that and rebels will recieve no more good treatment let us to them we want to kill all of them both North and South We did not want the rebels treated very bad until now & now we want tham all beheaded rite off and every man that Cheeps treason in the North should be beheaded instantly the time has come when all men must be loial or die this thing started at Chicago and ended in mudering the President of the United States will we pray for there forgiveness ¦o let them sink in the bottomless pitt there to burn foever. Well Lizzie I trust that the Lord will take care of us I hope they may let Andy Johnson live long enough to have them all executed I think the rooms in the bad world will have to be inlarged and extended so as to be able to intertain all the perticepants of this God for saken rebelion When the news came old Fort Curtis (which had saluted so many victorys) throde a big shell away over the river towards the southern confedracy & the sound run over the waters of the Grete Mississippi like distant thunder only one shot and all was still and the thoughts of war burnd in every brest let us have reveng oh give us reveng The mail has just come & I am the recipient of two letters as 3 one from you & Martha & one from Eliza I have not been well for 3 or 4 days but feels better this morning I had to Quit coffee & Meat my eating consist of light bread & tea I think I will be all rite in a few days Tell Eliza that I will answer her in a few days when I get a little ¦¦¦ there will be no more news now for a while till we get our statesman replaced We have not got any more such men as Segt Sewerd is unless it is Dick Yates of Illinois the wether is nice the birds are whistling sweatly the leaves are nearly grown Black bereys are ripe down at Mobeal how I would like to be down there to see once more thoes beautifull fealds & woods of the South Give my love to all Enquiring friends I am yours truly till deth Remember me & I will you So true to me Il be to you M.A. Hooker Co A 87 Patrick J. Anderson http://worldconnect.genealogy.rootsweb.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?db=patanderson 9654 Baltimore Avenue, Laurel, Maryland 20723

Helena Arkansas Apl the 14 1865 My Dearest Elizabeth I trust the beautiful morning will pass off and leave you as well as circumstances will admit of this morning I am well and harty hoping this may find you well also the children the wether is warm & cloudy we are signing the pay roles this morning and we espect to be paid off in a day or two I have not drawed any horse yet and I am expecting to not draw any more I received yours of 7 inst on the night of the 12" Prudy Maybery got to camp there was a salute fierd when she cam but not for the reception of her but the news of the capture of Lee and his Army came on the same boat it got here at midnight I was up pumping and when I saw the boat coming with her red white and blue lits shining I thought there was some news of importance the boat had not landed 25 minuts till Fort Curtis belloed out braking the silence of the night the 1st shot was a solid shot she throde it over the river making it whistle causing us to think of old times (Marksville) yesterday eavning a rush was made for the Cols Head. Qrs & some 3 hundred colected taking seats on the fence and some took seats with them the Col lookt out & seaing us all he came to the Door & asked us what was wanting severl (voices) as speach a speach The Col said if was the largest detale that came to his house in a long time two boys brot a big goods box & put it down and two more got the old flag & brot it out & stood it up in front of the box the flag looked torn & shaterd but not a man there but what loved its old apperance & when we thought back to the day at Shawneetown when a young lady presented it to us nearly 3 years ago we felt good to think that it never had been dishonored or forsaken the Col stept up on the box an sufice it to say he made us a good but short litle speach in which he said it was his opinion that we would in two months go home to see our old frends once more but we are well satisfide that this was is over virtuly and now for once we are expecting to get home befour our time is out as the work that we came out to do is about accomplisht and when don we are don (Mac all the Forts around Mobeal is capturd and our men had fierd 3 hours on the city and received no answer the last news the next boat up we are looking for the fall of the city which is the last strong hold east of the Mississippi we are looking evry day for stiring news from the Army at Srevesport Alexandria & Grandecore for this is the crisis with them they must eather fight 60 thousand cavelry which uncle sam will send on them in a short time or surender the 1st chance. I think they will do the later the boys are all talking of going home but you know we have been runing a Big Machine and it will take some time to stop it too. There is thousands beside us that are in the same fix of our selves you know and the shouts of joy from many sisters wives and mothers will be undiserible I am writing quite often now but you can account for that by the news of the day So Martha is mared shure anough well if she can stand it I am sirtain I can I will express my money the 1st chance after drawn pay all the depts 1st give my respect to cousin Len tel him much obliged to him for taking me to Mt Vernon I am your true Husband or leave of a one McAllister A Hooker Patrick J. Anderson http://worldconnect.genealogy.rootsweb.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?db=patanderson 9654 Baltimore Avenue, Laurel, Maryland 20723

Helena Arkansas Apl the 12 1865 My Dear Elizabeth I seat my self to inform you that this rainey morning finds me well and harty hopeing that this may find you & all well. The camp is jublient over the recent victory of the Union Army An last night at 11 P.M. we got a dispatch from Richmond stating that Lee had surenderd himself and his whole Army to Lieut. General Grant so you see the Army of Northern Virginia is gon ¦¦¦ and with it we may predict that the Rebelion is gon ¦¦¦ too the boys are all runing through camp in grat excitement and soon we are expecting to here old Fort Curtis belch fourth in peals of thunder such as hardly ever herd of 200 rounds are orderd to be fired. Who can expect to to do otherwise than to throw up his hat and halow hurah for the Union now Lizzie look for peace for here it comes in all its beauty The mail has come and I was fooled shure enough with your Apl fool letter but I am so surprised at Eaf letter that I am realy mad when may mail befour I would be run over that way I would sacrifice my life on the spot dear dear me Lizzie I am so surprised that Eaf had no more sence than to give his note - Well this world is made up of Coruption Lizzie be carfull dont say much about it let every one take care of his own affairs for you must suffer from such Vagabonds as prowl through that God for saken Country The draft is sweeping stakes in Hamilton I would rather have born half the expense of a Law Soot my self than to had Eaf to have don so Selma Alabama has be captured and the rebelion is going up in all sids 5 Men in Co A is drafted and we are having a big laugh over it. Hamilton County has got a fare set of Officers they have as many more men to furnish on account of having men on the role that cannot be drafted. We are looking for the pay master in a few days but whether we look in vain or not I am not able to say I hope not we have a powerfull chance of rain here latly infact it rains nearly all the time I have not drawed horses yet my duty consists in choping wood for camp halling feed halling rations the mounted men do picket duty cover gard & so on Oscar McGhee is on provo gard down in town. Give my respects to Betty and tel her I say for her to stay where she is and not run off to Ky Give my respects to Eliza and and tel her when I come home again I will come to see her Give my respects to sister Martha & Jimey kiss the baby or Alice for me and tel George that I am coming home again in a few months to stay with him I have not herd from P L Hooker yet The river is very full yet The boys are puting on the stile in a hury paper colars has got very plentiful again since recovering from the Blo[torn possibly blood] the got on the red river campaign you [torn] the rebels took a lot of paper collars from Banks Mareges Two of our boys are mared in town one was mared last night at 8 P.M. of Co. C One of the boys that was wounded in that litle fight that I was in died the other day John Mabery is geting beter R. W. Phelps is very sick in Regt Hospitle Martin Daley is still grunting Phelps sent word for some one to read of the captur of the rebel Army you see the soldiers hart is in the war. the mail cam in while I was writing an just as I coment and I took your Apl letter broke it open and the litle peace draft out on the table I took it up and sean the inscription be carfull then I thought of a likeness then of (hare) then ps stamps then ( as I was geting it open) of kisses and so you see I was fooled never mind I will pay you for it when I get home I thought of sending you one but did not as I thought the one I left would do when exposed to vew but it was received in March but if it will not do [torn] Apl fool I can say that I stole a (March) yours truly Mac Patrick J. Anderson http://worldconnect.genealogy.rootsweb.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?db=patanderson 9654 Baltimore Avenue, Laurel, Maryland 20723

Helena Arkansas April 1st 1865 My Dearest Lizzie once more the time for writing to home has (after 2 or three days of seaming long duration) come. I thought according the the way I get my letter or yours, that you would get this next saturday evening and that is the time that some one from the Country is more likely to go to town I received yours of the 22nd and I think it was the last letter I ever get from you. days seamd like weeks after I got back and in a week I wanted to go home worse than I ever did I am well pleased with the extention of the yard and think it will help the looks of the place considerable. there wants to be a walk of 10 feet wide wide enough to alow a bugy to pass from the old yard to the lain gate and in eather side of this walk is needed small flower trees not large ones & flowers of all kinds but back a little say 8 feet from the walk should be large trees such as taim chery ceeder or so forth The town is still under water all but our camp which we leveyed in and it does fine two for it keep out all the wether only a litle seep through and we pump it out a grate many have boats & every where we go we go in boats except on picket we go around the levey and get out only a few have drawn horses yet 6 or 7 of Co A we all have drawn new sadels & new riging out and out such spurs bridels halters sadle blankets & soon John Clarke has got well & looks harty - tel Margret that the Army is the best place for John & me for in traveling 1000 milds & doing without sleep from the 28" of feb to the 7" of March at which time I got home and I was not well by a long shot but did not get very sick till on my way back when I liked to have get down but perserverance helpt to keep me up & when I got back all the boys was suprised to see me look so bad but I have recoverd now & have once more got to my old weight 135 pounds and being at home seamed like a dream to me infact I could not enjoy my self at home for my stay was so short and aware as I was that soon I was to leave all that was dear to me in this world The mail has just come in and I run out to see if I should be the lucky one to get a letter but no letter for me but the Union Eagle came and that is next to a letter from Home tho it contained nothing very interesting except the Cronicles of Power which I thought very good. I see in the papers that pay masters is at Memphis & Litle Rock two and soon I shal expect to be paid off tho no talk of it now but there will be no talk for he will be here the 1st thing we know. 6 new recruits came to Co A the other day 4 out of 6 is sick allredy the boys have a heap of fun out of them they are so green The news from Sherman Schofeald Grant and Tery is of the best quality two batles in which we was victorious severl thousands of prisners fell in to our hands Gold is down to 158 1/2 March the 27 has somes news in it if it proves to be so is the whol thing it self in which the southern Leaders have give up the Confedracy in despondency General Lee has said that no human power can save the Confedracy now and some 35 Congressman of the (Cfdcy) have gon in favor of making peace the evidence is circumstantial if true it is of grat importance Grate asertions are being mad some offer to bet others say that the southern Confedracy is gon up some say that peace will be made in 2 months My opinion is that the war is nearer to an end now than it has been yet or here tofour the fighting is said to be over by all hands I sent a letter to George Cottingham but have received no answer as yet I have not received a letter from P. L. Hooker in 2 months the Central still comes in its unclean aperance shurly I love that paper and all its readers and espeshely one. Lizzie give us a letter in the Central on some subject say on the pleasintness of Home. you are good enough writer spelling good is the mane point I solved enigma A. I tel you it was hard some are so easily solved that I am ashamed to send them Clarion Hamlin still sends me the Northwestern Advocate she omits taring off her name now it may be she has learnd that I am a mared man and her name is of no consequnce if she got my last letter she learnd that look my paper is full good by Lizzie Mac [postscript written sideways over the main text] this is 3 letters since I got back I get no letters from any one only home ever now nor I do not write as have not since I got back to any one but home I sent a letter to P. L. at Cairo I will write to vince again soon. Patrick J. Anderson http://worldconnect.genealogy.rootsweb.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?db=patanderson 9654 Baltimore Avenue, Laurel, Maryland 20723

Phyllis, I could not find any reference to the Hutson Cemetery in the Hamilton County, Cemetery Book, but did find John P. Hutson born 1827, died 1895 and his wife Eliza C. born 1843 and died 1885, buried in a cemetery on the T. Erkman Farm, McLeansboro Township, Section 24, South of the Methodist Church. There is also a David T. (and wife Elizabeth), Paul E. Hutson (a Mason), Mary E. wife of U, Edgar and his wife Eliza. Charles W. Hutson born 1875 and died 1900. Other names in this small cemetery are Barron, Campbell, Faulkner, Jennings, Sloan, Shuster, Stuart, Upchurch and Wilson. Darlene

[letterhead]U. S. Christian Commission Rooms Cairo, Ill., March 15th 1865 My Dearest Elizabeth this morning finds me in this place after quite a tiersome travel I had to walk nearly all the way to Ashley & day befour yesterday evening I had a lite chill & fevor & and at Ashly found my self quite unwell indeed we left Ashly yesterday at 2 P.M. & on the cars I had another chill litle harder & more fevor and last night I was very sick all night Perhaps tho I took it harder on account of not being sick so long this morning I eat some brakefast & I feal some better tho I have a very trublesum cold and I am very unwell whether I will have a chill this eavning I am unable to tell I hope not at least. I wish this may find you well & cherfull = I could not write at Ashly on account of time & money at his place we found frends we got our boys out at Mt Vernon by bailing then at 1000 dollars Bail I was not in the bond some of us were for nocking down the jail but but a diferent corse was taken and perhaps it was best al went off nice & quiet I do not know at what time we will leave here tho some time this eavning I had to pay 2 dollars & 5 cents to come from Ashley to Cairo our transportation was not good I am happy of my visit home Pleased to find my family in good helth tho sory to find times so hard & to learn that my family would have to live so close to get along you must live in hopes of seeing better times yet and put your trust in God I got to town at sunup the morning I left I brased my self & stood the storm of leaving my family well til after I get past Uncle Enochs then I could not restrain from crying to save my life and I think it helpt me two for afterwards I felt beter there is lots of recruits at the soldiers rest with a gard after them. My regt was still at Helena last friday I hope Lizzie that you may be pleasing and happy here is a druncan soldier come in to ask for favors but his is not noticed Oh whiskey has ruind a many a man well Lizzie take care of your self and remember me to be yours truly without fail M A Hooker Patrick J. Anderson http://worldconnect.genealogy.rootsweb.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?db=patanderson 9654 Baltimore Avenue, Laurel, Maryland 20723

In addition to the letters, I have McAllister Hookers day book from the year 1865. It is very similar to the books that banks send out to day with an inch or two of space to make notations about activities or appointments for the day. Since the next letter needs some background I am including McAllisters entries for feb-mar 1865. I appeears after his recent concern for the financial affairs of his wife, he took the opportunity upon being paid to visit home. ______________________________ February, Monday, 27, 1865. wether beautiful I am in camp to day big talk of going south soon Tuesday, 28, we mustered for pay to day 8 months due us wether bad I started up the river to escort prisners got to memphis March, Wednesday, 1, at day light took on coal & wood & runs on stopt at midnight on account of rain & darkness March, Thursday, 2, 1865. steamed up & started on at 4 A. M. pased Killumadrea at 2 P.M. we got to Cairo at Friday, 3, 1 A. M. this morning 11 A. M. we are at the soldiers home in Cairo Ills Saturday, 4. very rainey day I am in the Christian Commission and get in the cars at 8 & started at 11 P.M. for Chicago run all night March, Sunday, 5, 1865. we got to Chicago this morning at 8 A. M. get of the cars & take the prisoners to Camp Bizla. get back to the soldiers home and eat supper. we started back on the cars at 8 P. M. Monday, 6, we past Centralia at day light and at ¦¦ 12 get off at Ashley. eat ¦¦¦¦¦ I started on foot for home. hired a horse & rode to ¦¦¦¦ got to Mount Vernon at dark. Tuesday, 7, slept last night at ¦¦¦ ¦¦¦ south of Mount Vernon got up & started at daylight eat breakfast at 8 & get home at 3 P. M. found all well March, Wednesday, 8, 1865. I am at home this morning, raining hard. We went to Mrs. Cottinghams this evening to see them Thursday, 9, we went home this evening eat dinner at Liz ¦¦¦¦¦¦¦ today got home at dark. Friday, 10, Beautiful day. I was at home today. March, Saturday, 11, 1865. Elizabeth and Myself went to town to day paid our taxes & did other business & returned home at night. Sunday, 12, This is a beautiful day I stade at home all day some visitors came during the day I made arangements to start back to 87 at Helena Monday, 13, I started at 4 A. M. got to town at sun up & we got to Mt Vernon at night stade all night at a meeting house two miles from Mt Vernon March, Tuesday, 14, 1865. we started at 3 A. M. we get to Ashley at 10 A. M. & get on the cars at 3 P. M. & we get Cairo at 9 P. m. & stade at the soldiers home. Wednesday, 15, we get on the steamer Niagra at 12 & started at 2 P. M. we had on board some women banisht from Mo. to Ark. Thursday, 16, We past Memphis at 4 P. M. wether milde we got started from Memphis at dark March, Friday, 17, 1865. I get to Helena at 3 A. M. found the 87 still here found the boys all rite fine day all well & quiet Saturday, 18, I was on cover gard to day but returned soon to camp Sunday, 19, This is a beautifull day I am in camp I wrote 4 letters March, Monday, 20, 1865. cloudy & rainy I am in camp to day we drawed rations to day we had inspection to day by Col. of the Cal troops Tuesday, 21, Clear & windy I was doing nothing to day only cleaning my gun & so on Wednesday, 22, Beautifull day I am in camp to day there is nothing of interest going on river full & still rizing Patrick J. Anderson http://worldconnect.genealogy.rootsweb.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?db=patanderson 9654 Baltimore Avenue, Laurel, Maryland 20723

Helena Arkansas February the 25th 1865 My Dear Elizabeth yours of the 14th inst caim to hand last night and after a long night of bad dreams I shal endevor to write to you after reading your letter I was trubeld I must confess that I have never been so trubled since I have been in the service I was ciphering when the mail caim & if some of my folks had been dead I do not beleave I would have felt worse I after reading tride to work a some but could not do anything couldent hardly tel how much 7 times 8 was I went to role call & then to bed but could not sleep til late in the night then such dreams of my family sufering for the nesarys of life I got up this morning my brest hurt me & I feel quite unwell My folks had allways don tolerable well and I felt all rite but what to promis my self in the future I can not tel I have calmly considered the contents of the letter and it may be that I am drinking truble before it comes but be that as it may you must join in with me to look in to the future a litle and help me to remedy the Eavels that seam to only want a litle time to develop them selves in full forse. Please bare with me while I look for a moment the 15th day of December I sent 40 dollars home I had it in my head that we did not owe any person but mabe we did be that tho as it may by the 15th day of (Feb) it was all gon ($20) dollars a month (now you must understand) I do not say that the money was not used to a good advantage but how are we to live at such an expense is the question we must not give up to dispare but try if posable to stop some of such tyranical expenses I am only geting 16 dollars a month & dont get that reglar you see it has been 8 months since I have been paid off & it being so long between payments I thought of geting some money to send home as some of the boys was wanting to lend money to me as they new I was good (so I did send 40 dollars) our expence being 4 dollars more than our income at that rate we will spend near 50 dollars a year & in 8 years spend enough to take our litle home to pay our debts & then come to want and our children thrown out on the mercys of the world without education or frends I know that you have a larger family than usial but notwithstanding we must stop some of such expense no mater what comes or goes Martha is with you it is true she is my sister and I must try to take care of her I beleave she can pay her way yes I think she can pay her board anyhow Jimey is big enought to pay his way and his mothers two and he must stay at home and work I will write to him and his mother you need not think that she will think you have been teling me any thing about her or Jimey all I speak from is from the 20 dollars a month expenses forgive me if I am to hard. for I am going to com out plain now you may depend the taxes is to pay yet & we have not the money to pay them they should have been paid the first of this month 2 more months and our land will be sold for taxes (shaim shaim) I know that things are very hy but hy or low we must not get them atall if we hant able Clothes shoes & Calico & demestic is all very hie but 20 dollars a month is out of reason and must be stopt that 40 is spent befour I draw it and has yet to be paid over if my family has to live hard and not have much to eat or much to ware it must be boarn or indured for I am in the army not to make money & set big dinars & feed the poure but to fight for my Country & put down this unGodly Rebelion so that we may live in peace in days to come. & all I get for my services the pitiful sum of 16 dollars a month & we must do on that at all haserds if it only gets dry bread & water you spoke of haveing a cooking stove and wanted to know is I would let you have the money as you would pay it back in next year) Well judging from former expenses I must confess that I have not got the money to lend as it will require all & more two to get Bread for my family to eat I would love for you to have the stove - but I have not got got the money to lend for that purpose nor I do not think that I will have you have charge of the family & all depends on you for managing the mater dont go over to complaining but go to work & make every thing around you work & all of you do your duty live peaceable & all will go well Lizzie read this to all the family dont keep it a secret you must maneg Martha must help you Jimey must work & George must two do what he can (nary stove this year) never mind that land mater but stay at home I as ever yours truly M. A. Hooker Patrick J. Anderson http://worldconnect.genealogy.rootsweb.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?db=patanderson 9654 Baltimore Avenue, Laurel, Maryland 20723

Helena Ark February the 22nd 65 Lizzie I wish you would go up to Harret Daleys & get her to go to Jasper Bairds place joining the place that Martin Daley bought and look at it and see how you like it get some man to go with you that is if he has not sold it yet there is 80 acres in it just enough for me. & if it is not to low I want it if it is wet I do not want it you need not tel any thing about your place just look at it & report to me how you like it see if the house is in a used place as could be made nice report to me all about it from what I can learn about it I think it will soot you & me to a ¦inction see if the house can be mad with a litle expense to be a better place than yours I have paide for you paper once & if they send it to you let them send it in do not tel them to quit they send two to me. some one pays for it I dont if you dont like the place let me know I am yours Mac Patrick J. Anderson http://worldconnect.genealogy.rootsweb.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?db=patanderson 9654 Baltimore Avenue, Laurel, Maryland 20723

Helena Ark Feb the 20/65 Dearest Elizabeth yours by Samuel Merman caim safe to me and found me well and harty as also this leaves me I have not written by mail but as you may look for a letter by Sam I will write you a short letter you must plant a garden and what ground you do not want rent out to some good hand be shure and get your tax receipt for 64 rit off if you havent Raise all the vegetables you can for you will run short of something to eat this sumer plant a pach of molases corn to make molases for next winter clean out the stable & put the manure in your cabege pills get some Irish potatoes & plant but dont plant any for the weeds Keep the calves & sheep off the grass now & let it make a good crop put up the fence around on the out sid fence straten up the lain fance & sweep the floor but no the yard let the grass gro in the yard give the old cow salt and promis her corn next year Keep George goin to scool & tel Alice to keep her face clean [portion torn out] send him & Jimey to sunday scool trim the aple trees up nice and drive a stake besid the weeker ones buy bacon instid of pork rais chickens & eat in place of meat by a sow that is going to have pigs & try to rais some shoats this sumer look to the future as well as the present dont sell your calvs but try to get 2 or 3 more try to get that cow that is lost So I must quit I am as ever yours truly I am still yours M A Hooker Patrick J. Anderson http://worldconnect.genealogy.rootsweb.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?db=patanderson 9654 Baltimore Avenue, Laurel, Maryland 20723

Helena Ark. February the 4th 1865 My Dearest Elizabeth yours of the 21 ult caim to hand yesterday evening it found me as this leaves me well and harty as I hope it may find you I do not realy know how long it has been since I have writen to you for I have been busy for a few days building a shanty to cook in as we have imploid a colerd woman to cook for us at 7 dollars a month to cook and wash for 7 of us she does mity well so far as to your farming I am not a farmer now probly if you will ask some one closer home you wont get beter information but as you asked me I will say that 2 or 3 acres of garden 2 or 3 in tobaco and 7 or 8 in corn will do very well that will be 12 acres and then weeds will be plenty dont scrach up the poorest land I will promis you if I live to help you house your tobaco if you and Martha have a patch let the pach all be in one patch and all work together as we do not expect lunch to be made but what is let it be for the good of all the family get som one to brake up your ground and not brake it up with your mare plant your corn in or about the 1st of May I beleave put 4 or 5 grains in a hill and hull all out but 2 George is geting along quite well in the way of learning you say that litle Alice is the pretiest childe I ever saw if she takes after her mother I have an Idier that she shurley is prety I do not wish you to think that I am insinuating on you; for I am clear of thinking otherwise than in complience with your remark about Alice only extending the compliment to her mother Well Lizzie Helena is very mudy now as the wether has been very soft for several days and so many horses in camp keeps the mud well sterd up the mail coms in nearly every day but very scatering so that there is no teling when a man will get a letter until it is handed to him the Central comes to me once a week do you get it from the press or from me dont make it the subject of your next letter but you may answer in few words Tel Eliza that I will get me a lot of fine paper and some day I will write to every body and tel them all I know and more two I will tel her and of you about the south and litle nigars and how the litle Black pups looks runing to scool with a slate under one arm and an atlass under the other and how the Brods do learn & how fine the look & how they strut & then Ile tel you how good I feel after fighting to free them an all this sort of thing and then I will tel you how som folks fret about it an how the cut up such as resist the draft build litle farts hold Chicago Conventions and how the spluter and snuff up there lips at a soldier and how litle a soldier feals slited at it; and how big they talk about braking the constitution about how the yankees ketch chickens & steel and how litle harm the rebles does; how they talk of southern rites and how inosent old Jeff Davis is and what a poore forsaken duplicated insignificant barbrious ignorant hag feather rail spliter old Lincoln is and worse that all luk elected for another term to be president of the U S of America ( by whome ) we the pepal of corse but you see the pepal is rong then if I did forget I will tell you how the soldiers talk not thos that goes home for you see them but those that never turns there back to the enemy then if you could here the soldiers talk of thoes white rag felows at home you shurly could not think much of them what a pity that some folks thinks that around some litle town as in some neighborhood is all the place in the world poor sily creaturs now you will get that letter in close proximity to the folowing programer and the prospections will be the main book its self the wind is blowing very hard from the North oh how cold you will have to cover up close tonight or you will freze sirtain so no more now only hoping that you may be well when this comes to hand I am as ever yours truly Direct to M" A" Hooker 87" Ills" Vols" Co" A" Helena, Ark. dont put it this way M. A. Hooker... thoes dots dont do well 87" Ills" Vols" Co "A" The candle is going out and if I was at home to night I could hug you all about and that a buley verse I am so shamed of it that I would tare it out if it did not make a hole in the paper M A Hooker Patrick J. Anderson http://worldconnect.genealogy.rootsweb.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?db=patanderson 9654 Baltimore Avenue, Laurel, Maryland 20723

I have a chance for a quick (HALF-dAY!) visit to Hamilton Co. on this Mon or Tues. A piece of my family puzzle lies there in the Hutson Cemetery: a KNOWN ancestor, JOHN PINKNEY HUTSON, son to my gggrandfather John Hutson (c. 1792-1871 NC>Livingston Co KY), is buried there with his wife and some of their children with a bunch of Hamilton County Hutsons!!!! Surely these Hutsons are related! But how! Can anyone help me with leads, info on these Hutsons? I suspect that all of us are connected to the Chamberlain Hutson/Hudson of NC, but it's the proving that's hard. A hint also is that we have the first name MOSES a lot. After old John Hutson's death in Livingston Co KY, the siblings sued their youngest brother who inherited everything and lost the suit. My ggrandfather eventually moved to Alabama. Looks like John Pinkney Hutson moved to Hamilton Co--to be with relatives of some connection? Also, does anyone know directions to the Hutson Cem? Any leads, help would be so greatly appreciated, Phyllis Hutson Richerson

Steve, Sharon Easley published a book on Garrison Cemetery in 1998. No Jordon is listed as being buried there. However, they probably are in unmarked graves. Sorry. Shirls