In camp 12 miles north of

Springfield Mo

Sept 23^d 1862     

                                

Most affectionate Wife I received your letter of 16^th in 4 days you do not know how cheering it is to me to hear from you, evry day I look anxiously for the mail to overtake us as it always has yet until yesterday many glad hearts leap sore feet was forgotten when the letter are distributed as I generally do it I also got one from Amos I will give you some account of our trip we have marched about 108 miles in 7 days which was verry long miles & the days verry hot we generally start at 5 oc or 6 one day we went 21 miles but there was not 500 men came in with the Reg. they were some a head & some behind I sent out of the road 8 good men J. S. Bainer M. sutton J O B J McEntire & Busick to forage / & they done fine got chickens butter honey peaches apples &c that day the day before they got a heifer yesterday I was loaded with fine peaches all day & in consequence eat to much but did not suffer much from it this morning I feel fine only a little tired but as we rest here for some days I shall rest & all the boys with Moses & Irvin is quite unwell but I think only colds Jno & Saml have stood it fair but I think no man has stood it better than I have I have had a good bath or wash off from a pan & washed my socks handkerchief socks & (Oas) our negro cook will wash our shirts this afternoon he helps us verry much about our cooking &c I often sit down to our table or mess chest all greasy & dirty & vituals the same most of which I would not touch at home but with such an appetite that all taste good & I eat / like a she wolf so you see I enjoy myself better than I expected & I think I have the fullest respect of my command though I have to come down on some of them verry hard E Sutton is one of the worst we have & I shall punish him severely if he does not obey from this on I tol him go in to a house yesterday to get supper & told him that had to be the last he will get out of the road & then sculk into the bushes & then off to some orchard then complain of being sick he is verry worthless & I doubt if he ever stands fight

Lee has got well Lott was left at the Hospital at St Louis & has not got up Henry vandervord stands up well I think the boys will do better after this as we will have only to drill in camp There is not much prospect of a battle yet as we are comeing in to fast for them to risk / for them to risk an attack on us though they are said to be quite strong 54 miles south of Springfield in Arkansas let them come all are ready to see them there are 4000 men in the briggade travelling together they almost clean the country of every thing near the road the locusts are nothing to an army of men the dust is verry deep in the road there are near one hundred waggons follow us of the Brigade Sarah I am fast learning that we have one of the most beautiful & pleasant home & one of the happiest families that ever was & I hope to return sooner than I at first expected to enjoy it the ballance of my life & while I am away I want you & Frank with the others to enjoy your selves enough better to make up for my life here yet I enjoy it well as any one can I could write all I see & hear if I were to write all the time you will hear from me as often as I can write to you. you must not think of coming to see me unless I send when & where I am as we are a long way from no place at this time the stage runs through from Rolla to Springfield in 24 hours I think the roads are rough & stony we may winter in Arkansas & if we do you may come to see or stay with me

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