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