Letter from Henry McAllister, dated 1861-12-02

Assistant Adjutant General's Office, Head-Quarters, Smith's Division, Camp Griffin Va. Dec. 2d 1861

My Kind Friend -

Willie has kindly given me permission to send you a line in his letter and I gladly avail myself of the privilege for it has been some time since I have given you any account of myself. I am as yet blessed with good health and have sufficient of all things to make me comfortable. I am in need of nothing which I cannot get here. I fear this is not the case with all. Many a poor Soldier is suffering for proper clothing and many for suitable food. It is no small task to raise arm & equip an army of six hundred thousand men. But there is no nation on earth that can do it so easilly as we. At best there must be much suffering. I am very pleasantly situated indeed. When I left Vermont I did not expect any such fortune. I have light labor, good associates, a few papers, a good mess, and innumerable privileges - I have considerable time for reading and writing. Willie's health is not very good now. There is nothing serious the matter with him but he has overworked and taken cold. He will lay off a few days. They

think so much of him as nurse that they will do anything rather than lose him. I hardly know what to write you for news. The Army of the Potomac seems to be inactive now and will probably do nothing this fall. All of the troops will not go into winter quarters, but some of them must stay here to act as guard. I think the government will act against the gulf states this Winter, and troops I presume will be withdrawn for that purpose. Our fighting in the South must be done in the Winter and by proper management a bloody battle at Manassas can be avoided, and the same object attained. We may never see a battle. I hope we never may, but I am willing to accept any fortune that will be for my country's good. Our Vermont troops are quite sickly the most so of any in the whole Army. It is sad to see our comrades sicken and die. Hardly a day passes but that some one dies. Two have died out of our company. A soldier's funeral is [truly?] solemn. Willie and I went to Washington last Tuesday. I presume he has given you a glowing account of what we saw etc. I have not time to do so. We had some picutres taken and will visit you shortly by proxy. I might write more but I dare say this is all the room I can have. I wish you would drop me a line. I will write to Mary soon. Willie's letters home are so full that I shall have to write on my own hook. Regards to all.

Henry.