[Continued from part one. Smith is Anna’s brother. I wish DPG had kept his opinion of the Ladies’ Union League to himself! Nellie Reynolds is one of Anna’s cousins; I’m not sure who John is, but because of his proximity to Nellie in DPG’s mind I think he might also be a Reynolds.]

[p5] Either our officers there are miserable, or eastern soldiers do not Know how to fight. I feel certain that if Grant had the Army that he has here in Pensylvania Gen Lee would not get out of that state with as large an Army as he went in with and I suppose we will have to go in there and fix them up after we settle this affair here. I am not in the habit of boasting, but I do feel a little angry at the way we are managing affairs in the East. I think if Old Lincoln had a little more nerve and would not let the Politicians pull him about to suit their own views, that things would look a little different there, but enough of this. I suppose you hear enough of war at home [p6] and do not care about having my letter filled up with it –

You say that Smith showed you part of a letter I wrote to him. I have not yet received an answer to that letter. I do not remember that I agreed that he was to stand up at my wedding after he was married. I hardly think that this would be exactly the thing, do you? – You speak about the Ladies Union League. I do not Know what they propose doing nor what is the object of the Society. I always was of the opinion that if Ladies attended to their home duties well, that very little time would be left for them to attend to public Societies. I think very thing of that Kind had better be left to the men. I would like to Know what good the Ladies can do with a League. do any [p7] of them propose coming south and fighting for their country. I think you were sensible in not joining all such associations in my opinions are Humbugs. The box came safely to hand and our mess return thanks for the many nice things we found therein. I think it is very Kind in our folks at home to take the trouble to send us so often as they have done, since we left Peoria and I shall always remember it with gratitude –

In both of your last Letters you insist in putting of our marriage until October of course you shall set the day and I will be content I would have liked it the 1^st of September for reasons already stated but I suppose of course your reasons are better, or you would not insist on putting it off

[p8] I wrote in my last letter proposing that I should come to Peoria about the 10^th Sept and that we should be married about the 20^th this would only be about ten days before the first of October. now what do you think of this, and would this intefere with your plans. write me all about it in your next letter and think over it all and set the day exactly so that we will have this matter entirely settled. You speak about me wearing citizens clothes or a plain military sack coat without any gilt. now I do not want to appear in Gilt and I wish to please you exactly in this matter, but I do not think I would like to be married in a plain sack coat, even if it is a morning Wedding. I think you [p9] would be ashamed of me if I did not appear well dressed and I am certain I would not look that way in a sack coat. I will either appear in a full Military costume, or full citizens and the best I can get. I have no Choice in the matter if you prefer the latter, it shall be in that way. You Know that I will do any thing that you wish. I love you to well to do any thing that you would not like. I will try and get David to go up with me and I would prefer to have him stand up with me to any other. I would like Nellie Reynolds very well as Bridesmaid but of course you must choose this yourself. I like Nellie very much, and I Know of no other young Lady [p10] who I would prefer as Bridesmaid. I was very much surprised to hear of John’s enlisting, but I think he shewed a remarkable fine spirit and deserves great credit for turning out in times of danger to help defend the good old state of Pensylvania. I think you ought  to feel proud of him, he is cert-ainly a Boy of spirit, and will yet make a brave soldier. Nothing would be more natural to him, than to rush forth to help defend his native state from the Enemy, and I honor him for it. In your corespon-dence, I ho with Nellie Reynolds I pray you not to neglect me I feel truly thankful to Nellie for for reminding you of this, so you must be sure and not forget to write this way very often

[p11] I am going to commence pretty soon to count the days until the happy daysarrives which will call you my dear Wife, and I feel very anxious that all should soon come around it will certainly be to me the happiest day I have yet ever seen, and I feel certain it will be followed by many and many a happy day spent in your company –

The Weather here is awful hot worse than anything I ever experienced you can not imagine what it is Peoria is nothing to be compared with it. It is now nearly twelve oclock at Night and in a few moments the month of July will be ushered in May we be in Vicksburg safe and sound is my wish before it goes out. Write me very soon, as soon as you receive this. Good Night + pleasant dreams and beleive me as ever Yours only DPGrier

[This letter follows this one from November 9, 1862. For an explanation of the 77th’s reputation as an abolition regiment, and for DPG’s actions that put him in danger of a court martial, see October 24 and October 28, 1862. The general he’s in trouble with is A.J. Smith. The “Starlight” ran the Pittsburgh-Louisville-St. Louis route. A couple of the strikethroughs in this letter — see the “is/are” issue in the comments about Louisville — are corrected in black ink and I think were actually fixed by Anna, because in her scrapbook there are similar corrections to typos in newspaper clippings.]

On Board Steamer “Starlight”

Ohio River

Nov 21 1862 Friday Morning

My Dearest Anna,

We left Louisville this morning at daylight, seven companies on this Boat + three companies and Baggage on another. I am ordered to report with my command at Memphis to Gen Sherman, so that you can see I will be thrown right into my old stamping ground where I shall probably meet plenty of my old friends. This will be a  rather long steam Boat ride some six hundred miles I believe, so that I shall be tired enough of River life before I get through. I find from various sources that there [p2] are a great many different rumors around Peoria in regard to the 77^th Reg and to myself, some have gone so far as to report that I was under arrest and to be shot for difficulties with the General on the Negro question. This is all a mistake. I have never been under arrest but have had some words with the General, but he Knew better than to try to arrest me for I should have come out best in a Court Martial. We did one day have some words, he insulted me, and I told him very plainly what I thought of him. On the next day he sent for me and publicly apoligized for what he had said and said he took it all back, and hoped I would continue his friend as he was very much excited when he had talked to me [p3] and he was very sorry for it. He then brought out his bottle filled the Glasses all around and drank to my good health and future prosperity +C.

Dont you think I came out swim-mingly. The Louisville Daily Papers also made some noise about the 77 Ill Abolition Reg, so that you see we left Kentucky with quite a notoriety. for my part I am glad to get out of the cursed state and hope never to see it again. There are some very fine people in the state but I would not give much for their Union sentiments They are Union men with an if – and the if is always the Darkey.  At Richmond there are is as fine a set of People as there is are in the World. they treated us splendidly and in spite of the Reputation of the Regiment were very [p4] sorry to have us leave them especially the young Ladies. I tell you I went in very heavy, and all the young Ladies thought I was a marrying man until the Major one day let it out that I was engaged and just as good as married. My cakes immediately became all dough, and I was completely used up. some of the Young Ladies wanted to Know if it was true, I owned up immediately, and of course had to subside. You enquire very affectionately after your Uncle Robert Cooper, he is well and gets along very well, he did drink considerable for a while, but I told the Doctor to tie him up by the thumbs, on the next offense and for every following offense double the dose. since then he has quit, and I think he is now a reformed drunkard. [p5] I have no doubt but that he would enquire a great deal oftener than after you, if he only Knew the great interest you take in him. He certainly is the greatest nuisance I have ever seen and I would gladly get rid of him by sending him to Peoria if he was not mustered into the service and thus fastened on me.  I find it a great trouble to write while the boat is in motion and I suppose you will have some trouble in reading this letter, as it is shake from one side from the other continually.

The Soldier Boy that you had so much trouble to find has at last come. He found us yesterday in Louisville and brought me some letters, among which was yours of the 12^th. I recognized yours [p6] at sight, and of couse it was first opened and eagerly devoured. I appreciate you more and more everyday, and only wonder how it happens that I am so highly blessed in securing so valuable a prize. Why Annie I would not to day change places with the greatest man on earth, for I would consider nothing worth having without you with me to enjoy it. I really am getting sick of Soldiering, and if this war lasts much longer I can not stand it. there is no pleasure in this world for me without you and I am determined that we shall not remain seperated long. On the first opportunity, or whenever I think we are going to stay some months in a place, I intend [p7] getting a furlough to go to Peoria to get married. I think the reasons will be strong enough to secure one. Then You are to go with me and stay with me as long as possible, and where it is impossible for you to stay why I can send you to Peoria and you can find me again as soon as you can. This is the way all of our married officers do, and I can not see any harm in it. Every person in Peoria Knows that we are engaged, and why can we not as well be married.

You say you are going to work a reform in me as regards two great vices, viz. drinking and swearing. I think it can be done very easily and I shall promise to be very tractable. You Know, that any and every [p8] thing you say to me is law and gospel and that I will follow your guidance. At first when I talked to you and tried to correct a little, you did not take it very well and I remember once when I thought you was going to dismiss me for my rather plain talk. You Know that I am one who will say, what he thinks whatever the consequences may be although I would not say anything to you, that would in any way injure your feelings, for I love you too much for that and I would rather die than harm you in the least. I promise you faithfully that as long as we both live nothing shall ever be said or done, that will in any way make you unhappy, but on the contrary it shall be my [p9] constant aim to see that you pass through this life happy and I Know that you will do the same for me. But what do you think of my plan about getting married. You must make up your mind to it, it certainly is right, if you should have to remain in Peoria any time. would you not as leave be my wife as Miss Anna, what would be the difference. You think just as much of me Know as you ever will, and you could just as well be parted from me then as now, so do consent to this. I will not come until I find we are to remain some time in one place and then look out for me. consider this well, before answering, for I am in earnest [p10] and I do want a favorable reply. I think you deserve a great deal of credit for being so charitable as to devote your time packing up old clothes for the darkey’s. So you have become Abolitionist have you, hurrah for Lincoln. I think there is some hopes for you yet. cant you vote the black republican ticket next election. I think of running for some office in that party and would like your support.

I feel very much obliged to you for neglecting your other correspondents for me and I hope you will continue to do so. I have dropped all of mine and hereafter I am going to write to you twice a week. You certainly can do the same for me, and I shall look for two letters hereafter every week. I wrote you two or three

[Continued …]