EN ROUTE 20 MILES FROM LITTLE ROCK, Sept. 10th, 1863.
MY DEAR WIFE—I wrote you from Arkadelphia that I was on my way to Little Rock for the purpose of getting our Reg. ordered here. I will that place today. I expected to be enabled on my way back to come by home and once more see you and the children but from what I hear of the situation I now think it doubtful. It was my intention to send the order to the Reg. by carrier and go home whilst the Reg. was marching here, stay a few days and rejoin it here.
God only knows what is to become of us and I feel assured that he is directing my course. On the piazza on which I am now sitting there are eight men all of whom look liable to service. The burden of this war has been born by the few. The government instead of compelling service from those liable has permitted them to skulk and avoid service until it has now become the habit to do so. Instead of using the means of the country to prosecute the war has permitted the incriminants who avoided service by remaining at home to monopolize and consume all its substance until there is an almost criminal disposition to skulk and hide. Genl Holmes and Congress authorized the organization of innumerable Partisan Ranger Cos. Legalized authority to steal. Congressmen and officers are at their old tricks of Demogogridism, and the country with such instrumentalities to save it is fast going to destruction. Instead of staying at home and defending what they have, gun in hand, everybody is running to Texas or casting up the cost of submission.
I am very well. Into the hands of a good providence I commit you and the children. I am conscious of having discharged my duty. In the Reg. Bill Simmons is the single officer who supported me in maintaining discipline or subordination. The others—some of them now confess—determined to do all in their power to break it down. They hoped by that means to force a reorganization and be Col. I saw all this at a distance and wrote you. I never wanted the colonecy of the Reg. I resigned and when I get to Little Rock will urge its acceptance as a benefit to the service. I am glad to take this course while all these troubles were in the distance. I do not blame anyone but will take responsibility—say my course was wrong—instead of discharged my duty I ought to have dispaded. I am in hast,
Yr. own afft. Husband,
A. S. MORGAN.
Of course, the Alexander Papers have numerous entries relating to Morgan. And, the "Footnote" web service provides his CSR.