Helena Ark. January the 29th 1864[sic] My Dearest Elizabeth I seat my self to write you a letter this leaves me well and harty hoping that this may find you all well We have had some very cold wether for this country and it seames to me for any country Ice is in good scating order in the litle ponds around Town and the ground is froze some 7 or 8 inches deep we have very confertable quarters to live in and a nice camp General Buferd is making our Regt put on more stile than we ever did befor Capt Bight is under arest and is to be courtmarsheld for mistaking a Cols hous for a house of bad women and broke in to it he will very likely be dismist from the sevis or worse the last letter from you bore the date of the 13th of January I received a letter from Elizabeth Pritchett to day she tels me of severl good things one of you being as prety as when you mared and another of Maries being mareed I am studeing arithmatic I have got me one & slate & now of nights when I am in camp I am studeing I am thinking that if I shal ever get home I will have to fashon somthing more congenial to my helth than hard work or else the armey with all its good and helthy qualities will induce me thither again 3 years sevis in the army maks a man love it and now you may account for men reinlisting tho we are denide that chance of reinlisting The Opinion is that we will go out of the sevis in August next if so my notion is to retier from the servis for life at least so long as I have a family to take care of A B Porter has come back he says that Julies is going to be mareed to Dave Sanderfurd in a day or two after he left the gurrillers tride to get hold of him while he was there This place is a very nice litle town There is a grate talk up in camp about Blairs mission to Richmond & talk of peace which may be quite distant I will send you the Central it is sent to me by some one I dont know who I have no more to write at this time I am still your most obedient sevant & Lover till deth shal us part Beleave me I am all rite M A Hooker to his beter half Direct to M A Hooker Co A 87 Ills Vols Helena Ark 3 hours later PM This leaves me well & harty hoping that this may reach you in due time & finds you well and harty Bill Oneal is down here & says that the pepal is doing all they can to keep from the draft he says that George Herd has squeese & puld at his bag till it sweld up & he was examined & got his exemption papers so he is clear of the draft now but under some pain in the (-) I am sory the boys are voluntering I wanted the draft to come & sweep stakes Bill is a powerfull lier & keeps the boys allways in an uproar of laughtur he tels how the boys are dreding the draft 3 P.M. The Hamilton paper has turned Union & the boys are subscribing for it I get two reglar paper a week the Northwestern & the Central So I will close hoping to here from you soon I am your true husband til deth Helena Ark Patrick J. Anderson http://worldconnect.genealogy.rootsweb.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?db=patanderson 9654 Baltimore Avenue, Laurel, Maryland 20723

Helena Philips Co. Ark January 13/64[sic] My Dearest Elizabeth yours of January the 1st caime to hand yesterday evening accompanyed by one of Dec 28 also both of them full of stamps there is not much use for them here now as I have not sean a paper in half month only what costs 20 to 25 cts apeace and I do not expect to buy many here now for some time; this leavs me well and harty hoping that this may find you well all the boys are generaly well we have got well fixd again we have built a house 12 by 14 for 8 of us with a good fier place to it and we live now like a set of gentlemen --- tho this place is mity mudy when it is not frozen In regards to our time being out I can tel you all I know Col John M Crebs says that he thinks we will go out the 15th day of next August as that is the time the Regt was Organized and all that we contracted for but I think that we will stay til the 22nd day of September that is as long as they can keep us any way but we count to the 13" of August as that is as long as I contracted for we had some snow the 10 day of this month but it soon melted off night befour last I was on picket out 3 milds from here on the Litle Rock road it was a very cold night I stood from 9 to 11 by my self set on my horse in the road and I declare I like to froze at 11 I was released and then I went to the shanty and slept well til morning yesterday after the thaw it was very mudy while I was on picket there was lots of citizens caime in to the lins the brot in cotton and took out lots of goods such as clothing and provisions I have not herd from posey in a long time infact I have nearly quit geting letters from any other source only from home I do not feal like writing to day I have a bad cold ther was a good many of the boys that is at home reported this morning absent without leave Mabery & Gollehur tel John Clark to not stay over his time for thoes boys that do will be cortmarshaled and from what I can learn it is best to come back Capt Anderson was examined when he came back 7 months from to day my time will be up if you wil put 100 dollars away for hard times I will promis to send you anough to live on without it as we are expecting to draw money in a short time and I am going to send home 100 dollars when we do and anough to help you to live besids afterwards 6 months 16 6 96 dollars I can make that 100 if you will put it away for hard times and then we will draw in two or 3 months and I can send you some more I am yours truly M A Hooker to Elizabeth Helena direct to 87 Ills Helena, Ark Patrick J. Anderson http://worldconnect.genealogy.rootsweb.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?db=patanderson 9654 Baltimore Avenue, Laurel, Maryland 20723

1865 Helena Arkansas January the 7"/65 My Dearest Elizabeth I hasten to drop you a few lines to inform you that I am well & harty and that I have moved since I writen to you last we got orders to pack up immedeatily yesterday morning and at 10 A.M. we was all on board the steamers Reserve and John H Dickey and started for this place distend 50 milds whare we arived this morning some time befour day light and I have fixt me a litle shabang to sleep in till we get houses built so you see a soldiers fate moved away from whare we had good warm shantys rite in the midel of winter and thrown out of doors to eather build more or stay out in the wether tho the Col says he is going to have good houses built in a few days and some men have gon to day to cut logs to build with I have a good place considering evry thing to sleep to night tho no fier place I think that I will not freeze and by time you get this I shal probely have a good house to stay in Mart and me had our hay to sleep on and our bunk and I have my litle writing table fixt up which is the main part of a soldiers house furniture on which I am writing and the mud since this mornings freeze has get off is very cold and to night has the apearance of being cold we have not sean any snow this winter tho the ground was froze hard anough this morning to rase up a barn I under stand that we have to do picket duty here which will be some harder on us and I am looking to eather be on to night or tomorow night. the sun is geting low and the cold begins to pinch me now and you will have to put up with a short letter for my toes is very cold now and I shal have to close I should not have writen atall til I had a good chance but thinking that I should be on duty tomorow and it would be severl days befour we could be fixt up comfortable and of corse I dont write much now but I will make it up in the future Patrick J. Anderson http://worldconnect.genealogy.rootsweb.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?db=patanderson 9654 Baltimore Avenue, Laurel, Maryland 20723

Mouth of White River Ark January the 1st 1865 My Dearest Elizabeth This beautiful day the 1st day of the year the 1st day of the weak & the month naturaly calls for a letter from me home to that home yes to my long sweet ??? come the habitation of my companion & children & connection this morning I with you set out on the stage of action for a new year a year that you or I never sean heretofour the year 65 has been a time or period that I intended to or expected to visit my old frends in Hamilton County Ills & Kentucky I have during the last year been in severl lite places & sean many hardships this morning I was Twelve months ago I was on the march from Newiberia La to Franklin La Many times have I regered in my mind a disignated year but 64 is the most conspicous of them all & should I be permited to return to a retierd life I shal ever remeber the year 64 I shal not nor do not look back with disgust but with delight & pride yes pride oh how glad I am that I have been some help in puting down this grate rebelion & sustaining our Glorious Union Last night was quite a lively time in camp at midnight at 12 seamed to be a geting time among thoes that did go to bed atall whisky was isued to all the troops Bells was rung lights throde up guns shot off & canons fierd that made the sandy shore trimble whare we are encampt I did not get up as I had just went to bed at 11 P.M. This morning things seamed to be some quieter tho all are generly lively all over camp News from all parts of the country is of the most encouraging kind Genl Thomas has completly whipt Good clean out of the Country & taken 10000 prisners & all his artilery Genl Sherman has taken savanna with all pertaining to a Gulf City & expect one of the grandest campains now on record Genl Samuelson had mad a successful raid through the bogus Confedracy from Batenrouge to Mobeal Bay & infested Mobeal & it is thought theat Mobeal will soon fall Sherman says he is going to take Charlston & he is apt to do what he says he will do if Lee leavs Richmond to go & look after his devastated Confedracy Grant will walk in to the Capital & point the finger of reasin at the grate rebel Cheaftian some say that Grant will not take Richmond so they who are of litle faith said he would not take Vicksburg Not withstanding all the perdictions of of Eavel & false profits our cause is progressing & the Rebelion is sloly crumbling all ready they are complaining that there flag is not of deep enough a cular & are going to put in more red so it will look briter while on the other hand the stars & strips flots more brillent & looks more & more briter & this morning they seam to be of the deepest hue I forever flot that standerd sheet & my strong desier & hope is that it may wave over all the land ere the year 65 shal close up his annual list; but I am not teling what I ought to but my mind rapt up in my countrys servis & I love to write about it I am well & harty this morning earnestly hoping that this may find you all well I should have claimd your Christmas gift if I had thought that I could have collected the bill but I thought that I would wate til next Christmas & then mabe I will be at home I should have sent you a nice present for a new years gift if I had it ready but it will not be ready in time so I send you one of not so much value but expressing as much respect as if it was worth 10 dollars I did imploy one of the boys to make me a gold ring but his hand got sour & he could not so saying I close hoping to be with you next new year MAC tel Eaf if he is not gon that I am in hopes that he will have a happy tim live to an old age but you must ask him for me what he would take for him self now & lent out the roten tel him that I am posted some in milertary maters & that I think will just get to Ky in time for a draft & then oh then he will be under for ever poare felow I am sory but cant cry tel Charly Sutten that if any Country was torn up & over run with theaving bands lik this is I would be in the army at all haserds & if his is a Lincoln man let him sho it by his conduct we dont want Lincoln men now nor McLelland we war men fighting we brave men men that is mot affrade to go to the front & fight for there Country I have no simpathy for Lincoln men if they are not all ones for the war to last end Lizzie I hope you will endever to cary on things to the best advantage trying to content & peaceable I know that many things is in the way but I hope that all may continue quiet til I come home so I close I am yours truly till deth M A Hooker Patrick J. Anderson http://worldconnect.genealogy.rootsweb.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?db=patanderson 9654 Baltimore Avenue, Laurel, Maryland 20723

Steve, I have the HAMILTON COUNTY CEMETERIES AND PROBATE INDEX, written by Harriet B. Vaught, Zelia Davis, Zella Daily and Pat Gholson. I could not find anything on Jordans. I think this was published in the 1960s. Darlene

Dear Friends, Is there a transcription available of Garrison Cemetery? It is about 3 miles Northeast of Belle Prairie. I have at least two ancestors buried there and would be very interested to know what is on their tombstones. Their names are William and Margaret Jordan and are presumably buried near each other. Birth dates are 1836 and 1843, respectively. Steve Terrell steveterrell@erols.com

Hi Steve! Yes, Carol has parts of it on her Hamilton Co., web sit and that URL is: http://carolyar.com/Illinois/HamiltonCounty.htm When you get there, scroll down and click on Cemetery, then look for Garrison. If you do not find it, contact me and I'll try to find my papers (packed to move). Thanks! Dianna Wayne Co., IL Coordinator: http://www.rootsweb.com/~ilwayne host: http://www.iltrails.org/Wayne Yahoo Voice Chat id = d1anna46 AOL-IM id = dlwillie 1 Steve Terrell wrote: > > Dear Friends, > Is there a transcription available of Garrison Cemetery? It is about 3 miles Northeast of Belle Prairie. I have at least two ancestors buried there and would be very interested to know what is on their tombstones. Their names are William and Margaret Jordan and are presumably buried near each other. Birth dates are 1836 and 1843, respectively. > > Steve Terrell > steveterrell@erols.com >

Mouth of White River Arkansas Dec the 24th 1864 My Dearest Lizzie yours of Dec the 8th 13th & 14th caime to hand yesterday it found me well & harty as also this leaves me hoping that it may come to hand in due time & find you well you gessd that I was eating super as had eat & was making a fier in my tent on the 8th inst you mist it a long ways for I had just started up White River over the night of the 8th at 7 o clk P.M. I was some 25 milds from the mouth on board the steamer Lockwood & I stopt 45 milds from the mouth at 12 P & stade all night you said that I had converted Posey in to a Lincoln man & he had about converted me in to something else as to that I cannot say for I have a head of my owen you know you said that you was ashamed to direct a letter to him well now let me say rite here that a Capts place is a place of rank & he receives as much pay as a man in a white regt & is as much respected by the goverment & as to the honor there is as much honor in being a Commander of Negroes as to fight with them as beside them & a grate many of them out ranking a white man & I beleave there is as much honor in being a white man in a Negro Regt as there is in being a Negro in a Negro Regt as there is in being a Negro in a White Regt & as to Posey having to stay in the army 3 or 5 years I do not expect you are informed as to that for you must or should know that he is not obliged to stay a day longer than he sees fit to stay he can resign at pleasure if he tenders his resignation unconditional it must be axcepted you should in writing to him rank (Capt) in place of Mr & that proves that the letter is not to a Negro you said you did not have a nice dress to your naim now you know that I do not expect you to go wanting for cloths if they are hie I sent you 35 dollars not long ago which you said you had received now go to McLeansboro or some other hog hole & get you two dresses give nice Calico & charge it to me but pay for them when you get them & if you have not got money anough let me know & mabe I can send you some more by mail & if it is in my power to keep money there to get cloths for you & the children I will do so sirtain but my wages is only 16 dollars a month of corse I can not send money home much faster or more of it but you or my family is my first duty & then my contry next I have 8 months to stay yet & more than that I have no doubt but I have a hard spring campain befour me next spring whether I will com out safe or not I am not abel to tel but I shal put my trust in God but thare is no doubt now but what I have been thinking about trying to serve my country in the next 7 or 8 months to a beter advanteg for which I can be abel to give my family beter suport tho I mout loose frends or be reproved by some of my best frends I can but moan the loss of them & try to do my duty as best I can as to honor I never was very much blesd & of corse would not have to give up much of that as to my family I shal ever bear them in mind & use my utmost exertions to serve them as best I can I beleave I am true to my country & true to my family the later I am sirtain I am true to; the 40 dollars that I have sent home is to make you and the rest of the family comfortable through the winter I would send more if I had it I am your Husband truly Mac you must for my sake (as you say to me) write to Posey & give him your frendship & simpathys for he is in a responsable plase & needs some frends he has don well better than any of his connections remember now that if he gets kild his family will draw 50 dollars a month to live on & if a private dies his family only gets 8 dollars a month his family will receive as much honor from the U States as any tother Federal officer of the same rank My advice is think befour speaking tel Martha that she may go to sea Julia in the spring but she must let Jimey stay with you til I come home you must sea to his having clothes to ware I am yours truly M A Hooker Co A 87 Ills Vols _______________________ Martha was staying with Elizabeth and Julia was his sister in KY Patrick J. Anderson http://worldconnect.genealogy.rootsweb.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?db=patanderson 9654 Baltimore Avenue, Laurel, Maryland 20723

Mouth of White Riv Arkansas Dec the 15 1864 My Dear Lizzie I have just returned from a visit up White River distance 180 milds to Dennals Bluff 40 milds from Litle Rock 15 of us went up to escort a steamboat through I had a fine trip but very cold it sleeted & blowed as cold as I ever sean it tho we had a good place in her with a good stove but if I stept out of the cabin the wind seamed like it would show me it taken us 4 days to go but we had a much nicer time coming back we started up there on the 8th & yesterday at 11 o clk A.M. we started back on the fine steamer Granny Ogden & she run through in 17 hours & at 4 this morning we landed here I caim to my tent caim in & lit a candle & Mart told me there was 2 letters for me in my hose so soon I was reading a letter from my sweet Lizzie & she told me many prity things but you said you was barefooted but I gess that deficiency is made up by this [torn] The boys went on a scout while I was gon & they captured 6 or 7 prisners & got what meat & potatoes they wanted & our mess has got a base full of fesh meat after my ride of nearly 400 milds through the wind I felt rather stuped & I lade down & slept a while this morning & then I got up & washd & blacked my boots washd a cureed my horse & eat brekfast & met around a litle & come in & commenct writing I am well & harty as comon hoping that this may find you well While I was at the bluff I sean large crowds of refugees coming in from the contry evry train from Litle Rock brot a large crowd of women men & children all lookt poore & destitute some ladies looked like in former days they had been blesd with welth education and refinment now they are raged poore & sufering having nothing with them but a few old time warm quilts the way they generly do is to desert the rebel army gether there familys & brake for the Union lines not a few does this sean lots of them & men for the Rock told me that [torn] 12 & 14 per day com in that way I asked sevrl of them whare they was going & the allways said to Illinois one fellow who said he had served 3 years in the rebel army was going to Hamilton County you must tel ant Huldy that I have picked out a place for me & unkle go to live in Arkansas the place is 45 milds above St Charles & 45 below the bluff & 80 milds from Litle Rock on White River where there is lots of Bear Deer turkey & coons & plenty of Ash timber & cord wood is 4 dollars a cord & catle horses can live all the time without feeding cain braks lots of them a man could do well when the war is over the River is a beautifull stream & allways navigable at all times of the year there is not talk of drawing money I cant tel when we will draw we have given out geting any more now for a while A B Porter has gon home & now I will close hoping to here from home soon you must write me a Christmas letter let me know when your Birthday is & how old you are I am Yours truly Mac ______________________________ Mac was already too late ELizabeths birthday was October 23, 1839 Patrick J. Anderson http://worldconnect.genealogy.rootsweb.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?db=patanderson 9654 Baltimore Avenue, Laurel, Maryland 20723

In a message dated 5/1/02 1:21:28 AM Eastern Daylight Time, joslake@attglobal.net writes: > Subj: 87th Illinois Mounted Infantry > Date: 5/1/02 1:21:28 AM Eastern Daylight Time > From: joslake@attglobal.net (Joseph E. Lake) > Reply-to: <A HREF="mailto:joslake@attglobal.net">joslake@attglobal.net</A> > To: PatAnder73@aol.com > > > > > Mr Anderson: I've been reading your series of letter by Mac Hooker, of the > above unit, with growing interest. Not a good speller, but a pretty > perceptive, candid & solid individual apparently. > > I receive them because I, along with many others, subscribe to a Rootsweb > Screen and I receive messages which include my surname or variant spellings > of same including Leek and Leak. A lot of Salt Lake Cities and Lake > Michigans as well. > > Hooker mentions, in almost every letter, a Peter Leek/Leak. A number of my > surname families lived in Illinois "on the way west", so I'm wondering if > you > know anything more about Peter Leek/Leak, such as home county, parents, etc. > > I could check it out the standard way but I thought I'd try the easy way > first and ask you. > Thanks very much. > > Patrick J. Anderson http://worldconnect.genealogy.rootsweb.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?db=patanderson 9654 Baltimore Avenue, Laurel, Maryland 20723

Susan, McAllister hooer survived Vicksburg. The monument lists those who were present at the battle from the 87th Patrick J. Anderson http://worldconnect.genealogy.rootsweb.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?db=patanderson 9654 Baltimore Avenue, Laurel, Maryland 20723

I will be unsubing for couple of months [will send correct form]...we are moving back to the metro Atlanta area...will be back on line in July ...busy packing and planning....just thought I'd inform all "Hamilton Folks" at once.. Later, Barb "Gibson" Marcovecchio in Savannah...soon to be McDonough,GA.

As ridiculous as this is going to sound, please tell me that is not his name listed at Vicksburg! I have sat here each evening and read those letters. The ones that you sent tonight were so sweet, so I was looking at the dates. I realized he was not too far from going home, and it must really be on his mind. I casually went through the roster for Vicksburg that you sent, and almost started crying myself when I saw his name! Thanks so much for sharing those. It really gives an inside look into the thoughts of these men. On a flip note, by gr gr grandfather is also buried at Vickburg, but he was on the "other" side. Susan

Company A Roster Source: 87th Illinois Infantry Vicksburg Monument CAPTAIN JOHN T. ANDERSON 1ST LIEUT. ROBERT L. MEADOR 2ND LIEUT. JOHN W. RICHARDSON SERGEANTS WILLIAM B. CAREY SAMUEL R. BOND WARNER P. ANDERSON JOHN DE WITT TIMOTHY P. WAKEFIELD CORPORALS JAMES M. WELDIN VALENTINE RATHBONE ANDREW J. WRIGHT MASTIN B. DAILEY GEORGE W. SODDERS SPENCER GREEN WILLIAM S. PROCTOR MUSICIANS HENRY FRAZIER ACEL C. JOHNSON WAGONER GABRIEL W. SULLINGER PRIVATES JOHN BARNES HENRY BEACHUM WILBURNE BOND MIAL P. BOSWITH JAMES A. BOYSTER ZACH. H. BOWERS ENOS A. BURTON GEORGE W. CAREY ROBERT H. CAREY WESLEY CAREY PETER CARLIN JOHN A. CLARK JOHN W. DALE ARABIA A. DAILY TILLMAN DIXON TIMOTHY DAVIS WILLIAM R. ECHLES EBENEZER GAGE HENRY GOLLEHUR ARCHALUS J. GOSSAGE JAMES L. GOSSAGE JOHN W. GOWENS ANDREW J. QUILL CHARLES C. GULICK NICHOLAS R. GULICK AUSTIN HOLLAND MC ALLIS A. HOOKER M. P. HUFFSTUTLER ALFRED JUDD JOHN C. JUDD PETER LEEK GOLDEN L. LOVIN MARTIN MANN HENRY E. MANNING JOHN MAYBERRY JASPER MAYFIELD OSCAR S. MC GEE JOHN MOORE STEPHEN R. MOORE WILLIAM MOORE FRANKLIN MORRIS JACOB L. MYERS JOHN MYERS WILLIAM MYERS ROBERT W. PHELPS ABRAHAM B. PORTER JOHN PRITCHETT SAM D. RICHARDSON PHILIP SCOTT GEORGE W. SMITH OWEN M. SMITH CHARLES SNOVER JOHN STANDERFER ISAAC STELLE JACOB STELLE MARTIN L. WARTMEN ELISHA R. WILLIAMS MASTIN WILLIAMS Patrick J. Anderson http://worldconnect.genealogy.rootsweb.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?db=patanderson 9654 Baltimore Avenue, Laurel, Maryland 20723

Mouth of White R Ark Monday night Nov the 29 1864 My Dear Elizabeth Yours of the 20th inst caime to hand last night it found me well & harty as also this leaves me hoping earnestly that it may find you & all well; & now at the begining let me insert in this a memorandum of Saturday the 19 inst as you expresd a wish to know what I was doing on that day & you will sea that you was rite in one gess (saturday 19 Nov 7 A. M. Cold & drizly morning I am in my shanty writing letters I wrote on to Lizzie one to Mrs Tomlin (of Ills) very mudy to day steamer Gladiator went up I am in camp all day I am well & harty oh when this cruil was is over) (taken from my memorandum book) (now let me give the 20 inst) 20 Nov rainey morning blowing off rather cold from the north I am in camp to day I wrote 4 letters to day one to Lieut R R Davis mail came in I get 3 letters one from Lizzie one from P L Hooker & one from Marey Bevis 8 P.M. cold) to day I have been riving bords to cover my shed for my horse no prospects of leaving here yet some trups going to Memphis This is some of your McLeansboro Paper [editors note: its blue] some I got from Martin I have a quier of fine paper but this being on the table & Martin is seting on the box whare my paper is I thought this would do this time but I nearly allways write on such cheep paper as this when I write to some one else but you as when I write to the army as it is torn up any way I was at the landing just a few moments ago & the steamer Misouria caim down I went on board of her but had no sooner got on then the captain rang the bell to start & off I caim in a hurah for fear I must go to Vicksburg as futher but I stade long enough to sea that there was no mail & no papers later than the 26" which I had read some time ago so I came back to my shanty & tride to be content P L Hooker is geting a long very well now & in his last letter he solisited me to come & soldier with him a while saying that his Colonel had said that if I would come he would give me a Captains Commission & he urged me to excep it & come & be with him a while I supose he thought that the chance would be good as he spoke of seaing fine times & geting big pay I have not concluded to except yet stating to him that I did not know whether my qualifycasions would admit of it or not Sevrl of the boys is about geting sick furloughs to go home & I gess they will make it after a while Frank Morris John A Clark Mils Bosworth James Weldon Henry Golihur & Mike Mabery I say buley for them & I am glad to sea you so well satisfide for me not to come for I do not expect to get the chance I told John Clark that it would all be for the worse if he went home for in the long run I would have the advanteg of him as you know that there is times in a mared life that if procratinade is by far the most palitable & by being urged on only brings premature truble but again I have oftain herd it said that procrastination is the Theaf of time but dont you think that that the loss of some litle time in some cases is in the out come is a gain; I do, in fact my time is geting quite short is it not would it not be beter if my time was procrastinated a litle or would it not & now being as you suggested that I do not come home now I shal ask of you if I had not beter stay a while longer than 8 months longer what do you say; if you say so I recon I would love to see you any how if no more for I am cirtanly yous truly with out a blemish ( now you will have something to write about Mac to Lizzie December the 1st 1864 I am well & harty the mail goes out to day there is some talk of peace hardly reliabel tho I am Yours as ever M A Hooker Peace hurah boys hurah what says you is peace made You know but now you peace Democrats has bee talking about peace & we quited & now it is out time we are talking about peace what do you think of that go you think we will make it I do Patrick J. Anderson http://worldconnect.genealogy.rootsweb.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?db=patanderson 9654 Baltimore Avenue, Laurel, Maryland 20723

Mouth of White Rr Ark November the 19th 1864 My Dearest Lizzie izent that the sweetest name this sid the Niagra Falls I think so at least there is the best & sweetest litle woman in Hamilton by that name that I had the plesure of being in the company of & to day it seams to me that I would give a hansom sum of money (if that would do) to imbrace my best frend on earth I would love to take an evening walk over meadows or greenfealds with you once more or sit & spend some beautifull evening on the portaco of my persuch dwelling or sit around a pleasent water fier & talk of pleasent things while the wild north wind was rushing through or around the fealds yes deep in the night is more pleasent when all but nature is silent the swine has become satisfide with his posision & & the litle calf having perenered[?] his alowance lays down to take his nights rest & the old cow having discharged the duty of chewing over the food lays down to rize at early morn yes then is the time to ingage in a happy conversation altho the mouse takes out his head & looks for a moment with some insolence but hes only trying to take advantage of the interlueds of silence that sometimes in conversation prevales do you ever remember of engaging such pleasent times as theas how silent & pleasent altho the cricket seams to think that he is all the orater in the asemble yet he is a small man & it does not interfer much oh how delitful it would be to spend one of thoes winter nights with you do you feal dreary & lonly if so be very cearful to not slip some of your time that in this life you may look back & think that you must have been happy Lizzie I would love to write all this letter on the subject of calm consideration & happy reflection but I have not space as I have some other facts to state I am well & harty hoping that this may find you & the litle children well we are stil here & no prospects of leaving here soon Posey is Captain P L Hooker now is the 125 W ¦ 6 I at Louisville the news of the reelection of Abe & the election of Andy Johnson was received here yesterday with loud cheers there is 10 or 12 steamers laying at the warf now troops is going up white river Good Evening Lizzie since eating dinar I shall resume my letter is not this a cold day how chily gloomey & dark the ruels on the paper is almost like the saim hid by darkness after dinar which consisted of pickeld pork pickeld beef biscuit homeny & beer You wil think gad among ( & so it is ) but a litle biter milk & buter & pumkin custerd would have been delicious oh yes this is the last fall month & nearly gon two soon december with its long cold nights will be on hand then you will nead good litle hot fiers to sit by wont you we dont stand picket now hope we wont then there I look out & it is drizling rane this is bad wether yes it is cold now where you are perhaps it is raning you must stay in the house & see that the litle children has good shoes & you two & mind about fier & do not get all burnd up this winter & have no place to live in is not this nice paper I think so but yours wil do to tare up as I have no way of taking care of them there comes a large steamer from New Orleans it is the Gladiator the river is very full now & rizing & steamer when they land slams up along side of our shantys the polar starr will be down to day then we will get a mail & now as my paper is full I bedone (yours) (Mac) Frank Morris is about to get a furlough he is sick if he comes home & you here of it you must go to see him for if he goes I have a litle money that I want to send home to you so when I draw I will not have so much to pay for expressing some of it I have had since I drawed last & as we are expecting to draw soone I shal not keep any when there is a chance to send without paying I am yours truly let only your self know when you have money on hand as there is danger Yours 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

Mouth of White River Arkansas November the 3rd 1864 Mr Dear Elizabeth With delite I sit my self down to write you a letter This leaves me well & harty hoping it may find you well you were very cute in your news on the subject of the wolen shirts & very romantic in you news concerning the management of the table or provisions ( I hope you are ) yes I think you are fully compitent for the crisis & wil endevor to conduct maters as near rite as the enigmas of the times requires & let the expenditures be as compatible as the the financial income as posable I supose you advised the serpant in the well to be kild ear it caime to the top of the well for fear it must bite the servant who was drawing the water how I would have been immused to have sean you draw up the reptile Well Lizzie laying all jokes aside I oftain think of the hardship you have to undergo & of times I [pages 2 and 3 missing] [written on a sixth fold of the letter] November the 4th 1864 This is a beautiful morning how delitful yet how suden may be the cut off from this world of sorrow Last Evening at 9 PM John W Sallee of Co A took a congestive chill & died at 11 Oclock last night he was som connection of Lieutenant Meadors [written sideways on a sixth fold of the letter] This morning finds me well & harty as this leaves me I have just went up to the commesary & weighd My weight is one hundred & Forty seven ie 147 pounds net That sounds big enough for a man dont it I am going a hunting tomorow to kill a bear mabe dont forget me Lizzie I am yours Truly Mac to Lizzie Hooker [written sideways on a sixth fold of the letter] I have no stamps now so excuse my maken looking letters 7 months from the 13th of this month my time is out one more good cow in the later part of the winter would be a grate thing for you but feed is scarse bacon wil be cheaper next sumer than pork is now Posie has been on a big scout in Virginia Litle McLelan is Dead in this part of the Army no one atall will suport him Give my respects to all but all my love for your self 2 Am your Mac to Lizzie Patrick J. Anderson http://worldconnect.genealogy.rootsweb.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?db=patanderson 9654 Baltimore Avenue, Laurel, Maryland 20723

[this is a half page torn from a whole and probably inserted between the folded pages of another letter. I do not know which original it belongs to and there is no clue from the content. It was contained with the letters before and after this segment] now my condition I am blest with the best helth that a man could desier I am provided with all that natur requires ( with some exceptions which can not be ataind now [torn] corse should be past over for the present [torn] in the future & be content yes contented with what I am permited to enjoy at the present time it is true that I am subject to all the dangers of a war faring life cold & rain & night exposier but I have delitful helth & I should be content yes I think am sincere in saying I thank God for all his blessings & I am thankfull that maters are so well with me to day as they are & I must learn to appreciate my present happiness yes this cold drizly day dark & gloomey as it is I should be happy & I should be thankful for what I am aloud to enjoy but if I was with the Idol of my hart to day (Lizzie) to use your words my joy would be compleat [over] this side of the paper is not rueld and as the futur it should be left blank but I must say a litle more this is a cold drizly day & perhaps when you have such a day it makes you lonsome & feal forsaken but you must remember that at all times & under all circumstance you are remembered with or by me alltho I am a poore feable creature [torn] I think that my earnest love & deep affections should be rewarded with a complimentary fealing & a few thoughts when your mind is not otherwize imploid if I ever should be permitted to enjoy your company any length of time no mater how short I shal feal fuly compensiated for all my trubels riches or this world goods does not bother me only so far as my familys comfort is consernd now Lizzie Mart Mann has just come in & said that a boat had come & thare was 4 sacks of mail took off so in a few moments I may here from home so I wil close til after the mail is distributed out & sea if there is any mail for me I am your true Husband Mac Patrick J. Anderson http://worldconnect.genealogy.rootsweb.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?db=patanderson 9654 Baltimore Avenue, Laurel, Maryland 20723

Mouth of White River Ark November the 1st 1864 Mr Dearest Elizabeth After an absence of six days from camp I have returnd & now my first businez is to write you a letter on the 26th of Oct we got on bord the steamer Ballie 4 companys of the 87 & one company of the 1st Kansas Cavalry & started down the river stade one night at the mouth of Ark river & then went down to Gainzes Landing the place whare Madam Suley got shot at we landed there & went out 7 milds in the contry & capturd a picket post of 4 rebles then we returnd we then went down landing & geting out at severl places took a large lot of hogs & beef catel in coming back we got off at Irish Bend & went out 8 milds & capturd 9 prisners & a rebel mail & I had the plesure of retaliating on them for reading my letters on Red river I read one love letter which was a good one she said that she was redy to comply with his requests when an opportunity oferd in a word we had a good time we had plenty of sweet potatoes pork beef chickens & such like take 9 prisners in all 2 mails & never lost a man nor one hurt when I came back I found one letter from you of Oct the 20 and one from Posey he has been on a big scout in virginia he has dride up about Litle Mack & says hurah for Abe & Andy he is going in to a Negro Regt as an offercer so he says but I think he is joking tho he says he has aplide for a commission if he has I do not think he is compitent he wil have to be a beter horseman I think Jo Ashby wrot to me some time ago he is for Abe & Andy he says Kentucky has turnd over for {Abe} Thare is no McLelan & Pemberton men in our Company some of them stil like Litle Mac but cant stand Pemberton & the platform & they wil not stumic the Chicago Convention You say you have plenty of milk & buter & pumpkins if so you live hie wood that I had such good living & I do sometimes for I get in to as old ceseshs dary the other day & I made cream & milk & buter hop well Lizzie after supper I came into my shanty to finish my letter to you I wish you had the pertickulars of our scout but I am not rapt up in scouts enough to tel all about them I do not know what the date of the last letter is that I writ to you but it had 60 cts in it which I sent to you as it was all the money that I had worked for since I had been in the servis it is rainy to night sloly but I am under a good shelter & therefore it does not hurt much Mart is combing his head & Samuel Richardson has come in and is talking with him Oscar is in his shanty writing a letter to his folks & Peter Leak is wating on the Captain he is sick He likt to have died last night he has got another leave of Absence buley for him we landed last night a Boliver Island & Co B & G went on a scout & I went out with my horse on the bank to let him pick some grass & there was 5 others out there & I told them to lets go up the river on a scout of our own they all asented we galoped up the river some 6 milds & met a man coming to the river he was from Alabama & on his way to Arkansas so we stopt him & made him strip & sercht him but he had nothing only a small mail which he was taking over to Ark we put him under arest & made for the boat which we got to at dark we deliverd him to Col Crebs as a prisner of war I think he is of some importance as he grunted mitty & mad out as tho he was sick but he could not fool me as I have sean so many men play off so I amout of paper Yours MAC _________________________ Posey is the nickname of his brother Presley Lafayette Hooker Patrick J. Anderson http://worldconnect.genealogy.rootsweb.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?db=patanderson 9654 Baltimore Avenue, Laurel, Maryland 20723

Mouth of White River Arkansas Oct the 25th My Dear Lizzie I shall imbrace the present opportunity of writing you a short letter large letter papers is my preferance but it cannot be had here now infact this place is not gluted with good things knowhow no nice letter paper no nice envelops no nice penns & no stamps of any kind & realy evry thing has a blunt appearance I quit writing & went & worked 2 hours puting coal on a boat now let me say that I have been studeing about you all day I dreamd of being with you last night & I waked up at two o clk & I near wanted to go home so bad in all my life infact I was sorter ashamd of my self to think of going home at this time of the season yes I couldent go to sleep any more but kep thinking of you & the children & now after studeing all day about you words would fail yes the English Language would fail to express my fealings to day it seamed to me this morning that all gloom & the dangers of our contry seamd to pass off & I would have given any thing in reason & allmost out of reason to have sean you & my litle children shurly (as I thought to day) it is almost to grate for natur to sustain. for a man to live so long from his companion I think it is requiring to much at the hands of frail beings like us when I think of past time when I was blest with the happiness of being with you yet the impression comes up & I am made to think I was happy but poore creatur I knew it not just think for a moment how we are pron to eavel in grumbling at our present condition allways worse rit now that any time previous now aply it to our selves once we were together all the time day day after day & night was we to gether had plenty of the nesarys of life & good enough for any person but was we happy I was not I did not know how to appreciate my condition now Lizzie let me say trust in God & allways be happy but you may say this is a bad time to comence yes so but beter once than never study your condition & what it could be if you was not so well or so well fixed or so provided for by a kind providence you may say I am not so well provided for as to hurt but stop you look at the mater to slitly have you a house have you a good bed to sleep as take your rest on during the long winter knight can you make up a fier shut the doors & be warm have you enough to satisfy the appetite at proper times (sometimes a litle scant M A Hooker) if so are you satisfied yes shurly you ought to be yes thare is the litle children to keep you company with there litle pratle how sweet how pleasant how delitful in a word comfortable of Lizzie try to be content with life Mac Mac there was a man came along this morning & said he had no men to put coal on the boat & he would give 30 cents an hour for us to help him 2 hours so I with some others went & helpt him it is the 1st money that I have made at work in a long time I will send it to you & you may do what you pleas buy something that will do you some good with it if you want to I do not know when we will draw not soon tho I dont think I have a litle to by paper & pens & envelops & tobaco tho I am geting scarce now as you said that you had to go to bed I say go on honey & if I could I would go with you but it is rather to early now to go to bed I will come after a while I received a letter just now from you dated October the 14th & maild the 17th you say you are geting fat I am glad you are all well & appear to be doing well tel unkle Jo if he does not quit geting them litle Copperheads our Contry is ruind & I will have him arested & put in jail (a joke) tel Martha to write to me when ever she feals like it if you was to come to me on picket some night I would not know you but I would get aquainted Patrick J. Anderson http://worldconnect.genealogy.rootsweb.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?db=patanderson 9654 Baltimore Avenue, Laurel, Maryland 20723